AI Guides and Resources for Students

Asking the Right Questions: A Student Guide to Responsible AI Use in College

While this guide was crafted with Gonzaga University students in mind, it can serve as a resource for all students. We hope that students and teachers – both within our community and beyond – find it helpful as we all work to navigate learning in the age of AI. 

Why Are You in College?

You’re at Gonzaga to grow intellectually, develop your critical thinking, and engage with broader perspectives. College isn’t just about getting the right answers. It is a process: It’s about learning how to learn, learning from your mistakes, asking better questions, wrestling with complexity, and contributing meaningfully to the world.

While AI tools can be helpful, relying on them too heavily can hinder your personal growth. When AI writes your arguments, solves your problems, or reflects for you, it undermines the very skills you’re
here to build.

Most importantly: Each faculty member sets their own expectations for AI use in their course. Some may permit it in limited ways; others may prohibit it entirely. Always ask if you’re unsure.

Why Are You Using AI?

Before using AI for anything, pause to consider the purpose of the task and the impact on your own learning.

• Am I using AI to enhance my learning, or to replace it?
• Does this use of AI reflect my own voice, ideas and values?
• Am I considering AI use on this assignment as an opportunity to grow, or using it to avoid the challenge presented?

Ask Your Instructor, Not AI

Don’t assume any AI use is acceptable. If AI use isn’t clearly addressed by the professor or course syllabus, have a conversation with your instructor. Consider asking the following questions:

• What kinds of AI use are allowed in this course, and for which assignments? Clarify expectations and note that some assignments may have different guidelines.
• Can I use AI for brainstorming, outlining, or revising my writing or other work? Writing is thinking. Work with faculty to understand when and how AI can support (but not replace) your voice.
• Am I allowed to use AI tools to help me study or prepare for quizzes and exams? Don’t risk crossing the line. What counts as academic dishonesty can vary by course.
• How should I disclose or cite my use of AI, if it’s permitted?
• Different disciplines have different standards. As a baseline, always be honest and clear about how you’ve used AI in your work.
• Are there specific parts of the assignment or course where I’m expected to work without AI? Learning requires struggle sometimes. Ask where AI could get in the way of your growth.

Final Thought

At Gonzaga, learning is not just about acquiring knowledge, it’s about becoming a person capable of reflective and critical thought, lifelong learning, spiritual growth, ethical discernment, creativity, and innovation. Using AI responsibly doesn’t just mean avoiding plagiarism, it means making choices that help you become the learner, leader, and human you’re meant to be. When in doubt, ask. Faculty want to help you learn and grow.