As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in daily life, Clemson’s AI Initiative is developing a purpose and foundation for how the University approaches AI.
Established earlier this year as a cross-disciplinary effort to bring together students, faculty and staff, the AI Initiative is facilitating an overarching human-centered approach to artificial intelligence across the University. Led by Mitch Shue, provost fellow for artificial intelligence, and Nathan McNeese, associate vice president for technology and innovation, the initiative will guide how the University incorporates AI into teaching, research and service, prioritizing ways that enhance human creativity, support innovation and expand opportunities for meaningful impact. This approach is rooted in ethics, collaboration, transparency, and responsible use while preparing students, faculty and staff for a human-centric AI-driven future.
Collaboration and distributed implementation
Clemson’s AI Initiative is designed to bring together perspectives from across the University and beyond. Its progress has been shaped by engagement with faculty, staff and students, leadership and governance groups, academic and research units, and operational teams.
The collaborative approach also recognizes AI use will not look the same in every part of the University. While Clemson is developing overarching guidance and alignment principles to support a shared enterprise-wide approach, colleges and divisions are encouraged to work with the AI Initiative to create unit-specific guidelines and use cases reflective of their own needs, priorities and areas of work.
The balance of University-level policies and unit-specific guidance is central to Clemson’s human-centered approach, creating a common foundation for responsible use across the University while allowing individual colleges, divisions and offices to explore practical applications of AI in ways relevant to their teaching, research, service and operational contexts.
Guidance for faculty, staff and students
While specific guidelines and details for use continue to be established by divisions and departments throughout the University, overarching considerations for using AI in academic coursework and research should focus on academic integrity and responsible scholarly practice.
This usage quick guide provides a breakdown of low, medium and high-risk use cases for students, instructors and researchers.
As a general rule, students, faculty and staff should always follow the requirements outlined in a course syllabus, research sponsor guidelines, journal policies and IRB protocols. When expectations differ, those policies take precedence. Regardless of the tools used, users remain responsible for the accuracy, integrity and originality of their final work.
Those who choose to use AI should also ensure the tool they are using is approved for the data they are inputting into the system. The AI guidelines include a Data and Tool matrix that specifies what Clemson data classifications (Public, Internal Use, Confidential, Restricted) can or cannot be inputted into certain internal and external tools.
Clemson is committed to ensuring privacy for those who choose to use Clemson-licensed AI tools. Clemson Computing and Information Technology (CCIT) protects information shared in AI tools through enterprise-level privacy and security controls and, just as with other information technology tools at Clemson, CCIT does not respond to individual requests to access AI conversations or systematically collect information related to possible academic misconduct.
Students, faculty and staff are responsible for complying with University standards for Acceptable Use and Academic Integrity, and instructors retain the authority to set and enforce expectations for AI use in academic work.
Progress to date
Through thoughtful interactions and feedback from University stakeholders, the AI Initiative is building a proactive Universitywide AI strategy and long-term framework. Already, the initiative has stewarded the launch of comprehensive AI-use guidelines, the rollout of ChatGPT Edu, the launch of a central AI at Clemson website and continued connection with groups across the University.
Together, these efforts have established the foundation of a coordinated approach to AI in support of both current needs and long-term planning.
The future of AI at Clemson
As the University’s AI Initiative continues to develop, Clemson’s next phase of work will focus on expanding guidance, strengthening coordination and creating more opportunities surrounding AI literacy, AI in teaching and broad AI-use for faculty, staff and students.
The University’s formal AI strategic plan and long-term policy framework will expand guidance and support structures for students, faculty and staff – including establishing a University AI Council, AI literacy efforts, and building out additional guidance for AI use in teaching, research and service.
Members of the Clemson community are invited to participate in Thursday’s AI at Clemson live forum and encouraged to submit AI-related questions, comments and ideas online. Feedback will help inform the University’s human-centered approach to AI and guide future resources, guidance and engagement opportunities.
