Generative AI Statement
The Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) acknowledges the growing prevalence of generative AI in writing for all purposes, including the self-sponsorship genre of grant and fellowship applications. In response, many grant and fellowship funding agencies have developed AI-related policies and guidelines for their applications. Beyond that, however, we believe that the processes of proposing a project and describing a personal narrative through writing are skills that have lifelong benefits. We also believe that AI-generated material lacks an authenticity that is central to competitive grant and fellowship applications. Just as you should not ask a stranger to write a research statement or personal essay on your behalf, you should not ask an AI tool to do so.
We therefore expect that all work submitted to CUSE as part of an advising process to be self-generated in both content and concept. Advisors in CUSE will inform applicants when they believe material has been produced with generative AI and ask them to resubmit their work. We acknowledge that there may be a place for AI in the application process when it comes to brainstorming and copy editing, as opposed to drafting, but applicants should consult with their CUSE advisors before doing so in order to ensure that using such a tool does not violate the AI-related policies and guidelines of each grant and fellowship for which they are applying.
updated 11.18.2024