Artificial Intelligence Principles and Policies

North Shore Community College AI Guiding Principles

North Shore Community College (NSCC) recognizes the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the unique challenges it presents for our institution and the broader community. As we consider and look to incorporate AI into our educational and administrative practices where it makes sense, we are committed to balancing innovation with responsible and ethical AI use. Our goal is to ensure AI tools enhance the educational experience, improve operational efficiency, and equip students with the skills needed for a changing world. To guide any AI adoption and ensure alignment with our mission, values, and strategic plan, we have established the following Guiding Principles.

1. Strategic Plan, Mission, and Vision: NSCC is committed to using AI tools that support and advance our strategic plan, mission, and vision. Our goal is to ensure that AI contributes to the achievement of our institutional objectives, enhances the educational experience, and promotes equitable access to AI benefits for all members of our community.

2. Human Oversight and Expertise: NSCC is dedicated to ensuring that human judgment, critical evaluation, and oversight are integral to the deployment and use of AI systems. NSCC also upholds the highest standards of professionalism in the use of AI therefore AI should augment human capabilities, not replace them. AI should enhance employee productivity, not result in job displacement. Likewise, AI use should not compromise the value of the educational experience provided by NSCC.  We will maintain human involvement in all decision-making processes to safeguard our community's interests. AI systems at NSCC will be implemented to align with human values and our community norms, supporting our educational mission and enhancing the well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. 

1. Ethical and Responsible Use: NSCC is committed to the ethical and safe use of AI. This includes thorough assessment of the advantages and drawbacks of AI in institutions of higher education, ensuring that AI tools are effective, accurate, and reliable for their intended purposes. NSCC will provide development opportunities to the larger college community so that our faculty, staff, and students have the necessary skills to use AI responsibly and ethically so that AI application use reflects our commitment to excellence, security, integrity, and equitable access. We will uphold the highest standards of quality and security throughout the lifespan of AI tools, ensuring equitable access to safe and effective AI technologies. We will also ensure that we follow all state and federal laws and regulations in our use of AI.

2. Equity, Fairness, and Community Values: AI tools should be used in a manner that promotes equity and fairness. We are dedicated to combating bias and discrimination in our use of AI systems. Bias in data and algorithms must be carefully considered and mitigated or accounted for whenever possible. NSCC will establish protocols to proactively identify and attempt to mitigate and rectify these issues to help ensure that our educational services are fair and inclusive.  We hold human agency and dignity in the highest regard. Adhering to civil, privacy, and human rights principles is central in our considerations of AI adoption.

3. Academic Integrity and Intellectual Property: NSCC is committed to upholding academic integrity, academic freedom, and the preservation of intellectual property in the use of AI. We will ensure that AI tools are used in ways that respect the intellectual and creative contributions of all individuals and maintain the highest standards of academic honesty.

4. Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality: The privacy, security, and confidentiality of employees, students, and their data, as well as institutional data, are paramount in the use of AI-powered tools at NSCC. Our approach will prioritize maximum protection in this regard, ensuring that AI applications comply with all relevant privacy and security laws and regulations and provide equitable access to secure AI solutions.

5. Data Quality and Control: We recognize the importance of high-quality data in the use of AI systems. NSCC will implement rigorous data governance practices to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of data used in AI applications. We will maintain control over our data to prevent misuse and ensure compliance with ethical standards, promoting equitable access to high-quality data.

6. Sustainability: NSCC is committed to the sustainable use of AI. We recognize the environmental impact of AI technologies and strive to minimize their carbon footprint. Our goal is to ensure that AI contributes to a sustainable future for our community and beyond.

7. Transparency and Accountability: NSCC pledges to inform individuals when AI-powered tools are utilized in our educational and operational practices. We strive to make AI methodologies as comprehensible as possible, provide individuals with information to explain AI-generated outcomes, avenues for questioning those outcomes, and remedies for any potential issues. We acknowledge the responsibility of ensuring proper use of AI systems in our educational services and the outcomes that result. As such employees and students at NSCC are responsible for adhering to all AI-related policies as well as taking responsibility for the outcomes of their AI use. In addition, NSCC recognizes the rapidly evolving AI landscape and is committed to continuously reviewing our policies, procedures, and practices related to AI.

At North Shore Community College, we believe that responsible AI could enhance the educational experience, empower individuals, and contribute to the accomplishment of our strategic plan, mission, and vision. We are committed to upholding these principles and continually assessing and improving our AI practices for the benefit of our community and beyond.

North Shore Community College AI Use Policy

Introduction

North Shore Community College (NSCC) acknowledges the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various domains, including education, administration, and research. This policy aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the ethical, responsible, and secure use of AI by students, faculty, staff, and third-party partners. As AI technology continues to evolve, this policy will be updated to reflect emerging challenges and opportunities. NSCC encourages all community members to engage in ongoing dialogue and contribute to the development of responsible AI practices.

What is AI?

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term for any theory, computer system, or software that is developed to allow machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. The virtual assistant software on your smartphone is an example of artificial intelligence” (The Benefits and Limitations of Generative AI: Harvard Experts Answer Your Questions, 2023) .

“Generative AI is a type of AI system capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts” (The Benefits and Limitations of Generative AI: Harvard Experts Answer Your Questions, 2023). Commonly used generative AI tools include ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Google NotebookLM, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity.

