Check Cornell University AI Policy Online

Review Cornell’s generative AI and academic-integrity guidance, assignment-specific permissions, disclosure requirements, and graduate-program restrictions.

Verified from official university sources

Quick Policy Overview

AI Allowed Depends

Depends on assignment and program

Disclosure Depends

Depends; required by many programs and assignments

Instructor Overrides Yes

Instructors set the rules for their own courses.

Last Updated 2026

Current official pages; individual program policies may change

Data Status Verified

Checked against official university sources.

1. Summary

Cornell expects students to follow course and assignment instructions, document or attribute permitted AI use where required, and seek clarification before using a tool when the rule is uncertain.

Hybrid Check primary source.

Use scope: Depends on assignment and program.

Disclosure: Depends; required by many programs and assignments.

Instructor/course rules can override the general university guidance.

Integrity: The general teaching framework allows policies to be set assignment by assignment, the Graduate School treats undisclosed or rule-breaking AI use as misconduct, and a CALS doctoral program prohibits AI drafting for major exams while requiring disclosure even for language-improvement tools.

Check primary source.

2. Why Check This Policy

Cornell illustrates why a university-level summary can miss decisive details. The general teaching framework allows policies to be set assignment by assignment, the Graduate School treats undisclosed or rule-breaking AI use as misconduct, and a CALS doctoral program prohibits AI drafting for major exams while requiring disclosure even for language-improvement tools.

3. When AI Is Commonly Allowed

The source data does not specify concrete allowed uses beyond course- or instructor-level permission.

Check primary source.

Only if your instructor allows it for the specific assignment.

4. When AI Is Commonly Restricted

Any use that an instructor, school, or program explicitly prohibits.

Always check your course syllabus for specific restrictions.

5. Disclosure Requirements

Depends; required by many programs and assignments.

Cornell expects students to follow course and assignment instructions, document or attribute permitted AI use where required, and seek clarification before using a tool when the rule is uncertain.

Where AI use is permitted, disclosure usually takes one of these forms:

A statement or acknowledgement in your submission
A citation of the AI tool, in the format your course requires
A short methods note describing how AI was used

Follow the exact format your instructor or department requires.

6. Sources & References

Official AI policy teaching.cornell.edu — ai academic integrity

Academic integrity policy gradschool.cornell.edu — academic misconduct

Department & school policies elso.as.cornell.edu — ai and academic integrity cals.cornell.edu — genai policy

7. FAQ

Can I use AI for assignments?

The source data does not define specific permitted uses at page level. Check primary source.

Do I need to disclose AI use?

Depends; required by many programs and assignments.

Can an instructor set stricter rules?

Yes. Course-level or instructor-level rules can be stricter than general guidance.

What happens if I break the rules?

The general teaching framework allows policies to be set assignment by assignment, the Graduate School treats undisclosed or rule-breaking AI use as misconduct, and a CALS doctoral program prohibits AI drafting for major exams while requiring disclosure even for language-improvement tools.