Yes, many university professors can (and do) ask a student to defend themselves orally as a means of probing possible (and unauthorized) use of artificial intelligence. Such an interrogation—let’s call it what it is—could come as a formal or seemingly informal conversation with your instructor. Do not let any sense of informality fool you, though, as the stakes of such conversations can be colossal.

Whether or not a university student has committed AI misconduct, they should be wary of prompts to defend themselves. Why? For one, an instructor’s perception is subjective, meaning they can misinterpret your responses as signs of guilt. Secondly, the professor already suspects that you engaged in misconduct. They may be biased, consciously or subconsciously, looking for confirmation of their suspicion.

Being asked to defend yourself orally against alleged AI misconduct is, for most, just the first step in more formal, high-stakes disciplinary proceedings. As soon as you recognize you are suspected of such misconduct, call the LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.

Student defense is our mission. Lean on our experience, trust our guidance, and let’s fight for you.

What Might Prompt an Instructor to Suspect a Student Used Generative AI to Create Their Work?

A collegiate instructor might have several reasons for suspecting a student of using artificial intelligence in an unauthorized way. These reasons for suspicion may vary in their legitimacy and fairness toward the student, and may include:

  • Hallmarks of AI-generated writing: Some of the possible signs of AI-generated writing include, but are not limited to, repetition and redundancy. Some instructors may view writing that just feels too “sleek” or “formulaic” as potential signs of AI involvement.
  • Drastic improvements in the student’s writing: Dramatic improvements in a student’s writing have, for decades, caused instructors to raise an eyebrow. Now, instead of suspecting that a student may have had a third party write the essay for them, most instructors’ initial suspicion is unauthorized collaboration with ChatGPT.
  • Results from AI-detecting software: Many universities discourage or prohibit instructors from using AI-detecting platforms like GPTZero to evaluate students’ work. Some universities allow instructors to use such resources, flawed as they are. If an instructor receives feedback from such a platform suggesting a student submitted AI-generated work, that could prompt further investigation.
  • Writing that does not feel like the student’s voice: Some instructors make judgments about how students should or would write based on verbal interactions with those students. The truth is that many people’s written and spoken words differ. Yet, instructors may still harbor skepticism if they sense a considerable gulf between a student’s manner of speech and their submitted written work.
  • Tips about possible AI use: Of course, if an instructor receives a tip that a student engaged in unauthorized AI use, that tip would explain further investigation by the instructor.

Once a student senses that their instructor suspects AI misconduct, that student should immediately shift into reputation-preservation mode. Do not wait to contact our Student Defense Team.

Most students have rights, and protecting those rights is critical, even during seemingly informal conversations with an instructor.

What Questions Might a Professor Ask a Student to Check for Possible AI Use?

If an instructor is trying to determine whether a student wrote the essay in question, they might ask about:

  • The contents of the essay: When someone writes and edits an essay, they tend to be familiar with the subject matter within that essay. An instructor might, therefore, ask the student about the essay’s contents during an AI misconduct investigation.
  • Your writing process: A student’s defense of their essay often includes an explanation of their process. Most students will be able to provide a fairly detailed account of their brainstorming, research, and writing processes when prompted by their instructor.
  • The structure of the essay: An instructor might also quiz the student about the essay’s general structure as a means of testing that student’s knowledge.
  • Information you should know based on the content of the essay: For instance, if the essay is about crucial plot points in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, your instructor might ask you to name some facts about the book, even if you did not discuss those facts in the essay. If you can answer satisfactorily, your instructor might feel more confident that you penned the essay yourself.

There is no way to predict which questions an instructor might ask a student they suspect of committing AI-related misconduct. This can make the process of defending your essay daunting. Our Student Defense Team will prep you for this process so you can be confident in your oral defense.

Can Professors Use Any Other Means of Investigating Possible AI Use?

In prompting you to defend your essay, your instructor may be looking for indicators of deception, vague answers that suggest a lack of familiarity with the essay, or other indications that you did not write the essay yourself. Conversely, some instructors may be hoping the student exhibits an intimate familiarity with the essay, in which case the instructor might dismiss their suspicions.

Yet, an instructor’s investigation does not always yield a conclusive result. In such cases, the instructor may escalate the matter to the university’s body responsible for adjudicating alleged academic misconduct.

Most instructors have some authority to impose grade penalties. If a student is accused of misconduct that might lead to severe disciplinary action, such as a suspension or dismissal, their case is usually routed to the university’s equivalent of an Honor Council.

Whether you are facing grade penalties or more severe discipline, now is the time to accept our help. Even failing a single assignment can trigger a domino effect that causes real harm. Do not downplay the seriousness of an AI misconduct charge.

Our Student Defense Team is determined to secure the most favorable outcomes for every student we represent, even if we need to approach universities’ general counsel to do it.

Call the LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to discuss where you are, where you want to be, and how we plan to get you there.

 

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