Plagiarism and artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT are a pain point for faculty and students. We are providing some resources that are meant to help faculty.

Recommended Thought Process for Faculty

Step 1 - First decide what your policy will be for students who plagiarize and your policy for students who submit AI-generated content.

For example, will you have a zero tolerance policy? Are you willing to accept student work if they cite Chat GPT? Are you willing to accept student work if they use ChatGPT, but rewrite their submission to be in their own words? Or do you want to tell students that using ChatGPT is completely unacceptable.

Step 2 - Clearly state your policies in your syllabus.

There are sample syllabus statements below. You can also just google ChatGPT syllabus statements, as there are even more resources available than are listed below. You might even go to ChatGPT and ask it to write a syllabus statement for you.

Step 3 - Use the plagiarism tools and AI-generated content detection software available to you. See below.

Step 4 - Do your best to implement and enforce your policy.

Plagiarism Syllabus Statements

Common Plagiarism Syllabus Statement

Plagiarism in this class is unacceptable. Accidental or willful use of someone else’s words, ideas, or evidence without attribution will be penalized by a failing grade on the paper, a failing grade in the course, and/or referral to the Dean of Students. Your submissions will be submitted to Turnitin (which is a plagiarism detection tool).

More Detailed Plagiarism Syllabus Statements

Sample AI-Generated Content (ChatGPT) Syllabus Statements

From the Provost's Office at the University of Minnesota

For instructors who wish to embrace ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, may be used for any assignment with appropriate citation. Examples of citing AI language models are available at: libguides.umn.edu/chatgpt [or provide an alternative reference appropriate for your class]. You are responsible for fact checking statements composed by AI language models.

For instructors who wish to allow limited usage of ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, may be used for [assignment types A, B & C] with appropriate citation, but not for [assignment types D, E & F]. If you are in doubt as to whether you are using AI language models appropriately in this course, I encourage you to discuss your situation with me. Examples of citing AI language models are available at: libguides.umn.edu/chatgpt [or provide an alternative reference appropriate for your class]. You are responsible for fact checking statements composed by AI language models.

For instructors who wish to prohibit the usage of ChatGPT (modified for Massasoit)

Please read Massasoit Community College's Policy on Academic Honesty:

"In accepting admission to Massasoit Community College, students also accept the responsibility for maintaining high standards of academic integrity and scholarly practice. Plagiarism – using another person’s words or ideas without acknowledgement – is strictly forbidden. This means that dependence on the ideas or language of others in a student’s oral, written, technical and artistic work must be properly acknowledged and documented. Information on documentation is contained in most writing handbooks and is generally covered by an instructor in one of a student’s composition courses.

Academic dishonesty also includes but is not limited to a student’s giving or receiving aid during examinations or in completing laboratory assignments, computer programs, or other work assigned in courses, unless given explicit permission by the instructor.

It is the responsibility of the individual instructor to enforce this policy. If an infraction should occur, an instructor may take action which reflects the seriousness of the infraction, and could range from an informal verbal warning to, but not beyond, the issuance of a grade of F for the course.

In addition to action taken relative to the specific course, the course instructor may bring any matter related to academic honesty to the Assistant/Associate Dean, who may bring the matter to the Vice President of Faculty and Instruction for consideration of further disciplinary action.

The student’s right to due process is guaranteed in any disciplinary action involving faculty members and the administration. If a student has a complaint or a grievance he/she should contact the Dean of Student Services. The Student Grievance Procedure is contained in the Student Handbook which are available in the Student Life Office and the Office of the Assistant Dean of Student Services. The procedure outlines the necessary steps a student must follow to file a grievance."

Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, and online assignment help tools, such as Chegg®, are examples of online learning support platforms: they can not be used for course assignments except as explicitly authorized by the instructor. The following actions are prohibited in this course [remove bullets as necessary]:

Submitting all or any part of an assignment statement to an online learning support platform;
Incorporating any part of an AI generated response in an assignment;
Using AI to brainstorm, formulate arguments, or template ideas for assignments;
Using AI to summarize or contextualize source materials;
Submitting your own work for this class to an online learning support platform for iteration or improvement.

If you are in doubt as to whether you are using an online learning support platform appropriately in this course, I encourage you to discuss your situation with me.

Any assignment content composed by any resource other than you, regardless of whether that resource is human or digital, must be attributed to the source through proper citation. (Examples of citing content composed by digital tools are presented in: libguides.umn.edu/chatgpt [or provide an alternative reference appropriate for your class].)

Unattributed use of online learning support platforms and unauthorized sharing of instructional property are forms of scholastic dishonesty and will be treated as such.

AI Syllabus Policies Database and AI Assignment Ideas

Lance Eaton is a well-known educator and has students use AI in his courses. He has crowdsourced a database of syllabus policies and other AI considerations. This website could be helpful.
Melanie Sage is a well-known social worker and educator. She has created a Google Doc with curated AI resources, including ideas for AI-proof assignments, as well as assignments where students use AI.

Turnitin

Turnitin is a technology tool that can help professors identify traditional plagiarism and AI-generated content. The college pays for this service and we encourage the use of this tool as a means to deter students from submitting plagiarized content or AI-generated content.

Faculty are encouraged to read all of the following links:

Video Instructions: How to set up Turnitin in Canvas for an Assignment
Text Instructions: How to set up Turnitin in Canvas for an Assignment
Turnitin Guides
Tips for Reading the Plagiarism report (also called the Similarity Report)
AI-Writing Detection and Turnitin

Note: Faculty may also set up an account with Turnitin should they wish to check for plagiarism and AI-generated content without using Canvas. Please email Jesse Schreier - jschreier@massasoit.mass.edu to get an invitation to set up a personal account.

Other AI-Detection Tools

It is recommended that faculty use Turnitin to detect for AI-generated content. However, there are other freely available tools to help faculty identify AI-generated content.

Lastly, we encourage faculty to discuss these issues with their colleagues and departments to try to find clarity on these issues.

AI and Plagiarism Detection Workshop

Jesse Schreier recorded a AI and Plagiarism Detection for Faculty on Jan 15, 2025. To be added.

Resources for Your Students

Draft Coach

Turnitin does provide a tool called Draft Coach that our students can access for free as part of our license. Draft Coach is a tool that students can add to Google Docs that allows them to run a Similarity Report to check their work for plagiarism as they are writing their assignment.

Here are instructions for how students can install and use Draft Coach: https://help.turnitin.com/integrity/student/draft-coach/using-draft-coach.htm
Here is further information for Educators about Draft Coach: https://www.turnitin.com/products/features/draft-coach/draft-coach-educators

NOTE: Draft Coach will give students a plagiarism score. It will NOT give students an AI score.

Massasoit Library Website on Plagiarism

This website includes tabs on Avoiding Plagiarism and Plagiarism Examples: https://library.massasoit.edu/plagiarism/home

Massasoit Academic Honesty Policy

https://massasoit.edu/about/college-policies/academic-honesty/