This article will introduce you to the currently available AI tools provided or approved of by the university, as well as the acceptable use, responsibility, and the don't of AI utilization.

University Provided AI Tools

Microsoft Copilot

There are two versions of Copilot available to SHU users, read about the differences in the Microsoft Copilot General Information knowledge base article.

This tool is approved for use with sensitive data as the data is not used to train AI outside SHU and AI operates within our environment only.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

• All SHU users with an active university account and Microsoft license can use Copilot Chat.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

• Only users with an approved special license have access to this version.

Zoom AI Companion:

• Faculty and staff already have access to this tool.
• What does it offer?
  • Assist with meeting summaries.
  • Action item tracking.
  • Live transcription during virtual meetings (great for accessibility).
• How to Use Zoom AI Companion.
• How to Use AI Companion in Zoom Whiteboards.

Blackboard Ultra AI Design Assistant

• AI Design Assistant is available to Faculty within their course on Blackboard.
• AI Design Assistant is intended for course development through suggested content, assessments, rubric generation and other features.
• General Information.
• How to Generate Images.
• How to Generate an Assignment Prompt.
• How to Generate Question Banks.
• How to Generate Test Questions.
• How to Generate a Rubric.
• How to Use AI Conversation Tool in Blackboard - for Instructors - meant for setting up role play, scenario based conversations between students and AI.
• How to Use AI Conversation Tool in Blackboard - for Students - using the setup AI Conversation Tool to lead scenario based conversations with AI.

FeedbackFruits AI Tools

• Faculty can add FeedbackFruits through the Marketplace on Blackboard. Once added, faculty can set up and use the AI features.
• AI features: 
  • Feedback Coach: Provides students with AI-generated feedback to improve their work.
  • Writing Coach: Helps students refine their writing skills with context-aware suggestions.
  • Engagement Assistant: Aids instructors in enhancing participation through smart prompts.
• General Information on FeedbackFruits
• How to Add FeedbackFruits to a Course
• ⁠Automated Feedback Overview
• ⁠How to Use Automated Feedback

LinkedIn Learning Role Play Assistant

• AI Powered interactive scenarios.

Other Tools Approved for Administrative Work

Note: the following tools are NOT approved for use with sensitive, identifiable data. These are approved for administrative work of staff and faculty, when using non-sensitive data.

• ChatGPT (free or paid) - brainstorming or drafts.
• Google Gemini - intelligent suggestions and writing assistance
• Claude AI - summarizing non-sensitive documents and drafting.
• Perplexity AI - research for information on non-sensitive topics.

Using AI Responsibly

Note: Review the university policy which outlines expectations for ethical use, data privacy, and compliance here: AI Acceptable Use policy.

Sensitive Data:

• Never share sensitive University data (including student, financial, or healthcare information protected by FERPA, GLBA, HIPAA, etc.) with any third-party AI tools. 
• Only Microsoft Copilot Enterprise is approved for use with sensitive data within the Sacred Heart University environment.

Review Output: 

• AI is constantly evolving and can sometimes produce inaccurate information. Always critically review the output you receive from any AI tool before relying on it.

AI Assistants in Meetings – Protecting Privacy at SHU:

• AI meeting assistants like Otter.ai, Read.ai, Firefly.ai, and TeamsMaestro are not approved for use at SHU, particularly in meetings involving confidential University data. These tools often collect meeting content (audio, video, chat, files) and may use it to train their AI models, posing a risk to our data privacy.
• Warning Signs: Be vigilant for AI participants appearing in your meetings with names like “Alex’s Otter.ai” or “Meeting Summary by Read.ai,” or if you receive automatic meeting summaries from unfamiliar AI tools. Also, be aware if AI assistants join your Zoom or Teams meetings without your explicit consent.
• If You See an AI Assistant in Your Meeting: Remove it immediately. Check your calendar or meeting integrations for any unauthorized tools and contact the SHU IT service desk for support.