Understanding Policy Responses to Generative AI in Private Higher Education: Insights from Japan and the United States

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Understanding Policy Responses to Generative AI in Private Higher Education: Insights from Japan and the United States
Language: English
Authors: Lindsay Mack, Avash Byanjankar (ORCID 0009-0006-2126-1834)
Source: Journal of Academic Ethics. 2025 23(4):2357-2377.
Availability: BioMed Central, Ltd. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.springer.com/gp/biomedical-sciences
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Private Colleges, Higher Education, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Uses in Education, Ethics, Educational Policy, School Policy, Integrity, Guidelines, Plagiarism, Cheating, Student Responsibility
Geographic Terms: Japan
DOI: 10.1007/s10805-025-09655-7
ISSN: 1570-1727
1572-8544
Abstract: University students are increasingly utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education for various purposes, including generating writing tasks and translating texts. However, many academic integrity statements or student codes of conduct do not include GenAI. This article investigates the university policies towards GenAI and academic integrity in higher education institutions (HEIs) by analyzing 22 academic integrity documents and 22 GenAI statements from 12 major American universities and 10 English-medium universities in Japan. The policies of individual universities regarding GenAI were analyzed for five core elements: access, approach, responsibility, detail, and support. This research revealed several significant findings. Firstly, access to GenAI guidelines and statements is constantly changing. It is primarily presented through ad hoc documents, as they have not yet been incorporated into the overall academic integrity statements. Secondly, the primary focus of approaches to using GenAI is often to group it with plagiarism and cheating. Thirdly, the responsibility for the ethical use of GenAI is often solely placed on students. Fourthly, while details on the unethical use of GenAI are relatively straightforward, information on the ethical use of GenAI is lacking. Finally, more support is given to teachers for GenAI usage than to students. Implications for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach towards GenAI in future university academic integrity policies will be explored.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1485498
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:University students are increasingly utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education for various purposes, including generating writing tasks and translating texts. However, many academic integrity statements or student codes of conduct do not include GenAI. This article investigates the university policies towards GenAI and academic integrity in higher education institutions (HEIs) by analyzing 22 academic integrity documents and 22 GenAI statements from 12 major American universities and 10 English-medium universities in Japan. The policies of individual universities regarding GenAI were analyzed for five core elements: access, approach, responsibility, detail, and support. This research revealed several significant findings. Firstly, access to GenAI guidelines and statements is constantly changing. It is primarily presented through ad hoc documents, as they have not yet been incorporated into the overall academic integrity statements. Secondly, the primary focus of approaches to using GenAI is often to group it with plagiarism and cheating. Thirdly, the responsibility for the ethical use of GenAI is often solely placed on students. Fourthly, while details on the unethical use of GenAI are relatively straightforward, information on the ethical use of GenAI is lacking. Finally, more support is given to teachers for GenAI usage than to students. Implications for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach towards GenAI in future university academic integrity policies will be explored.
ISSN:1570-1727
1572-8544
DOI:10.1007/s10805-025-09655-7