Check University of Massachusetts Amherst AI Policy Online

Check University of Massachusetts Amherst's official AI guidance, academic-integrity rules, disclosure requirements, and course-specific restrictions before using generative AI.

Verified from official university sources

Quick Policy Overview

AI Allowed Restricted

Prohibited by default unless permitted

Disclosure Yes

Yes when a unit or instructor permits use

Instructor Overrides Yes

Instructors set the rules for their own courses.

Last Updated 2026

Central guidance current; unit policies updated separately

Data Status Verified

Checked against official university sources.

1. Summary

UMass Amherst's default position is that students may not use generative AI to complete academic work unless the instructor expressly permits it.

Hybrid Check primary source.

Use scope: Prohibited by default unless permitted.

Disclosure: Yes when a unit or instructor permits use.

Instructor/course rules can override the general university guidance.

Integrity: Unauthorized or misleading AI use may be treated as an academic integrity issue under university rules.

Check primary source.

2. Why Check This Policy

UMass has one of the clearest restrictive defaults in this set: AI as a substitute for authentic intellectual or creative work is cheating unless the instructor says otherwise. Public Health and Resource Economics add their own disclosure and enforcement requirements.

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

The source data does not list concrete prohibited uses beyond unauthorized or out-of-scope AI use.

Check primary source.

Always check your course syllabus for specific restrictions.

5. Disclosure Requirements

Yes when a unit or instructor permits use.

Disclosure is required when AI use is permitted. Follow the instructor or course policy for the exact form of acknowledgment.

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 umass.edu — guidance generative artificial intelligence

Academic integrity policy umass.edu — academic integrity policy

Department & school policies umass.edu — sphhs policy student use generative ai umass.edu — policy graduate student use generative artificial intelligence ai technology

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?

Yes when a unit or instructor permits use.

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?

Unauthorized or misleading AI use may be treated as an academic integrity issue under university rules. Check primary source.