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Cuesta and Community Resources 

If you have any further questions please contact Student Services via email at student_services@cuesta.edu. 

Syllabus Policy on AI 

Each instructor will have their own individual policy around AI usage in their course. Depending on the instructor, their policy on AI could be open, conditional, or restricted. These policies are stated below, as students will encounter one of these in each of their classes. If unsure about your instructor's policy on AI, please contact them directly.

The use of generative A.I. is authorized for use in this course.  This course encourages students to explore the use of generative A.I. (GenAI) tools for all tasks and work produced for this course.  Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.  Different classes at Cuesta College may implement different A.I. usage policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to be informed of and conform to the expectations for each course.  

The use of generative AI (GenAI) tools will be designated by the instructor as to when and how they will be authorized for use in this course is conditionally authorized for use to complete some assignments as noted in this course.  Only certain tasks and/or work produced for this course will allow the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools, as designated by the instructor.  Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.  For all other work produced in this class, GenAI use is not permitted. Different classes at Cuesta College may implement different A.I. usage policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to be informed of and conform to the expectations for each course. 

The use of generative AI (GenAI) is not authorized for use in this course.  The student should produce all tasks and work for this course without the use of GenAI. Different classes at Cuesta College may implement different A.I. usage policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to be informed of and conform to expectations for each course.  

Avoiding Academic Misconduct

Below you will find multiple suggestions to assist students in maintaining academic integrity and avoid potential misconduct:

Plagiarism is unethically paraphrasing and/or presenting someone else’s words, writing, images, solutions, or ideas as if they are one's own without citing and/or quoting the original source material, and this includes work produced with the use of GenAI tools.

GenAI tools frequently provide users with incorrect information, tend to make up or “hallucinate” incorrect facts and fake citations, generate contradictory statements, incorporate copyrighted material without appropriate attribution, perpetuate implicit biases, and sometimes integrate or report offensive concepts, products, or images.  

Students will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content they submit regardless of whether it originally comes from them or GenAI.  It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GenAI output that is submitted.  Use of GenAI tools to produce work without authorization and/or appropriate acknowledgment or citation may be considered academic misconduct.   

  • Read your course syllabi. Familiarize yourself with your instructors' expectations for each class and assignment. For example, when is working together on an assignment allowed, if ever? Know where the line is to avoid mistakes.
  • Follow all direction from your instructors on how class should function.
  • Get help if you think you might need it. The Student Success Center has available tutoring, as well as a Writing Center and Math Lab

  • Ask your instructors and TAs for any clarification you need; don't rely on your peers. Your classmates might not have the right information.
  • Use caution with group messaging apps. They can be helpful studying resources, but it is easy to cross the line into academic misconduct. It is your responsibility to monitor what is going on in any group chats you are in. If you are concerned prohibited material is being shared (ex. exam answers), remove yourself from the group/chat and let your instructor know of your concerns. If you are unsure what is prohibited, ask your instructor.
  • Don't copy or distribute course material unless you have explicit permission.

  • Assume all work is to be done individually unless otherwise stated by your instructor or other assignment instructions.
  • Check your work. Give yourself enough time to thoroughly review each assignment and be sure to credit the sources of any borrowed material properly, using the citation style specified by your instructor.
  • If an assessment requires exam security software (ex. Proctorio), follow all instructions for its use. Try the software in advance to avoid issues.
  • During an exam or timed assignment, presume you should have no notes or other resources available to you unless other instructions are given. If you are unsure, ask your instructor.
  • Ensure all work is yours and is original to you.

If you would like more suggestions on how to avoid academic misconduct, please review the Student Code of Conduct and Discipline information.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you disagree with an allegation of academic misconduct, begin by discussing the concern with your instructor. If the matter is not resolved, you may use the Academic Complaint process to seek further review.

Keep any drafts, notes, outlines, research, version histories, or other materials that may help demonstrate how you completed your work.

For any assignment, if possible, keep any drafts, notes, outlines, research, and any other supplemental information that can support the work you submitted is completely yours. Try and provide this information when requested.

The SSRC does not have the authority to modify any assigned grade. This is left to the responsibility of the instructor. If you have concerns about a grade you received on an assignment, communicate with the instructor first. If you would like to contest an official grade (grades provided at end of the semester), information can be located on how to appeal a grade.

 

All students are strongly recommended to begin the informal resolution process as soon as possible. This is to aid the investigative process regarding the alleged concerns and provide a resolution in a more timely manner, to support a safe environment for the reporting party as well as anyone else at Cuesta. Please review the Academic/Non-Academic Complaint processes for more information.

Students should be notified by the Complainant (person who submitted the complaint) that a Conduct Report was submitted against them (if applicable). After submission, the office of Student Success and Support will follow up with the Respondent (who the complaint was filed against) and discuss the context of the report and walk through next steps.