SIT Principles for the use of AI
The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is committed to ensuring our ākonga | students and kaimahi | staff are equipped to thrive in a world increasingly influenced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are many ethical and societal concerns about AI, including the impact of bias, on the environment, and its contribution to misinformation.
SIT uses a Green-Light, Yellow-Light and Red-Light framework to guide acceptable AI use. The requirements for each assessment or assignment may differ.
Where required by the course or assessment, you may be required to complete an AI use declaration identifying the level and type of AI assistance used.
Understanding and Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
In simple terms, Artificial Intelligence (AI) means a computer system doing a task that usually requires human intelligence. Often, these AI systems learn and improve by themselves, which is called machine learning.
What is Generative AI?
This is a specific type of AI that can generate content like text, pictures, or computer code. It learns from large data models and generates something new based on a user’s input. Some examples of these tools are ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Sora, Copilot, Grammarly, Quillbot. Microsoft Copilot and Blackboard are generative AI tools provided through SIT’s institutional systems unlike publicly available (open access) tools such as ChatGPT.
How can these tools be used?
Limited use of generative AI tools may be appropriate and is reliant on you being genuine and transparent about how you are utilising AI in your work. AI can aid in understanding complex theories or subjects. It can break down complicated concepts into simpler terms, making learning more approachable. However, your academic progression relies on the understanding and interpretation you develop from these simplified explanations.
Always strive to be original in your work, ensuring that what you produce is genuinely yours, even when utilising AI tools. AI should be used as a study aid, assisting in generating ideas, organising notes, explaining difficult concepts, and checking spelling and grammar. However, you must use AI with care, as it can sometimes be inaccurate and may make mistakes. Always make sure to double-check the work generated by AI to ensure accuracy and reliability and never represent AI generated work as your own. SIT uses a Green-Light, Yellow-Light and Red-Light framework to guide acceptable AI use. The requirements for each assessment or assignment may differ.
Green Light – Generally Permitted for learning support
Examples:
- Grammar and spelling assistance
- Creating study notes from your own material
- Generating revision questions from your own notes
- Rephrasing concepts to assist understanding
Declaration is usually not required unless specified by your tutor.
Yellow Light – Use with Caution
Limited AI use is permitted. Examples:
- Creating outlines
- Summarising public information
- Translating public information to other languages
You must acknowledge AI use and you remain responsible for all content.
Red Light – Not Permitted
AI use is prohibited. Examples:
- Writing answers
- Completing reports
- Producing assessment content
- Generating literature reviews
- Producing references that have not been independently verified
Any AI-generated content may be treated as academic misconduct.
Academic Integrity & Misconduct
SIT Information Security
You must not upload SIT documents, assessment materials, teaching resources, confidential information, personal information, or sensitive information into unauthorised AI tools or third party services without approval. SIT information must be stored and managed in approved SIT systems only.
Generative AI and Academic Integrity
Generative AI content must not be used in assessments unless explicit permission has been provided by the educator or the assessment instructions. Unauthorised use of generative AI may constitute academic misconduct, plagiarism, cheating, or academic fraud and may result in penalties under SIT’s Academic Integrity Policy.
Responsibility & Verification of AI Content
You are responsible for checking the accuracy of any information generated by AI. AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies, fabricated information, bias, or non-existent references. All information must be verified using reliable academic or professional sources before use.
It is important to recognise that AI does not verify or ‘understand’ its output in the same way humans do. While AI-generated content often appears plausible, it can be factually inaccurate. AI can make errors and even make information up. Below are some limitations of AI that you should be aware of:
- Lack of true understanding: AI does not possess a human-like understanding of its outputs. It processes information based on algorithms and data, lacking real comprehension. For example, AI might generate a text about a medical procedure without truly understanding the complexities and implications of medical practice.
- Potential for inaccuracies: Despite often producing plausible results, the information can be incorrect, include errors or even be fabricated. An example of this could be AI generating some text on a historical event like the moon landing but including factual errors such as incorrect dates or describing the technology used incorrectly.
- Inability to provide genuine references: AI systems are not capable of providing reliable references for the information they generate. AI could create a convincing article about a scientific study on the benefits of a new diet, including references, but some or all of the references provided are likely to be inappropriate, have incorrect details, or be made up.
- Risk of bias and stereotypes: AI can accidentally reflect and propagate stereotypes and biases in its outputs, as a result of being trained on stereotypical or biased data. This might include assumptions about race, sex, or gender, or a lack of cultural competency.
AI Declarations and Requirements for Assignments
AI Acknowledgement and Declaration
In some courses your tutor may allow you to use AI-generated content in your assignments. Where
AI use is permitted, students must clearly disclose how AI was used.
Declaration & Description
Option 1 No AI used
Option 2 AI used for basic support
Option 3 AI used for editing and refinement
Option 4 AI used for idea development
Option 5 AI used in a specifically permitted assessment context
Clinical and Placement Setting
You must not upload, summarise, analyse, translate, rewrite or otherwise enter any patient, client, service-user, placement, workplace, or clinical information into generative AI tools. Removing names is not sufficient. Individuals may still be identifiable through circumstances, location, diagnosis, service context, age, or other details. Placement-provider rules, professional standards, and SIT policies must be followed at all times.
Academic Misconduct
You must adhere to the Academic Integrity policy of SIT and ensure that all submitted work is your own.
AI should be used as an aid, not as a replacement for your own work. Misusing AI in SIT can lead to serious consequences, as detailed in our Academic Integrity policy. Examples of how not to use AI include:
- Submitting AI-generated work as your own: Using AI to complete assignments, essays, or projects in violation of academic guidelines is unethical and is considered plagiarism.
- Relying on AI for Learning: Using AI as the main source of information or understanding in your studies can hinder your ability to think critically and learn deeply.
- Bypassing learning opportunities: Using AI to avoid engaging with challenging learning material or to bypass learning processes decreases your opportunity to develop essential skills and knowledge.
- Ignoring the limitations of AI: Overestimating the capabilities of AI and not checking the accuracy of its outputs can lead to the spread of incorrect or misleading information.
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