As artificial intelligence continues to reshape education, Emporia State is working to keep pace—not only by establishing policies, but by rethinking what it means to teach, learn, and communicate in the age of generative technology.
The university’s current AI policy, listed as Policy 6.33 in the university policy manual, was introduced earlier this semester in compliance with state mandates. The policy draws on guidelines from the Kansas Board of Regents and the Office of Information Technology Services (ITECH), outlining appropriate and ethical uses of AI while emphasizing the protection of privacy and intellectual property.
“We’re in the midst of a large-scale change,” said Amy Sage Webb Baza, head of ESU’s AI Task Force. “Artificial intelligence is changing everything, and we’re trying to align and keep up—to make sure our policies evolve with it.”
At present, there are no university-wide restrictions or endorsements regarding classroom use of AI tools. Instead, the emphasis is on open communication and ethical awareness. Faculty are encouraged to define appropriate use within their courses, discuss expectations with students, and adapt as the technology continues to develop.
“The guidance for faculty is not on policing,” Webb Baza explained. “The tools for detecting AI use just aren’t that great right now. Our focus is on helping faculty and students understand AI and use it responsibly.”
As ESU works to align with state mandates and evolving technologies, a policy environment for AI use is still taking shape. To that end, the AI Task Force has been organizing trainings, forums, and the creation of a central resource repository for both students and faculty. A training session in October introduced basic concepts and considerations for AI use, while future sessions—including one in December—will focus on effective prompting and practical classroom integration.
By the end of the semester, the task force plans to release templates and best-practice materials that make guidance clearer and more accessible. Faculty forums will also showcase ways instructors are already integrating AI productively into their coursework.
One of the biggest challenges, according to Webb Baza, lies in reexamining traditional assumptions about teaching and assessment.
“Many of the ways we teach and communicate were built around a world before AI,” she said. “Now we’re having to rethink those assumptions.”
Student representation has also been built into the task force’s structure, ensuring that the university’s evolving AI strategy reflects the voices of those most directly affected. Some trainings are designed for both students and faculty, fostering collaboration rather than division.
Still, the university acknowledges that awareness remains a challenge. Policies exist across multiple documents and platforms, from the syllabus to the student handbook. One of the task force’s current goals is to consolidate those “pockets of policy” into a clearer, more accessible map of procedures and responsibilities.
“Our biggest concern is clarity—helping people understand, ‘Where am I in this map? What happens next?’” Webb Baza said. “We’re trying to make that a little more transparent.”
