Artificial Intelligence in Teaching & Learning

Read Howard’s AI Policy View Syllabus Language

Guidance, training, syllabus language, and resources to help Howard University faculty and students use artificial intelligence responsibly, transparently, and in ways that support learning.

Important: This webpage supplements Howard University’s Artificial Intelligence Policy (100-022) 

All use of artificial intelligence in connection with University activities must comply with Howard University’s AI Policy and all other applicable University policies, legal requirements, and contractual obligations.

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Howard AI Training and Resources

CETLA Workshops & Events

Explore CETLA workshops, faculty-development sessions, and events addressing AI, assessment, teaching, learning, and academic integrity.

View CETLA news and events

CETLA AI Faculty Scholar Community

Connect with Howard educators exploring responsible AI integration, AI literacy, assessment design, classroom applications, and emerging practices.

Visit the AI Faculty Scholar Community

Howard University AI Policy

Review Policy 100-022 for University-wide requirements related to responsible AI use, accountability, disclosure, privacy, security, academic integrity, and more.

Read the official AI Policy

Microsoft Copilot & Technology Training

Howard Enterprise Technology Services provides Microsoft Copilot learning resources and training information for the University community.

Explore ETS training resources

Percipio & Academic Impressions

Howard faculty and staff can access self-paced professional development through Percipio and Academic Impressions, including technology and higher-education learning content.

Explore self-paced learning

Howard AI Initiative

Learn about Howard’s broader AI initiative, including education, research, innovation, ethics, societal benefit, and workforce development.

Visit Howard AI

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Howard University’s AI Policy defines AI as computer-based systems or software that perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including learning from data, recognizing patterns, making predictions or decisions, generating content, and automating processes.

Source: Howard University Artificial Intelligence Policy (100-022).

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI)

“Generative AI refers to AI systems designed to generate new content, including text, images, audio, video, code, or other outputs, in response to user inputs or prompts.”

Definition from Howard University Artificial Intelligence Policy (100-022).

Generative AI is one type of AI

 AI includes more than generative tools. Other categories may include predictive and analytical systems, machine learning, computer vision, natural-language processing, recommendation systems, robotics, and increasingly agentic AI systems that can coordinate tasks or workflows within defined guardrails. These categories can overlap.  

Responsibilities for Responsible AI Use

Howard’s AI Policy places responsibility on users to follow University requirements, protect information, maintain academic inte
Faculty & Instructors Students All AI Users
Clearly communicate permissible and impermissible AI use through the syllabus and other official course materials. Explain whether and how students may use AI for coursework and assessments. Align AI use with course learning objectives, assessment integrity, accessibility, and academic-integrity standards. Do not enter confidential information, PII, or student education records into AI systems. Follow course requirements, instructor directions, and University academic-conduct policies. Disclose or document AI use when required by the instructor, assignment, or other applicable guidance. If course-level guidance is not explicit, ask the instructor before using AI for coursework or assessments. Remain responsible for the work submitted, including accuracy, sources, and adherence to assignment expectations. Verify the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated outputs before using them. Disclose AI use when required by the academic, research, administrative, or operational context. Consider bias, accessibility, copyright, intellectual property, privacy, security, and data stewardship. Use human judgment. AI output should not be treated as automatically accurate, complete, or authoritative.

Protect student, personal, health, and confidential information

Do not enter student education records, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI), confidential University information, or other protected University data into AI tools unless the use has been expressly authorized and has received the required institutional review and approval.

When in doubt, do not upload or paste the information into an AI system. Seek guidance from the appropriate University office.

Syllabus Guidance for Faculty

Faculty should establish a clear course-level AI policy. The examples below provide broad starting points; instructors should ta
Level 1 · Disallowed AI tools are prohibited Level 2 · Restricted AI is allowed under defined conditions Level 3 · Unrestricted AI use is broadly permitted
AI tools are strictly prohibited in this course unless the instructor provides explicit written permission for a specific activity. Students may not use generative AI or other AI tools to create, revise, summarize, solve, analyze, translate, code, or otherwise complete coursework or assessments. Any unauthorized use of AI will be considered a violation of course requirements and may constitute a violation of academic integrity policies. AI tools may be used in this course only in the ways authorized by the instructor. Permitted uses, prohibited uses, and any required documentation will be specified for the course or individual assignments. When AI use is permitted, students must follow the instructor’s requirements for disclosure, citation, attribution, prompt/output documentation, or reflection. Uses outside the stated parameters are not permitted. AI tools may be used in this course without course-level restrictions, and documentation of AI use is not required unless stated otherwise for a particular assignment or activity. Students remain responsible for the accuracy, quality, originality, appropriateness, and integrity of the work they submit and must continue to comply with Howard University policies.

