Artificial Intelligence at UMD

Generative Artificial Intelligence at UMD

Generative AI is an emerging technology that has transformed the academic landscape in positive and negative ways. The University of Minnesota community is continuously exploring emerging patterns, technologies, and policies to improve the teaching and learning of our student community.

The University of Minnesota provides a centralized hub for workshops, resources, and applications at AI.umn.edu 

University Supported Tools 

The University provides access to Generative AI models for faculty, staff, and student use. These platforms have been reviewed by the University Information Services and Office of General Counsel, and provide enterprise level data protection. 

Advanced platforms can be found at AI Resources at Minnesota SuperComputing Institute and through consultation with the AI Makerspace.

The University will be rolling out institutional access to ChatGPT EDU in the Fall of 2026. University sponsored access to Anthropic's Claude is also being negotiated. 

AI Use in a Classroom Setting

UMD created a Generative AI Tools policy for course work, effective Fall 2024. The policy, which was drafted by faculty, staff, and students, completed the campus policy review process during spring 2024. The default position of the University of Minnesota of Duluth is:

  • Student use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as part of course work requires written instructor permission. Without instructor permission, the default will be to treat student use of generative AI for assigned course work as scholastic dishonesty

All UMD Faculty should add specific language to their courses to indicate if and when AI use is appropriate for assignments. The UMN Office of the Provost offers some suggested language for syllabus and faculty may also use language approved by their departments, disciplines, or college.

AI and Academic Integrity

The University of Minnesota does not subscribe to an AI Detection Tool. Academic Research has demonstrated that such tools have limited efficacy and often overstate claims. Faculty with concerns about academic integrity on assignments can:

Resources for Teaching with Generative AI

Generative AI is rapidly transforming education and bringing about new possibilities along with unique challenges. Below are selected University of Minnesota resources to help you integrate AI effectively into your teaching.  

Safety and Privacy of User Data

The UMN appropriate use of generative AI tools resource provides examples of data/information that should and should not be used in generative AI tools.  In summary:

  • Do not integrate unapproved AI tools with University systems.  
  • It is prohibited to use private student information, as defined by the Board of Regents Student Education Records policy, in AI tools that are not UMN licensed. 
  • It is against University policy to use data classified as Private-Highly Restricted or Private-Restricted, unless specified. 
  • Read the University of Minnesota Libraries Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources to understand the relevant rules when using the University's Libraries' electronic resources (such as journals, magazine and newspaper articles, or databases).
  • Be aware of the ethical concerns of generative AI, such as biased output, hallucinations (false or misleading information presented as fact) and misinformation.

Additional Resources

The AI Community of Practice Google Group (AICOP) is a UMN System Wide group and is open to anyone who is curious about the intersection between AI and ethics, academics, business, labor, technology, learning, and everything else in-between. AICOP shares articles and events via a Curated Newsletter, offers monthly ShareTime Zoom events, and answers questions about generative a.i.