Generative AI and Academics

Cornerstone University Policy on Student Generative Artificial Intelligence Usage 

Theological Foundations

Cornerstone University’s commitment to a Christian worldview guides our stewardship of emerging technologies. Our primary educational goal is to prepare students to be Christ-like, global influencers who engage the modern marketplace with wisdom, integrity, and professional excellence. Because artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes contemporary vocations, we provide a Christ-centered ethical and vocational framework grounded in the theological reality of the Imago Dei. God uniquely created human beings with moral agency, spiritual discernment, and intellectual capacity. While AI technologies excel at rapid information and data processing, they lack a soul, moral accountability, and the capacity for spiritual transformation; therefore, we employ AI only as a tool for learning, research, and vocational readiness from an ethical and human-centric operator.

Tiers of Generative AI Usage

To ensure learning outcomes are appropriately met for all credit-bearing courses, all graded coursework at Cornerstone University operates under one of three standardized tiers of AI handling. Faculty will clearly designate the authorized tier for each course or assignment within their syllabi.

AI Integrated:

Requires active AI usage and citation as a necessary component of coursework, assessing how effectively students prompt, edit, and refine AI outputs.

AI Assisted:

Permits AI tools for research, brainstorming, content appraisal, and editing for clarity and style, provided that submitted coursework originates entirely from the student’s own ideas, analysis, and work to remain human-authored.

AI Prohibited:

Bans all generative AI usage from every phase of coursework to meet learning outcomes and assess student learning absent generative artificial intelligence.

Human Authorship and Ethics

Submitting work generated partially or fully by artificial intelligence as one's own without explicit authorization and proper disclosure constitutes academic dishonesty and plagiarism. When faculty permit AI Assisted or AI Integrated support, students must formally reference the AI usage within their coursework, with these submissions citing AI contributions utilizing standard formatting styles such as APA, MLA, or a disclosure summary as outlined by your professor. Students bear sole responsibility and accountability for the accuracy and integrity of their coursework. Consequently, any identified unauthorized AI use within a student's submitted coursework will be treated as a violation of the Academic Integrity policy.