Recommended additions to any syllabus AI statement

Consider stating which assignments the policy applies to, what types of AI assistance are allowed, how students should disclose or document use, whether prompts/outputs must be retained, what citation style to use, what accessibility accommodations apply, and whom students should ask when uncertain.

A Practical Responsible-AI Checklist

Before using an AI tool Before using AI-generated output
✓Confirm that the proposed use is permitted by University, unit, course, research, and contractual requirements. ✓Verify factual claims, calculations, quotations, citations, links, and references against reliable sources.
✓Remove or avoid student records, PII, PHI, confidential information, protected University data, and sensitive research data. ✓Check for bias, stereotyping, fabricated information, missing context, or inappropriate assumptions.
✓Review the tool’s terms, privacy practices, data-use settings, and accessibility implications when relevant. ✓Confirm that the output meets assignment, research, accessibility, intellectual-property, and professional standards.
✓Know what disclosure, documentation, citation, or attribution is required. ✓Use appropriate human review and remain accountable for the final work.

Current AI Tool Landscape

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft uses the Copilot name across AI experiences in products such as Microsoft 365 and Teams. Howard’s Enterprise Technology Services provides Copilot learning resources and University training information. Faculty and staff should use institutionally supported configurations and follow University policy and data-protection requirements.

Howard ETS Microsoft Copilot learning

Examples of external generative AI tools

  • ChatGPT - OpenAI’s conversational AI service for generating and working with text, images, files, data, and other content, depending on the version and features available. Visit ChatGPT.
  • Google Gemini - Google’s family of generative AI models and assistant experiences. The former “Duet AI” branding in Google Workspace has been replaced by Gemini branding. Visit Gemini.
  • Claude - Anthropic’s generative AI assistant for tasks such as writing, analysis, coding, and working with documents or other inputs, depending on the plan and features available. Visit Claude.
  • GitHub Copilot - An AI-assisted software development tool integrated into developer workflows and coding environments. Visit GitHub Copilot.
  • Adobe Firefly - dobe’s family of generative AI tools and models for creative workflows, including image and design-related generation and editing. Visit Adobe Firefly.
  • Gamma - An AI-assisted content and presentation platform used to create presentations, documents, and web-style content. Visit Gamma.

Other types of AI faculty and students may encounter

  • Predictive or analytical AI: identifies patterns, classifies information, estimates outcomes, or supports decision-making.
  • Computer vision: analyzes or interprets images and video.
  • Speech and audio AI: transcribes, synthesizes, translates, or analyzes spoken/audio content.
  • Recommendation systems: personalize or rank content, products, resources, or next steps.
  • Agentic AI: can plan and execute multistep tasks or coordinate workflows within specified permissions and guardrails.

Additional Teaching and Learning Resources

After reviewing Howard’s own policy, training, and supported resources, these external materials can provide additional perspectives on AI literacy, assessment, teaching, and responsible use.

Howard resources

External reference materials

Reminder: An external resource or tool appearing on this page does not imply University endorsement.

Need help with AI in teaching and learning?

CETLA can support faculty with course design, syllabus language, assessment strategies, and responsible classroom integration. Questions about Howard’s broader AI initiative can also be directed to the University’s AI team.

Email CETLA Support Email AI@howard.edu

Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Assessment (CETLA) · Howard University

Disclaimer regarding AI tools: References or links to specific third-party AI tools are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Inclusion on this webpage does not constitute Howard University’s endorsement, approval, certification, or recommendation of any product or service. Users are responsible for ensuring that any AI tool they use complies with Howard University policy, applicable laws, contractual obligations, privacy and security requirements, and course or unit guidance.