Maine College of Health Professions (MCHP) is committed to fostering academic integrity, professionalism, and ethical behavior in all aspects of learning and practice. As technology evolves, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the potential for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, has grown in new and complex ways. This policy outlines the College’s approach to plagiarism, addressing both traditional and AI-driven forms of academic misconduct, while recognizing the educational benefits and challenges AI presents.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as one's own without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Copying and pasting text, images, data, or other materials without citation.
- Paraphrasing someone else’s work without proper citation.
- Submitting work generated by another individual or through AI tools as one’s own.
- Using AI-generated content in a manner that misrepresents its origin without proper citation.
- Submitting the same work for multiple assignments without permission.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Academic Work
AI tools, such as generative text models (e.g., ChatGPT), image generators, and other applications, can provide assistance in research, writing, data analysis, and problem-solving. While these tools can enhance learning, creativity, and efficiency, they also introduce new challenges related to authorship, originality, and academic honesty.
Use of AI in Academic Work
- Allowed Usage: Students are encouraged to use AI tools for research, idea generation, improving writing quality, and understanding complex topics. AI can be a valuable learning tool when used ethically and transparently.
- Example: Using AI to summarize an article or to clarify medical terms.
- AI-Generated Content as a Source: If a student uses AI to generate content (text, images, or other media), this must be explicitly acknowledged in the work. AI-generated content should be treated as a source, similar to a reference from a peer-reviewed journal, and cited appropriately.
- Example: "This section of the paper was generated with the assistance of an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT) to aid in structuring the introduction to medical ethics."
Approved:______________________________________________________________________
Monika Bissell, DBA
President