Seeing ChatGPT Through Universities' Policies, Resources and Guidelines

The advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT have gained popularity in recent days. The integration of ChatGPT in educational contexts has already created attractions due to a wide range of applications. However, the automatic generation of human-like texts also poses potential risks to academic integrity, especially when faced with writing-intensive language courses. Considering the ongoing debates, this study aims to investigate the academic policies and guidelines established by US universities regarding the use of ChatGPT in teaching and learning. The data sources include academic policies, statements, guidelines as well as relevant resources that were provided by the top 50 universities in the United States, according to U.S. News. Thematic analysis and qualitative analysis were employed in the analysis and showed that most top 50 universities were open but cautious towards the integration of generative AI in teaching and learning and also expressed their concerns on ethical usage, accuracy, and data privacy. Most universities also provided a variety of resources and guidelines, including syllabus templates/samples, workshops and discussions, shared articles, and one-on-one consultations, with focuses on general technical introduction, ethical concerns, pedagogical applications, preventive strategies, data privacy, limitations, and detective tools. The findings will inform future policy-making regarding the integration of ChatGPT in college-level education and influence the provision of supportive resources by universities for the appropriate application of ChatGPT in education.