DRAFT Principles & Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

To: John Jay Faculty & Staff Members
Fm: Karol V. Mason, President
Re: Draft Principles & Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting student learning and the workplace, and many John Jay faculty and staff members are exploring possibilities and implications. For example,

  • A group of faculty and staff members is participating in the year-long Institute on AI, Pedagogy and the Curriculum, an American Association of Colleges and Universities initiative.
  • Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Marketing and Communications and others have sponsored multiple AI training sessions.
  • The President’s Leadership Council engaged Audrey Ellis, an expert on AI literacy, to lead a discussion on John Jay’s approach to AI.

In concert with these efforts and many others across campus, I’m sharing a draft document, "Principles and Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence," (see below) for your review and feedback. It is aligned with CUNY’s “Guiding AI Principles” and designed to clarify our shared institutional values around AI use as well as state specific prohibitions of its use for all college staff, faculty and students. 

You can share your thoughts using this feedback form. The deadline to submit feedback is April 3, 2026. As you review the draft, please keep in mind that it is an evolving document – our guidelines may change as we learn more about AI. 

We’ll incorporate the comments we receive into the draft and share the final version with you by email. It will also be added to www.jjay.cuny.edu. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

DRAFT Principles and Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

John Jay College supports the thoughtful and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance our mission of educating for justice.  To ensure these tools are used responsibly and according to our values, the following principles and prohibitions guide all academic and administrative uses of AI at John Jay. 

Defining AI 

Artificial Intelligence is the ability of machines to perform complex tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and problem‑solving. AI technologies are embedded in many of the systems at John Jay, from data and communications systems, to learning management systems, to college infrastructure. AI is not a standalone technology, but an institution-wide capability that must be intentionally aligned with college values, educational quality, operational effectiveness, and preparation for an AI-enabled future. 

Principles and Practices for AI Use at John Jay 

1. Equity and Justice 
AI must be used in ways that deepen—not diminish—our commitment to fairness, human dignity, and social justice.  Further, AI poses risks and threats to our global community. We should continuously question AI output for accuracy, bias, and inequities. Above all else, human judgment must remain central to decisions affecting students, employees, and the college. 

2. Student Learning and Academic Integrity 
AI should enhance—not replace—the development of critical thinking, writing, research, and quantitative reasoning skills. Faculty may choose not to use AI in their pedagogy. However, when choosing to integrate AI into assignments, programming, or support, it should meaningfully contribute to learning outcomes, support authentic assessment, and help students build career readiness.  

To preserve academic standards and institutional trust, all syllabi and assignments should include clear guidance on whether and how students can use AI in the course and every assignment should make clear specific guidance around how AI is to be used. Students must represent AI-generated content transparently and responsibly, and as instructed by their professors. Instructors and departments may define acceptable use for assignments, but undisclosed substitution of AI for one’s own academic work is prohibited. AI may assist with learning; it may not replace the learning itself. 

3. Professional Conduct and Intellectual Honesty 
Faculty and staff must represent AI-generated content transparently and responsibly. While AI may be used for collaborative administrative analysis and work, one should never represent any AI-generated content as one’s own intellectual work. Specifically for faculty performing research, the use of AI must be cited and explained and one’s own intellectual contributions clearly delineated. 

4. Data Privacy, FERPA and HIPAA Compliance, and Integrity 
All AI use must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), applicable state and federal laws, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and CUNY data privacy regulations. 

  • No personally identifiable student information or educational records (e.g., grades, ID numbers, identifiable writing samples) may be entered into any AI system).
  • Users must understand that AI tools collect, store, or use their data for training. 

5. Enhancing Staff and Faculty Worklife 
Human talent and a shared belief in human potential are the bedrock of our institution. AI should reduce administrative burden, support informed decision making, and free employees to focus on high impact, human-centered work. AI may be used as a support and never a substitute for professional judgment and accountability in administrative and operational decisions.   

6. Continuous Professional Development 

The college will endeavor to ensure that faculty, staff, and students understand the benefits and risks AI poses by providing continuous professional development opportunities and talent enhancement that are grounded in our college values. 

Prohibited Uses of AI at John Jay 

In keeping with CUNY’s Data Privacy Policies and AI guidance, and to protect privacy, academic integrity, and institutional trust, the following uses are strictly prohibited: 

  • Entering student records or identifiable information into AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or other public platforms), except when staff are using CUNY-approved AI tools for a specific college purpose. 

  • Representing AI-generated content as one’s own work. 

  • Uploading materials under confidential review such as research papers or funding proposals.  

Commitment to Ongoing Review 

AI is evolving rapidly. John Jay will continue to assess emerging technologies to ensure they align with our values, our justice-focused mission, and our legal obligations. Training, transparency, and ethical stewardship will guide our community’s use of AI so that it advances learning, equity, and human-centered work across the College.