Announcement on “Considerations when using Generative AI in the Chuo University Curriculum”

Japanese version

June 5, 2023

Announcement on “Considerations when using Generative AI in the Chuo University Curriculum”

As an institution of higher research and education, Chuo University (hereafter "Chuo") offers educational programs for Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, and Professional degrees, with more than 30,000 students studying there.

Chuo has long strived for educational and learning environments that encourage all students to develop their abilities to the levels stipulated in Chuo's diploma policies. Still, the generative AI systems, which are growing rapidly, raise a profound question of whether their use in education and learning can enhance students' proficiency. In addition, the ethical and social concerns that generative AI systems raise still need to be considered.

Recognizing that "generative AI systems hold great potential to transform the current social structure from the bottom up, "Chuo, as an institution of higher research and education, considers it our social responsibility to engage in research and development of generative AI and its usage, including social implementation by paying attention to several key points. Therefore, Chuo hereby announces that we have stipulated the considerations for using generative AI systems in the Chuo curriculum.

June 5, 2023
A Ruling of the President

（Scope of the Rule）

1. This “Considerations when using Generative AI in the Chuo University Curriculum” (hereinafter “the Rule”) shall apply to all faculty members (including adjunct faculty members in the Rule who teach at Chuo University (hereafter “Chuo”) and to all students who study at Chuo.

(Application of the Rule)

2. The Rule stipulates principles for the use of generative AI systems in all Chuo curricula. Provided, however, that education institutes (hereafter “the Faculty”), such as the undergraduate faculties, the graduate schools, and the Organization of Common Education Initiatives in charge of managing curricula, can stipulate exceptions regarding the usage of generative AI systems, if needed. In addition, the Faculty can authorize faculty members in charge of the courses that constitute the curricula of the Faculty to set other rules apart from the Rule or rules stipulated by the Faculty.

(Definition of generative AI systems)

3. In the Rule, a generative AI system means a system, among computer systems (including those provided as a service on the Internet), that learns from data and also has functions to generate and output new expressions based on learned results.

(Use of generative AI systems by faculty members)

4. Faculty members shall not be hindered from using generative AI systems as tools or from using the generated output of generative AI systems as educational resources in the courses they teach.

5. Faculty members who use generative AI systems in line with the preceding clause must notify students enrolled in those courses of such usage.

(Use of generative AI systems by students)

6. Students shall not be hindered from using generative AI systems as study tools in courses. However, considering that generative AI systems store and learn information input by users, students shall not input any of the following information:

a. information that is generally considered confidential, such as confidential matters regarding research;

b. information that may harm an individual’s personal interests, such as personal information or information related to privacy;

c. false information intended to harm others’ personal interests, such as an individual’s honor.

7. Notwithstanding the preceding clause, although students may use output data generated by AI systems for reference when writing or submitting study deliverables (hereafter “Report”), however, they may not submit output data as it is generated by AI systems as one’s Report.

8. Students must clearly specify in-text, or attach the following information (a – d below), when referring to output data from generative AI systems in writing or submitting one’s Report. However, regarding c. and d., students only need to be prepared to submit additional information when faculty members in charge of assignments have given prior instruction.

　

a. The name and version of generative AI systems used

b. The date(s) generative AI systems were used

c. The prompts and other information that has been input to generative AI systems, and environment settings

d. The output data of generative AI systems

(Restriction of student’s use of generative AI systems by faculty members)

9. Notwithstanding clauses 6 through 8, faculty members can prohibit or restrict the use of generative AI systems on certain parts of the course of study, provided that the restriction or the prohibition is recognized as necessary from the perspective of course education. However, upon taking such measures, the faculty members in charge must clearly indicate the contents of the prohibition or restriction and the educational reasons to the students taking the course.

(Grade Evaluation)

10. If a student submits a Report in violation of clauses 7 or 8, the faculty members in charge of the course, for the purpose of grade evaluation, shall treat the Report as if it had not been submitted.

11. Notwithstanding the preceding clause, the faculty members in charge of the course can evaluate such a student’s assessment as F (Impossible to evaluate), even if, according to other grading factors, credit shall be granted with a grade of "S," "A," "B," or "C." However, in order to take this measure, students taking the subject must be informed of that effect in advance.

(Amendments)

12. Amendments to the Rule shall be made by the President after the discussion of the President and Deans’ Meeting.