When it comes to generative AI outputs, there are basically two important concepts:

• AI-generated outputs: Outputs “generated by AI and consisting of verbatim text, images, and other media generated in whole or in part by AI.” (Sonoran University of Health Sciences, 2024)

• AI-assisted outputs: Outputs “generated by an individual where AI may assist with tasks such as brainstorming, drafting an outline, or editing, correcting, refining spelling, grammar, and structure/organization.”  (Sonoran University of Health Sciences, 2024)

Data Privacy and Security

• Absent a specific use-case agreement or allowance from the college, users must not enter sensitive, restricted, or protected data into any AI tools.  Examples of data prohibited from use with AI tools includes:

• FERPA-protected student information (information related to the students’ educational record such as grades, class schedules, disciplinary records, etc.)
• HIPAA-protected health information (such as wellness mental health counseling records, immunization status, etc.)  
• Personally identifiable information (PII)
• Employee records and performance data
• Unlicensed intellectual property materials and copyrighted works

• Protected institutional data:

  • Institutional Data that could, by itself or in combination with other such Data, be used for identity theft or related crimes.

  • Institutional Data whose public disclosure is restricted by law, contract, College policy, professional code, or practice within the applicable unit, discipline, or profession.

  • Records of the college’s security measures.

  • Institutional Data whose value would be lost or reduced by unauthorized disclosure or by disclosure in advance of the time prescribed for its authorized public release, or whose unauthorized disclosure would otherwise adversely affect the college. 

Ethical Considerations

• Faculty, staff, and students involved in AI-related projects must receive guidance or training about responsible AI use, ethics, and potential biases.

• Bias in AI models must be carefully considered, mitigated or accounted for whenever possible. Every effort will be made to ensure that the AI technologies in use at NSCC respect human rights, ethics, and fairness.

• AI supported research projects involving human subjects must follow the college’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) process.

• 
  To help prevent the spread of misinformation and the misappropriation of copyrighted material, all members of the NSCC community are expected to critically evaluate and take responsibility for their AI inputs and outputs.

The subsequent sections of the AI Use Policy are designed to address distinct segments within the NSCC community. NSCC recognizes that community members occupy multiple roles, operate in various capacities, and transition seamlessly between segments.

AI Use in Academic Settings – Students

• Course-Specific Policies: Instructors have the authority to determine permissible AI use in their courses. Students are responsible for adhering to individual instructor and course guidelines for AI use, including permitted tools and citation requirements.

• Academic Integrity: Using AI to complete assignments or exams without explicit permission and guidance from the instructor, proctor or college designee is a violation of NSCC Academic Honesty Policy and Student Code of Conduct.

• Data Privacy: Students must not input sensitive personal or institutional information into AI tools, including faculty provided course materials without specific permission.

• Attribution and Citation: When permitted, students using AI tools to generate work must clearly indicate the specific tool(s) used and the prompts employed. Direct copying of AI-generated content and passing it off as your own is a violation of NSCC Academic Honesty Policy and Student Code of Conduct.

• Grading and Feedback: Students own the intellectual property that is their coursework and have the option of opting out of AI-assisted grading and feedback. 

• Misinformation: To prevent the use and/or dissemination of misinformation, students are expected to verify the accuracy of their sources. 

AI Use in Academic Settings – Faculty

• Course-Specific Policies: Instructors have the authority to determine permissible AI use in their courses. Explicit guidelines for AI use, including permitted tools and citation requirements, must be outlined in course syllabi.

• Pedagogical Applications: Faculty are encouraged to explore AI’s potential for enhancing teaching and learning, such as generating learning materials, designing assessments, and providing personalized feedback.

• Transparency and Disclosure: Faculty are encouraged to transparently disclose their use of AI in creating course materials and student assessment & feedback.

• Student Data Privacy: Faculty must not input student work into AI tools without explicit student consent.  Even with consent, the student work should be anonymized by removing any personally identifiable information such as the student name.  Faculty are encouraged to retain records of student consent.

AI Use in Administrative Processes

• Transparency and Documentation: AI use in Administrative & Departmental processes and decision-making that incorporates AI must be documented. 

• Data Security and Privacy: Employees must protect confidential institutional, employee, student, and personal data. 

• Tool & Vendor Service Selection and Procurement: A rigorous evaluation process must be followed for selecting and procuring AI-enabled tools.  NSCC prioritizes security, privacy, and anti-bias considerations. Vendors and third-party partners who leverage AI as part of their tools or services must comply with the principles outlined in NSCC’s AI policy and any applicable federal & state laws or regulations.  Vendors and college partners must provide NSCC updated information about changes to AI use in their products or services in a timely fashion.  NSCC reserves the right to alter or cancel agreements if the college feels that AI use in the vendor or partner’s products or services violates NSCC’s AI Use policy.

• Departmental Process Review:  Individual college departments should periodically review their internal processes and procedures to make sure they account for appropriate AI use in accordance with this policy. 

Reporting, Compliance and Enforcement

• All members of the NSCC community must comply with this policy. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action, as outlined in the NSCC Student Handbook, Employee Handbook, union contracts, as well as federal, state and local laws.

• Concerns or incidents related to AI use, data privacy, or ethics should be reported to the appropriate authority.

• For students it is the Code of Conduct Administrator 

• For employees, infractions follow standard college policy, practice and contract stipulations where applicable.

Training and Support

• Professional Development: NSCC will provide training, professional development opportunities, and/or guidance opportunities to the college community on responsible AI use, covering ethical considerations, data privacy, tool selection, and best practices.

• Resource Hub: NSCC will establish a central AI resource hub to provide information, guidelines, training materials, and support contacts for AI users.

Review and Updates

AI Advisory Group: NSCC will form a standing AI Committee composed of AI-informed faculty, staff, and student government representative(s) to periodically review and update the AI policy with respect to emerging trends in technology and shifting ethical & security concerns to ensure that NSCC’s AI policy remains modern and valid.