Academic Collaboration and AI Use Framework
The Academic Collaboration and AI Use Framework helps instructors clearly communicate what kinds of assistance are permitted on an assignment, and what students remain responsible for demonstrating.
Because assignments assess different knowledge and skills, expectations may vary both across courses and within the same course. Each assignment label answers three questions:
- Human Collaboration: How may other people contribute?
- AI Participation: How may generative AI contribute?
- Accountability Evidence: What must the student submit or demonstrate?
Human Collaboration
The H code indicates the maximum role other people may play.
H0 — Work Independently
Complete the work without assistance from another person, except for supports specifically authorized by the instructor.
H1 — Discuss Ideas
You may discuss concepts, questions, and possible approaches with others. You may not share work in progress or completed answers, and you must complete your own work.
H2 — Exchange Feedback
You may share work in progress and receive comments or suggestions. Other people may not create, rewrite, or directly revise your work.
H3 — Create Together
You may jointly develop the work with the partners or group authorized by the instructor. This does not automatically permit collaboration with people outside that group.
AI Participation
The A code indicates the maximum role generative AI may play.
Generative AI may include standalone or embedded tools that generate or substantially revise text, images, code, analysis, or other content. Examples include ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, as well as generative features within tools such as Grammarly, Microsoft Editor, Google Docs, and Notion.
A0 — No Generative AI Use
Do not use generative AI to complete any part of the assignment unless the instructor identifies a specific exception.
A1 — AI as an Advisor
You may use AI for specified support activities, such as brainstorming, explanation, practice, or feedback. AI-generated or substantially AI-revised material may not appear in your submission.
A2 — AI as a Contributor
You may include or adapt AI-generated text, images, code, analysis, or other material, subject to the conditions stated in the assignment.
Permission to use AI does not necessarily mean that AI use is required. Follow the directions for the individual assignment.
Accountability Evidence
The final letters identify evidence students must provide to make their process, judgment, or understanding visible. An assignment may include one or more of these requirements, or none at all.
D — Disclose Use
Identify how other people or AI tools contributed to your work and how their assistance influenced the submission.
P — Provide Process Evidence
Submit selected evidence showing how the work developed. This might include drafts, feedback, revision history, or influential AI prompts and outputs.
V — Verify Content
Independently check consequential claims, sources, calculations, or other outputs using an appropriate disciplinary source or method. Identify any corrections you made.
E — Explain Your Work
Demonstrate your individual understanding of the work and the decisions behind it. This explanation may be written, recorded, presented orally, or demonstrated in another format.
When taken together, a label may look like this:
H2 · A1 · D · V
This means that students may exchange feedback, use AI as an advisor, disclose the assistance they received, and verify consequential content. The assignment directions will provide specific requirements within this context.
What Students Remain Responsible For
Regardless of the label, students remain responsible for:
- following the assignment’s specific permissions and limitations;
- ensuring that submitted information is accurate and appropriately supported;
- citing and attributing sources according to course and disciplinary expectations;
- providing any required accountability evidence; and
- understanding and explaining the work they submit.
The codes provide a quick summary, but they do not replace the assignment directions. If you are uncertain whether a particular form of collaboration or AI use is permitted, ask your instructor before proceeding.