The Hurricane moniker is all fun when you are cheering on your team in the National Championship. Yet, the term also has a double meaning. When students at the University of Miami are accused of AI misconduct, they may suddenly experience the dread and uncertainty reminiscent of being in the eye of a Category Five storm.

If a student knows The U’s rules about the use of artificial intelligence, they stand a much better chance of avoiding the disciplinary storm. For that reason, we will explain those rules in this article.

We will also account for the fact that, despite many students’ best—and, let’s face it, some subpar —efforts, allegations of AI misconduct still arise. For those accused, we will provide a concise overview of the University of Miami’s disciplinary process.

Before we go further, here is the most important step you can take in response to an accusation of AI misconduct: Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. Student defense is what we do, so do not wait to reach out.

Making Sense of AI at The U: Miami’s Guidelines for Acceptable AI Use

A 2023 article in The Miami Hurricane, the student newspaper, summarized the state of artificial intelligence in Coral Gables (and, actually, throughout college campuses nationwide). The article pointed out that:

A.  Students, especially at 3 in the morning on the eve of an assignment deadline, face great temptation to “turn to artificial intelligence platforms to complete assignments”

B.  The temptation was only heightened by at least one student’s belief that, at the time of writing, “The boundary between cheating and the constructive use of AI in the classroom…has yet to be clearly defined.”

While the temptation for students to use artificial intelligence remains, students hopefully have more clarity today about AI usage guidelines at The U. Students seeking such guidance may look to the document Teaching and Learning with AI, which states that:

  • AI should only be used in a complementary fashion: The University’s first principle of acceptable AI use is “AI should help you think, not think for you.” Some generally accepted (and complementary) uses of AI are to “generate ideas, frame problems, and perform research.” The school forcefully insists, “Do not use them to do your work for you.”
  • Any use of AI should be proactively shared with the instructor: Even if a student is completely confident that their use of artificial intelligence conforms to their instructor’s policy, their AI use “must be declared in your submission and explained.” Instructors should provide explicit directions for students to document their AI use on an assignment-by-assignment basis.
  • Students are “100% responsible” for any “final product” they submit: If students are allowed to use AI, they remain responsible for the final product they submit to the instructor. If a Hurricane writes an entire essay based on a false fact provided to them by AI, they should not expect to be afforded grace because of the AI’s mistake. As policy explains, “if the AI tool makes a mistake, and you use it, then it’s your mistake.”
  • AI policies are never set in stone: Students may encounter different AI rules and guidelines from course to course. The U’s policy warns students not to “assume that what is acceptable in a Computer Science class will be acceptable in a Philosophy class.” Furthermore, an instructor’s AI policies might change from semester to semester (or even assignment to assignment) as their perspective on the technology evolves.

Following these guidelines will set Hurricanes on a course to avoid AI misconduct allegations. However, there is one more preventative measure that every student must take: Following their instructors’ individual AI usage guidelines.

University of Miami Instructors Are the Only Parties Who Can Overrule the School’s AI Guidelines

The University of Miami’s school-wide AI guidelines “are in effect unless the instructor gives you specific guidelines for an assignment or exam.” This means that instructors are the sole party whose edicts may supersede those guidelines.

Here is a student’s playbook for navigating a landscape where each instructor has their own AI usage standards:

  1. Proactively seek out the rules: The Teaching and Learning with AI document established university leaders’ expectation that “all instructors…communicate expectations and approaches to students with regard to AI in the course syllabus.” Yet students should proactively seek to understand the rules of AI use, especially if the instructor does not clearly present them early in the semester.
  2. Don’t rely solely on the syllabus: Syllabi are limited documents. While most University of Miami instructors’ syllabi will address students’ AI use, don’t rely on syllabus statements alone. Digital and in-person communications with your instructor can fill the cracks in your instructor’s written policies.
  3. Document AI-related conversations when possible: It’s not cynical for a student to consider the possibility of an AI misconduct allegation. The more you can document, the better. For instance, you might get an email confirmation that your instructor permits a particular AI use case. While such documentation is not always possible to acquire, it can be a potent bulwark against false AI misconduct allegations.
  4. Regard even a suspicion of misconduct as an urgent matter: If you are suspected or accused of committing an AI-related infraction, regard the suspicion as a reputation-threatening, urgent concern.

Contact our Student Defense Team as soon as you sense unwanted scrutiny of your AI usage.

How the University of Miami Handles Alleged AI Misconduct

Miami’s adjudication procedures for alleged academic misconduct involve:

  • The Honor Council is investigating the alleged misconduct
  • The accused student has the opportunity to “admit the charge” and accept a disciplinary agreement
  • The Honor Council’s Hearing Panel is completing a hearing
  • The accused student is potentially exercising their right to appeal an adverse finding or ruling

AI is a complex technology. Defenses against allegations that involve AI use often require a complex strategy. Our firm is well-versed in this topic and knows how to craft effective defenses against allegations of AI misconduct.

Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online as soon as you or your student suspects that alleged AI misuse could cause harm.

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