Policy on Graduate Student Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence
March 3, 2026
The purpose of this document is to provide Political Science graduate students with guidance regarding the use of generative large language models (otherwise known as Gen-AI) in their teaching, research, and completion of degree requirements. For the purposes of this policy, Gen-AI is defined as any extensive text or code generation technology (including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Grammarly, Google Gemini, Genio, or Google Notebook LM) used in the generation of ideas, writing of text, generation and optimization of code, creation of graphics, summarizing readings, or editing of work. Standard spellcheck functions (e.g. in MS Word, Google Docs, or Apple Pages) and the standard Google Search are excluded from this definition.
- Completion of Degree Requirements
Consistent with UMass’s Gen-AI policy for undergraduates, graduate students are not allowed to use any Gen-AI tools in completion of any degree requirements unless it is explicitly stated in the course syllabus and/or they are given express permission by the relevant instructor: “Students cannot use Generative AI (ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, etc.) to complete any academic work without instructor permission. If an instructor has not given explicit permission to use Generative AI, students should assume they are not allowed to do so in that course. Students should always receive instructor permission to use Generative AI in any part of completing academic work.”
Students should apply these expectations and seek exceptions (when relevant) across three sets of degree requirements in the following ways: 1) In course work, any exception to this policy must be given expressly by the instructor and outlined in the course syllabus. 2) Students are not allowed to use any kind of Gen-AI technology to submit generated content in the completion of comprehensive examinations unless given written consent by all members of the exam committee. 3) In dissertation writing and research, permission to use any AI-generated content at any stage in the dissertation process must be granted by all members of the dissertation committee and must be fully and transparently documented.
- Teaching and Teaching Assistance
Graduate students who teach a course as instructor of record must abide by the university policy on AI use and include an AI use policy in their syllabus. Instructors are encouraged to monitor possible AI use. When confronted with a suspected case of inappropriate AI use, instructors should address the case according to the course policy. Instructors may also seek advice from faculty mentors when this issue arises.
As teaching assistants, students should familiarize themselves with the instructors Gen-AI policy and implement it consistently. They may not use any Gen-AI technology to grade assignments or provide feedback to students.
- Research and Collaborations
Gen-AI technologies are evolving rapidly, and norms regarding their accepted use vary greatly not only across disciplines and subfields, but also across specific research areas within a given subfield. For this reason, students should not presume familiarity with legitimate use of Gen-AI tools. Any student who wishes to use such tools in their own research or in any research collaborations with other students or faculty (beyond any degree requirements, including comprehensive exams and the dissertation, which must follow the rules above) should seek active mentorship in their proper and accepted use by relevant mentors and advisors. Students should not presume that they already know how to effectively use such tools.
Emerging best practices encourage extensive disclosure of Gen-AI use in any published or non-published research project. When submitting work to journals or conferences, students should always consult the relevant official policies.