Haishan Yang was expelled after at least four educators who assessed his August 2024 exam accused him of violating the university’s Student Code of Conduct.

MINNEAPOLIS — Editor’s note: The video above first aired in February 2025.

A Minnesota Appeals Court judge upheld the expulsion of a University of Minnesota Ph.D. student for his alleged use of artificial intelligence on an exam, according to court filings Monday.

Haishan Yang was expelled by the university after at least four educators who assessed his August 2024 exam accused him of violating the school’s Student Code of Conduct for allegedly using ChatGPT. They wrote in their case files that they had “significant concerns” that the exam was not written in Yang’s voice and “involved concepts not covered in class.”

Yang, who denied the allegations, told KARE 11 early last year that he did use AI to check his English, but did not use it to produce his answers. He said he believed at the time that certain professors were “out to get him,” over another incident that occurred about a year before he was expelled.

Records show the university cut Yang’s financial support after claims of poor performance and disparaging behavior as a research assistant. He ended up appealing that decision also, causing the school to apologize and agree to continue his funding on the grounds he didn’t file a lawsuit. He believed that played into the choice to expel him.

The Appeals Court found the university’s decision was supported by “more than a scintilla” of evidence, and that Yang received “reasonable notice” and a “meaningful opportunity to be heard.” 

Further, the court said it did not find evidence that the university acted arbitrarily or that the decision was “conscience-shocking.”