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GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

A Student Briefing for Graduate Theological Education

AI tools are increasingly present in academic writing — and increasingly easy to misuse. This briefing exists to remove ambiguity. Read it carefully before using any AI tool in your coursework.

WHAT AI CAN AND CANNOT DO FOR YOU

✔ Acceptable Uses ✔ Correcting spelling, punctuation, and

grammar ✔ Improving sentence clarity without

altering your intended meaning ✔ Formatting or citation format checks ✔ Brainstorming broad topics or initial

ideas (not for submission) ✔ Creating personal study guides or

practice problems ✔ Exploring a complex concept for

general understanding

✘ Prohibited Uses ✘ Generating thesis statements, outlines, or

full paragraphs for submission ✘ Asking AI to rewrite entire sections of your

paper ✘ Using AI summaries in place of reading

assigned materials ✘ Copying AI-generated content without

disclosure ✘ Submitting work substantially written or

revised by AI ✘ Using AI to imitate theological reflection or

pastoral voice ✘ Using AI on quizzes, exams, or Signature

Assignments

⚠ The Grammarly Problem — and Tools Like It Many students assume Grammarly is simply a spell-checker. It is not — not anymore. Grammarly now includes generative AI features such as “Rewrite," "Improve it,” “Make this more formal,” and “Shorten this.” These features do not correct your writing; they replace it. When you use them, the resulting wording and expression are no longer fully your own. Using basic grammar and spelling suggestions = generally acceptable. Using rewrite, tone- adjustment, or paragraph-expansion features = AI-assisted authorship that may violate academic integrity policy. The same principle applies to any writing tool with generative AI features: Microsoft Copilot in Word, Notion AI, Jasper, QuillBot, and similar platforms. If a tool is actively composing or substantially reshaping your work, it has crossed the line.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE

AI may assist your writing, but it must never replace your thinking. Your professors need to hear your voice, your reasoning, your theological reflection, and your engagement with course material. If a tool significantly changes your wording, argumentation, or structure, stop and ask: does this work still authentically represent me? “AI can be a useful servant, but it must never become a substitute for your own learning, authorship, or integrity.”

IF AI USE IS PERMITTED — HOW TO CITE IT

If and only if your professor explicitly permits AI use, all AI-generated content must be properly cited. Below are the required formats.

APA Style

When to use: Required at Regent University and in most graduate research contexts. What to do: Describe your AI use in the Method section or Introduction. Include the exact prompt you used and any relevant generated text. Cite in-text as (OpenAI, 2023). Sample in-text citation:

When prompted with "Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?" the ChatGPT- generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, the concept of people being "left-brained" or "right-brained" is widely considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth (OpenAI, 2023).

Sample reference list entry:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Note: Because ChatGPT responses cannot be retrieved by other readers, the conversation is treated as algorithm output rather than a personal communication. Do not include the entry in your reference list unless a publicly shareable URL is available.

Turabian Style

When to use: Turabian (a student-oriented version of Chicago Style) is the standard citation format for many seminary and theological education programs. Use footnotes or endnotes. What to do: Acknowledge AI use in your text or in a numbered footnote. Include the prompt if it was not stated in the body of your paper. Note any editing you applied to the AI output. Do not include the entry in a bibliography unless a publicly accessible URL is available. Sample in-text acknowledgment:

The following overview of Reformation-era sacramental theology was generated by ChatGPT and subsequently edited for content and accuracy.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

Sample footnote (notes-bibliography format):

1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat. — If the prompt was not stated in the body: 1. ChatGPT, response to “Explain the theological significance of covenant in the Old Testament,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023. — If you edited the AI-generated text, add a note: 1. ChatGPT, response to “Explain the theological significance of covenant in the Old Testament,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023 (edited for style and content).

Note: Unlike APA, Turabian/Chicago does not require a bibliography entry for AI-generated content unless readers can access the conversation via a public URL (e.g., a shared link). For most seminary papers, a footnote is sufficient.

CORE PRINCIPLES TO CARRY WITH YOU

������������ Formation, not just output. Seminary trains pastors, counselors, and leaders. If AI does your theological reasoning, the formation process is diminished. The assignment is not the only point — the thinking is.

��� When in doubt, ask first. Faculty would far rather clarify expectations before submission than address integrity concerns afterward. Asking is not weakness — it is professionalism.

��� Always disclose. Any undisclosed use of AI that generates, rewrites, or paraphrases academic work constitutes academic dishonesty — equivalent to plagiarism. Transparency is non-negotiable.

��� Verify everything AI produces. AI can fabricate citations, misrepresent sources, and contain bias. In fact, AI trends towards a very liberal, progressive leaning due to the input from its creators. You are fully responsible for any content you submit, including AI-generated content you did not verify.

��� AI is not a secure platform. Never enter student work, patient information, protected data, or any sensitive information into an AI tool. Doing so may violate FERPA, HIPAA, and other federal protections.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

QUESTIONS STUDENTS COMMONLY ASK — ANSWERED

The following fifteen questions address the situations seminary students most commonly encounter regarding AI and academic integrity.

1. Can I use Grammarly to proofread my seminary papers? ⚠ Use with caution Basic Grammarly features — spelling correction, punctuation, grammar flagging — are generally acceptable as normal proofreading. However, Grammarly's AI-powered features (“Rewrite,” “Improve it,” “Make this more formal,” “Shorten this”) cross into AI-assisted authorship. If you use any feature that rewrites or substantially reshapes a sentence or paragraph, that output is no longer fully your own and may violate academic integrity policy.

2. Can I ask ChatGPT to help me brainstorm ideas for my paper topic? ✔ Generally acceptable Using AI to brainstorm broad topics or generate a rough list of potential ideas is generally considered an acceptable supportive use. However, the analysis, argumentation, and theological reflection must come from you. Do not use AI-generated outlines or thesis statements in your submitted work without explicit professor permission and proper disclosure.

