What To Do If You Suspect Misconduct

If AI Misconduct is Suspected

The best way to approach suspected student misconduct relies on earlier steps in your class.

Early in the Semester

• Get to know your students: Their stories, their style, and their approach to written work in your class.

The more you know your students, the more you can detect when a submission is different.

• Request brief samples of writing in short assignments (online or in class).

While maintaining integrity to your course's learning goals, keep these low-stakes and relatively short. A low-stakes assignment is less likely to be AI-generated.

Be sure to retain copies of these writing samples.

If You Suspect AI Misconduct

• Don't rely on AI detection scores alone.

AI detection software has a high false positive rate and can be biased against non-native English writers. You might use a score as a flag, but a charge will not hold up with only this score as evidence in a grade appeal.

• Compare prior work samples with the suspect sample.

Find key points of discrepancy within writing styles. If the suspect sample feels too generic, note that.

• Request a meeting with the student.

In your meeting, do not begin with an accusation. Begin from a place of curiosity and with a sense of grace that the student's work is potentially sincere and genuine.

Rather than suggesting their work is suspect, ask for clarification about "muddy points" in the submission. Alternatively, ask them to explain further an idea that addresses a concept from the course, as mentioned in their submission. If your student can clearly explain these thoughts, consider that their work is genuine. Proceed with good judgment.

If the student is unable to explain ideas from their submission, bring up your concerns about the possibility of AI being used. Show comparisons of previous writing to the suspect submission. Ask the student why you are seeing these differences and wonder with them as to why they are unable to discuss ideas they had written about. You may choose to also use AI detection scores here, but again they should not be your first piece of evidence.

If they engaged in AI misconduct, your student might at this point confess. If they do, you are within your rights to levy consequences. However, consider (again) approaching from a place of grace: Many students may not see using AI as a form of misconduct, and this can be a teachable moment for them. Consider ways they might submit their own writing, perhaps with a special appointment and supervision while writing. (This does not exempt the student from documentation of misconduct as per university policy.)

If the student does not admit misconduct, but you strongly feel it is evident, explain your reasoning and your regret at the consequences that must be levied. Be sure to keep all evidence in the event the grade is appealed.

• Notify your Chair and other relevant administrators.

It is good to keep everyone informed as a situation such as this unfolds.

Have other suggestions? Email us at teaching@etsu.edu so we can consider including them!