Communicating clear expectations about how you do - or do not - want students to use generative AI tools in your class is important. These icons have been developed to help you clearly and consistently communicate your expectations. They can be used on the syllabus to convey an overall course approach. They can also be used for individual assignments, allowing you to distinguish different policies for different assignments with different learning goals.

Icons can be combined to more fully reflect your course policy. For example, you can combine AI-FREE + ER to indicate that AI is not permitted in your course for any assignments (AI-FREE), but it may be used to explore and review (ER) new concepts for practice or to promote greater understanding.

Another example of using this method is AS+AT+UA to indicate that AI use is permitted for specific assignments (AS), with approved tools (AT) and attribution (UA). You can place the icons prominently on assignments and then provide more detailed explanations as needed.

Please note that these icons are meant as general markers, not fully self-sufficient explanations.  They’re intended to accompany a statement of your GenAI course policy, which would provide more detail as to when, how, and whether students are permitted to use GenAI in your course, and a rationale for your policies.  

Click the blue button below to download a zipped file containing the icons (get help unzipping the file on a Mac or a PC). 

Download Icons

AI Course Policy	Definition	Color Version
ANY-AI  (Any Tool, Any Use, Any Time)	All AI uses permitted unless otherwise specified.
AT  (Approved Tools Only)	Students should use instructor-approved tools only.
UA  (Use with Attribution)	All work produced using GenAI should be described and attributed following instructor guidance.
PP  (Privacy Protecting—No Proprietary Materials)	GenAI use permitted, but no uploading of copyrighted or proprietary class materials (slides, readings, recordings, lecture notes, etc.) unless otherwise specified.
AS  (Assignment-Specific)	Policies on GenAI use are assignment-specific. Look to individual assignment prompts for guidance.
ER  (Explore and Review)	Students permitted to use GenAI to search, explore and review, and practice course concepts. No other uses, unless otherwise specified.
AI-FREE  (No AI for Any Use, Unless Otherwise Specified)	No AI use for any purpose, unless other specified.

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AI Course Policy Icons © 2025 by Cornell University Office of the Vice Provost of Academic Innovation is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0