3. What if I just use AI to make my writing “flow better”? ⚠ Proceed carefully This depends on what “flow better” means in practice. Fixing an awkward sentence for readability while preserving your own argument is different from asking an AI to rewrite a paragraph. If you paste your text into an AI tool and the output significantly changes your wording, structure, or argumentation, you have crossed from proofreading into AI-assisted authorship. Ask yourself: is this still my voice and reasoning?

4. My syllabus doesn't mention AI at all. Does that mean I can use it? ✘ No — assume it is prohibited If no AI policy is provided in your syllabus, you should assume that the use of AI is not permitted because it will be stated in your Student Handbook. This is the default position across most seminary academic integrity frameworks. The appropriate step is to ask your professor before the assignment is submitted — not after.

5. If my professor says AI is allowed, do I still need to cite it? ✘ Yes — always cite Yes, without exception. Nearly every university states that when AI-generated content is used in submitted work, it must be cited — otherwise the use constitutes academic dishonesty. The same principle applies across APA and Turabian citation standards. Cite the tool, the version or date, and ideally the prompt used. Undisclosed AI use is treated the same as plagiarism regardless of whether the professor permitted the use.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

6. Can I use AI to summarize the readings I was assigned? ✘ Prohibited Using AI-generated summaries in place of reading assigned materials is explicitly listed as a prohibited use. This practice bypasses the educational and formational purpose of the reading. It also produces unreliable summaries — AI can misrepresent sources or fabricate details. If you are struggling with the reading load, speak with your professor or advisor.

7. What if I only use a small amount of AI-generated text in a larger paper? ⚠ Disclose it regardless Even a small amount of AI-generated content must be disclosed and — if permitted by your professor — properly cited. The issue is not just quantity; it is authorship and transparency. Submitting any AI-generated content without disclosure is considered academic dishonesty. There is no minimum threshold below which undisclosed AI use becomes acceptable.

8. Can I use AI to translate my writing into better academic English? ⚠ Limited use only Clarifying phrasing for readability while preserving your own voice and argument is listed as an acceptable use. However, this is a narrow allowance. If you are using AI to substantially rephrase your writing — not just clarify phrasing — you have moved into territory that may be considered academic dishonesty. Whenever AI changes your meaning or expression significantly, that use should be disclosed.

9. I used AI to help structure my paper. Is that a problem? ⚠ Depends on degree of use Using AI to brainstorm a general outline before you write is in a gray zone that professors will handle differently. Submitting an AI-generated outline or structure as part of your paper — without disclosure — is generally not acceptable. If you organized your paper's structure with significant AI assistance, you should disclose that to your professor. When in doubt, ask before submitting.

10. Can AI be used for exams, quizzes, or Signature Assignments? ✘ Prohibited AI is explicitly prohibited for quizzes, proctored exams, and Signature Assignments. These assessments are designed specifically to measure your individual understanding and academic outcomes. Using AI assistance on these constitutes a serious violation of academic integrity and may result in significant disciplinary consequences.

11. I asked ChatGPT to write a draft and then I rewrote most of it myself. Is that okay? ✘ No — this is prohibited Generating an initial draft using AI — even if you subsequently revise it — means the work did not originate from your own thinking. AI may assist your writing, but it must not replace your thinking. Starting from an AI draft fundamentally changes the authorship of the work, even if you edit it substantially afterward. This approach is considered a prohibited use unless your professor explicitly permits it.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION | Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

This briefing reflects guidelines from APA and Turabian citation authorities.

12. What if I accidentally use an AI feature I didn't know was there? ℹ Disclose and clarify Honest mistakes can happen, especially as AI features are built silently into familiar tools. The appropriate response is to disclose the situation to your professor before submitting, or immediately after you realize it. Transparency demonstrates integrity. Professors are far more willing to work with students who come forward honestly than to handle a formal academic integrity complaint after the fact.

13. Does it matter if the AI content I used happens to be accurate and well-cited? ✘ Accuracy doesn't change the issue The problem with undisclosed AI use is not primarily about accuracy — it is about authorship and integrity. Even if AI-generated text is accurate, submitting it as your own work is a form of academic dishonesty equivalent to plagiarism. Furthermore, AI tools can and do fabricate citations that appear credible but do not exist. You are fully responsible for verifying any content you submit, regardless of its source.

14. Can I enter my paper draft into an AI tool to get feedback? ⚠ Use with caution — privacy risk There are two concerns here. First, academic integrity: receiving AI feedback on your draft can easily slide into using AI to substantially revise your work, which moves into prohibited territory. Second, privacy: AI is not a secure platform. Entering your work product or any student- protected information into an AI tool may violate FERPA and other data protection regulations.

15. How is this related to Christian character and ministry formation? ℹ A matter of discipleship Academic integrity in seminary is not merely a rule — it is a matter of Christian character, ministerial credibility, and scholarly stewardship. The skills you develop here — biblical interpretation, theological reasoning, pastoral voice, critical thinking — are the very tools you will carry into the church, counseling office, classroom, or mission field. If AI performs those tasks for you, both the formational process and your credibility as a ministry leader are diminished. Integrity in scholarship reflects the same honesty and faithfulness Scripture calls all believers to practice.

A Final Word Academic integrity is not merely institutional policy. It is an act of discipleship — a reflection of the honesty and faithfulness you hope to embody in ministry. “Speak the truth” and “conduct yourselves honorably in all things” are not principles limited to the pulpit. They begin here, in

your scholarship. As future ministry leaders, your academic work should reflect the same character you hope to demonstrate in every dimension of your calling.