{"id":243069,"date":"2026-04-23T10:43:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T10:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243069\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:43:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T10:43:08","slug":"usf-professors-students-share-how-they-navigate-ai-policies-in-classrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243069\/","title":{"rendered":"USF professors, students share how they navigate AI policies in classrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>USF does not have a university-wide policy for generative AI, meaning professors decide how the systems are used from class to class. ORACLE GRAPHIC\/AYRON ESPINO-NARDI<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s generative artificial intelligence ethical guidance policy covers how programs can be used academically \u2014 but it leaves enforcement and implementation to professors.<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s Guidance for Ethical Generative AI Usage<\/a> refers to GenAI, such as ChatGPT<\/a>, Gemini<\/a> and Claude<\/a>, which can automatically create content including writing, pictures, videos and code.<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s syllabus templates<\/a> allow faculty to allow or restrict AI based on the needs of their courses. The university also states it aims<\/a> to implement AI as a tool rather than as a replacement for student work.<\/p>\n

Still, students who use AI are personally responsible for any factual errors or mistakes the program produces, according to USF<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Academic consequences may include penalties in grades, failing an assignment or further action, according to the Syllabus and Course Guidance on Artificial Intelligence<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said there is no central database to track the number of AI-related student conduct cases at the university.<\/p>\n

Due to USF\u2019s case-by-case policies, professors and students alike said they must manage how they allow and use AI in college.<\/p>\n

Related: USF\u2019s Bellini College of AI marks rapid growth in its first semester<\/a><\/p>\n

Deepak Singh, a Judy Genshaft Honors College affiliate faculty member, teaches a course titled \u201cDeep Reading in the Age of AI<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The course is dedicated to relearning how to thoroughly read fiction instead of skimming or using summaries, according to the course catalog<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Therefore, Singh said he prioritizes human intelligence over artificial summaries in his class.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t necessarily teach about AI. I teach how to read closely and slowly,\u201d Singh said. \u201cIn the age of AI, you can just ask [it], \u2018Hey, give me a rough, long summary of the story.\u2019 It will spit out something, but you haven\u2019t read it.\u201d<\/p>\n

To combat the temptation of shortcuts, Singh has restructured how his classroom functions by dedicating the first 15 to 30 minutes of class to reading short stories together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t ask [students] to read before, because sometimes people don\u2019t read,\u201d Singh said. \u201cInstead of artificial intelligence, they\u2019re using their own intelligence to interpret the story.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his course syllabus, Singh allows his students to use AI at their own risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you want to use ChatGPT or not, I\u2019m not saying use it or not use it,\u201d Singh said. \u201cBut I will be able to tell, and I might not be able to give you my heartfelt feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Singh warned that students who become reliant on AI for assignments risk becoming trapped in a \u201cloop\u201d that disintegrates their ability to think independently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can use your brain, you can think critically and come up with your own ideas,\u201d Singh said. \u201cWhy would you think that AI can do a better job?\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Florida Attorney General talks DEI, artificial intelligence regulations at USF<\/a><\/p>\n

Although some professors have more lenient policies when it comes to AI usage, some students said they avoid it due to personal ethics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jadyn Doe, a freshman integrated public relations and advertising major, said she chooses not to use AI even in courses where she is allowed to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like using generative AI,\u201d Doe said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of against my morals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doe said AI often devalues human work and believes its results lack the original thought higher education requires.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s taking away [students\u2019] ability to write effectively and read effectively,\u201d Doe said.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Doe said professors should not be allowed to mandate the use of AI in their classrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know some of my friends here who have been required to use generative AI in assignments,\u201d Doe said. \u201cI think [syllabi] should explicitly say that if a student doesn\u2019t want to use generative AI, then they shouldn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: OPINION: Students shouldn\u2019t use AI for mental health guidance<\/a><\/p>\n

Taison Rocha, on the other hand, said AI is a part of his professional toolkit as a senior cybersecurity major.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rocha said major cybersecurity companies, such as ReliaQuest<\/a>, which partners with USF, are actively encouraging AI proficiency due to its use in the workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This means AI policies in his major are flexible due to those industry standards, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some of my assignments, I have to automate tasks using AI,\u201d Rocha said. \u201cI have to submit code made by AI and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Rocha said AI can cause friction between students and professors, recalling being falsely flagged for AI use in an information security class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of students who are going through the same thing, where we get flagged [even when we did] not use AI.\u201d Rocha said. \u201cIs [the professor] supposed to trust us, or is he supposed to trust the tools that are given to him to detect AI?\u201d<\/p>\n

Websites like ZeroGPT<\/a>, GPTZero<\/a> and Grammarly<\/a> all feature AI detection tools. However, none achieve 100% accuracy and should not be used to penalize students, according to the sites.<\/p>\n

And while Rocha said the accusation did not escalate beyond a conversation, he said he wishes there was more leniency for students and AI use.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say [the policy] would be better if it were even looser because right now it sounds like AI is the future,\u201d Rocha said. \u201c I just think a [more open] AI policy would help people go into the workforce better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"USF does not have a university-wide policy for generative AI, meaning professors decide how the systems are used…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":243070,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-243069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243069\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}