This program recognizes that generative AI is rapidly transforming education, research, scholarship and professional practice. Doctoral students who choose to use AI should engage thoughtfully and critically with these technologies while maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity.
Transparency in AI use is expected throughout the program. Students are expected to discuss proposed uses of AI in major research milestones—including the research analysis exam, research component, dissertation proposals, dissertations, manuscripts, conference presentations and other scholarly products—with their faculty advisor and, when appropriate, their dissertation committee. These conversations should support students in developing an informed scholarly stance toward AI and its relationship to research processes, analysis, writing, publication and knowledge production.
Students should consider ethical and methodological issues associated with AI use, including authorship, transparency, privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, bias and human subjects’ protections. AI should support, not replace, the student’s own intellectual contributions, critical thinking and scholarly judgment. Students remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, originality and quality of their work, including any errors, omissions or biases introduced through AI use. Faculty advisors and dissertation committees retain discretion in determining appropriate AI use for individual research projects.