UJ AI Governance and Framework

Ethical and AI Governance Framework for the University of Jamestown

Executive Summary

This framework establishes a unified standard for transparent, ethical, and mission-aligned use of artificial intelligence across the university’s teaching, research, administration, and student life. Rooted in the institution’s commitment to wholeness, Christian character formation, and academic excellence, this policy ensures that AI strengthens—rather than substitutes—the human relationships, moral reasoning, and personal responsibility central to our educational environment.

Foundational Philosophy

The liberal arts tradition emphasizes truth-seeking through moral reasoning and intellectual humility. Technology and AI, when guided by these values, amplify, rather than diminish, the human capacity for empathy and critical inquiry. The university affirms that:

• human judgment remains the final and essential lens through which all AI outputs must pass;
• education must cultivate critical AI literacy, not automation dependency;
• technological adoption should advance access, creativity, and equity for all learners.
• AI should never replace human relationships, mentorship, or character formation central to a Christian-based higher-education community.

Institutional Ethics and Governance

Transparency and Accountability

When it comes to utilizing new tools and technologies, such as AI-enabled or connection tools, you can reference the existing UJ policies on Data Privacy and the Student Acceptable Use Policy. The essence of this is that if you want to use additional software in the course of your work, you can submit those tools to IT for review and approval. IT will maintain and publish a list of approved AI tools on this webpage as part of its software review process.

Ethical Accountability

AI-assisted decision-making in hiring or performance evaluation must be accompanied by documented review notes and clear human rationale, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness. This process affirms the University of Jamestown’s Christian commitment to the inherent dignity of every person, treating each individual not as a data point, but as a valued member of God’s creation. Human oversight is required to verify that AI-informed outcomes reflect equity, compassion, and respect for people.

Reporting Mechanisms

A confidential reporting process coordinated between IT, Academic Affairs, and HR will handle any concerns brought forward pertaining to Ausage and refer to the appropriate parties. Outcomes include corrective training or disciplinary actions when warranted. If misuse occurs that could harm UJ’s operations, data security, or reputation, it may be addressed through existing policies and processes for technology misuse or academic concerns.

Policy Renewal Cycle

Representatives from IT, Academic Affairs, and HR will review this framework annually to review potential changes based on guidance, privacy law, and academic association ethics updates.

Data Protection

Faculty and staff may only input institutional or student data into AI tools preapproved by IT.  All policies relating to Data Privacy, Acceptable Use, FERPA, and Copyright Protection apply to this.

Faculty Rights and Academic Integrity

Academic Freedom with Responsibility

Faculty retain full discretion over AI inclusion in coursework, which requires clear syllabus declarations on permitted and prohibited AI behaviors.

Faculty determine AI expectations in their courses. Examples can be requested from the Center for Teaching and Learning, Raugust Libraries, or from the Instructional Design Department. Each syllabus should clearly specify:

• permissible uses
• prohibited uses
• expected citation of AI assistance
• consequences for misuse

This protects academic freedom while ensuring students receive consistent, transparent expectations.

Attribution and Authorship

Generative content utilized in instruction, research, or administrative documents must be cited, including documentation of prompts and outputs. The principle extends to AI-assisted grant and publication writing, following emerging APA and MLA guidelines.

The university library maintains a citation guide for assisting with the citation process, which will include AI guidelines. Rules for citation are still evolving, so the University of Jamestown will follow the best practices of the academic groups as much as possible.

Human Oversight

While AI tools may assist evaluative processes, they may never substitute for human judgment in grading, research ethics review, or performance appraisal. This safeguard reflects the University of Jamestown’s conviction that each person deserves evaluation grounded in dignity, discernment, and moral responsibility. Accordingly, evaluators remain personally accountable and must document any AI-assisted support used in decision-making.

Research and Publication

All research using AI assistance must disclose model name, training data summary, and human validation steps in alignment with responsible AI best practices.

Faculty Development

The university will support faculty development efforts in the areas of AI and adjacent topics.

Closing Principle

At the University of Jamestown, Artificial Intelligence is leveraged to expand humanity’s creative and moral imagination, not to mechanize intellectual life. In keeping with the liberal arts ideal, this framework directs all employees—academic, technical, and administrative—to engage technology as both subject and servant of ethical education.