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Description

Since its earliest emergence, universities across the nation have been struggling to create a universal policy surrounding the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. This poster will examine the limitations of a universal, one-size-fits-all AI policy in academic contexts, particularly across disciplines where different pedagogical goals, assessment practices, and ethical concerns exist. Drawing on student reactions to existing AI policies and a critical review of PSU’s current AI guidelines, this project highlights how vague or inconsistent language leads to inconsistent interpretation, uneven enforcement, and most important student confusion on the use of AI in their academic studies. The poster argues for a more flexible, context-aware approach to AI governance –one that emphasizes transparency, instructor autonomy, and ongoing policy revision rather than rigid prohibitions. The ambiguity of AI creates the need for a precise definition of what constitutes AI use and clear parameters of approved and prohibited uses at the course level, even varying within disciplines. By showcasing student perspectives and institutional realities, this project aims to promote meaningful discussion about the responsibility for instructors—not the university—to create clear and specific AI policies to ensure that AI supports learning rather than causing confusion or undermining a student’s educational experience.

Department of Primary Author

English

Affiliation of Primary Author

Faculty

Publication Date

2026

AI Same Tool Different Rules: A Snapshot of AI Guidelines Across Academic Disciplines

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