Is Using ChatGPT Cheating?

ChatGPT & Cheating

Does LVC Have a Policy on Using ChatGPT?
Lebanon Valley College's policy on the use of ChatGPT will be found in your syllabus. However, instructors may have policies on how ChatGPT may or may not be used in classroom assignments. If your instructor doesn't have a written policy on how generative AI can be used for assignments, you must ask.

Tips for Talking about Generative AI with Your Instructors
The best time to talk with your instructor is before you begin your assignment to avoid needing to start over if generative AI isn't allowed.

Be Specific...
...in how you plan to use generative AI. Would you like to use ChatGPT to help brainstorm ideas or come up with a topic for your assignment? Are you using it to summarize or explain complex concepts? Do you plan to use it for writing and editing? Talk with your instructor, but be prepared: Your instructor may approve use in some cases but not others.

Have a Plan for Giving Credit
APA Style, MLA Style, and Chicago Style all have guidelines for citing generative AI. Your instructor may also ask for an appendix that includes the prompts that you provided to ChatGPT or the full transcript of your interaction.

What is Academic Integrity?

ChatGPT & Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity refers to maintaining a standard of honest and ethical behavior in all types of academic work. This includes things like not cheating on exams or turning in a term paper that you didn't write yourself. It also includes plagiarism, or not giving proper credit to other people's ideas or work. All students are subject to LVC's Academic Honesty Policy. To learn more, consult the library's guide on how to avoid plagiarism.

Do Not Present AI-Generated Material as Your Own Original Work.

While certain assignments might allow you to leverage AI to enhance your creative capabilities, it should not replace genuine creative thinking, especially in an educational setting. Whenever you incorporate content generated by AI, you must include proper citations. This way, instructors can easily trace the sources of the AI-generated content.

What About Detection Tools?

ChatGPT Detection Tools

Some instructors may use tools that aim to detect whether a text was written by generative AI. However, those tools are not always accurate, particularly for those whose native language isn't English. LVC instructors may use those tools as part of the evidence in an Academic Honesty charge, but they will not be the only evidence in such a case.