Guidance for the FIT Community
Students
AI tools can be valuable resources for learning, brainstorming, and enhancing your coursework, but its use must align with the specific expectations of each of your instructors. Every course at FIT will have its own rules about how, when, and if AI tools may be used.
Best Practices
Know which tools are AI. Informed AI use starts with knowing which tools or add-ons to commonly used applications
contain AI features.
Always check your syllabi. Each instructor is required to include guidance and expectations for AI use in their syllabi. This will outline what is allowed, what is not, and any risks involved, such as plagiarism, inaccuracy, or ethical concerns.
Anticipate different expectations for AI use. What’s acceptable in one class may not be in another. Never assume the same rules apply across different courses, even within the same department. When in doubt, always confer with your instructor(s) for guidance.
Use AI responsibly. If AI use is permitted in a course, you are expected to use it in a thoughtful, ethical, and academically honest way. That includes understanding how the tool works, citing AI use when appropriate, never using AI-generated sources without verifying their accuracy, and never using AI to bypass the learning process. (See FIT’s Academic Integrity policy.)
Respect access and equity. If your instructor recommends any AI tools, they should be equally accessible to all students. If you have concerns about access, speak to your instructor.
Know the risks. AI can sometimes produce biased, inaccurate, or misleading information. It can also raise privacy, intellectual property, copyright, and environmental concerns. Using it blindly can put your academic integrity at risk:
- AI relies on all text and images it encounters to expand its data set. That means that every time you upload an image or a piece of writing to an AI tool, it can use that work for future inquiries. Using AI can lead to the loss of ownership over your creative and intellectual work.
- Some AI tools can provide helpful suggestions that may edit your grammar or clean up images. Always verify the level of AI use that is permitted in your course via the syllabus, and check with your instructor if you’re unsure.
- Remember that some tools may make significant changes to your work that violate the college’s Academic Integrity policy.
- Keep intellectual property and private/sensitive information secure. Avoid entering personal details, private information, original work, instructor materials, or group work into AI tools (see Unacceptable Use). Some platforms may store or use your input to train their systems. If it’s something you wouldn’t share publicly, don’t share it with AI.
When in doubt, ask. If you’re unsure whether a particular use of AI is allowed in a course, ask your instructor before proceeding.
Ask yourself the tough questions. Conduct an AI Use Readiness Check following our guidance.
Faculty
AI tools are becoming increasingly embedded in academic and industry practice.
At FIT, faculty play a vital role in helping students understand the appropriate, ethical, and effective use of these tools. While flexibility and disciplinary nuance are encouraged, some consistent expectations apply across the institution.
Best Practices
Start with your department. Departments are encouraged to create a general framework for AI use in their discipline.
This shared foundation supports consistency while giving individual faculty the freedom
to set expectations tailored to their courses.
Be explicit in your syllabi. Faculty are required to include a course-specific AI statement in their syllabi. This should clearly outline acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI tools, any citation or disclosure requirements, and the risks and benefits associated with their use. (Refer to the Syllabi, Textbooks, and Required Course Materials policy (page 5) for examples of AI statements and the AI Statement Guide for tips on how to set expectations for your courses.)
Restricting AI? Plan ahead. If you choose to discourage or limit AI use in your course, be prepared to clearly define what constitutes a violation, communicate those expectations to students, and have a plan for how you’ll detect and address potential misuse.
- Consider incorporating examples of what is and is not allowed in your syllabi, designing assignments that include or emphasize personal reflection, and/or require students to submit a reflection on their process, and engaging students about your rationale.
- Remember that yes, some tools exist to help detect AI use, but detection methods are not yet sophisticated enough to provide reliable assessment and should only be used as a starting point for further inquiry/conversation with the student. Your best ally is clear communication and thoughtful assignment design.
Set clear expectations. Your course may have different AI guidelines than others (even within your department). Let students know where your boundaries are, and remind them that these expectations apply specifically to your class. Also, address the use of any embedded AI tools (like Adobe or Canva) in your syllabi, if relevant.
- Don’t overlook embedded AI. Many industry-standard tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite, now include AI-driven features. If there are restrictions, disclosure requirements, or ethical considerations related to these tools in your course, state them clearly in your syllabi.
- Use AI tools wisely. If you’re using AI tools to draft syllabi, create course materials, write department reports, or communicate with students or colleagues, consult the General Guidance section for tips.
- Be transparent. Just as you expect students to be open about their AI use, it’s important to demonstrate that same transparency in your own work. Being clear about when and how you use AI sets a standard for integrity and fosters trust and accountability.
Consider access, ethics, literacy, and application. As you define your approach to AI, keep these four pillars in mind:
- Access: Be mindful that all students have equitable access to required or recommended AI tools.
- Ethics: Emphasize academic integrity, intellectual property rights, data privacy, bias awareness, and environmental impact on responsible and secure AI use.
- Literacy: Help students understand how AI tools generate content and what their limitations are.
- Application: As you deem appropriate, support measured, thoughtful, and relevant use of AI in your coursework.
Support is available. For examples of course-level AI statements and best practices, visit the FIT AI Explorer Project.
All Employees
Best Practices
Discuss AI use with your supervisor/department chair. Employees should consult their supervisor and faculty should consult their department
chairperson before using AI, as supervisors may adjust or deny usage based on FIT
policies and business needs. This shared foundation promotes consistency while allowing
individual employees the flexibility to apply AI in ways that align with their specific
roles and responsibilities.
Use with purpose. AI can support, but should not replace, your professional expertise. While it may transform aspects of how you work, your role and judgement remain essential. Use it to streamline routine tasks, enhance clarity, generate ideas, or summarize information, but always review and tailor the final output.
Protect privacy and data. Never enter confidential, sensitive, or personally identifiable information into AI tools. When in doubt, treat AI tools as public-facing platforms.
Know your tool. Understand how the AI tool works, including its limitations, accuracy, and potential biases. Avoid reliance on content that hasn’t been verified or fact-checked.
Be transparent. If you use AI to draft a document, email, or communication, especially one that will be distributed broadly, review it carefully and make sure it aligns with FIT’s tone, policies, and values. Acknowledge or cite AI assistance.
Prioritize equity. Ensure that AI-generated materials meet accessibility standards and that any recommended tools are usable by all members of your intended audience.
Follow best practices. For guidance on using AI in institutional documents, consult Unacceptable and Acceptable Use.