Executive Policy 2.220 Executive Policy 2.220

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Executive Policy Chapter  2, Administration
Executive Policy 2.220, Artificial Intelligence
Effective Date:  April 2026
Prior Dates Amended:  None
Responsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Governing Board of Regents Policy RP 11.208, Information, Communication, and Cybersecurity Technologies; RP 12.201, Ethical Standards of Conduct
Review Date:  April 2029

As artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that may enhance teaching, learning, and research, and support student success, this policy is intended to:

1. Establish guidelines and principles for the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies at the University.


2. Ensure that AI technologies are used in a manner that aligns with the University's mission, values, and legal obligations.


3. Promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in the deployment and use of AI technologies within the University community.


4. Be applied together with all applicable University Systemwide Policies and Procedures, including those related to data security, data privacy, and the acquisition of computer software and hardware.


5. Apply to University administrative leadership, students, faculty, and staff who use AI to support their studies, teaching, research, and work tasks.

1. "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, learn from data and adapt its behavior over time, and that can generate outputs such as predictions, recommendations, or decisions that influence real or virtual environments. AI systems use machine and/or human inputs to: (1) perceive environments; (2)model and represent those perceptions; and (3) act or support human action based on those models.


2. “AI Technologies” are software and systems that use artificial intelligence to provide suggestions, guidance, analysis, or support, while the human user retains full decision-making authority, and the tool does not autonomously adapt its behavior or take action on behalf of the user.
                   

3. “Ethical Use” means the application of AI in a manner that upholds privacy, equity and the well-being of individuals and communities within the University of Hawai’i, and that consider the broader impacts on society.


4. “Responsible Use” means the deployment of AI systems with consideration for their potential impacts and in compliance with relevant laws and University Systemwide Policies and Procedures. This is further elaborated on in the Guidelines for Using Artificial Intelligence Tools referenced in Section VII (Exhibits and Appendices) of this policy.


5. “University” includes the University of Hawaiʻi and all of its constituent campuses, colleges, departments, institutes, centers, and units.

1. Responsible Use:
   
   1. All AI software tools and services must comply with federal and state laws and University Systemwide Policies and Procedures.
   
   
   2. All use of AI tools must comply with EP 2.214 Institutional Data Classification Categories and Informational Security Guidelines. AI models may retain and utilize input data indefinitely. Inputting Sensitive, Regulated, or Restricted data may result in a permanent loss of institutional control, compromising compliance with privacy laws and University policies and procedures.
   
   
   3. The University shall provide training and informational materials on the ethical and responsible use of AI tools to UH employees who are required to use these technologies as part of their regular job duties.
        
   
   4. The University shall observe and evaluate AI technologies developed in administrative, instructional, or operational settings or deployed by University units to ensure appropriate use.  This oversight does not extend to AI research, experimentation, or creative inquiry conducted as part of academic or scholarly work, which remain protected under principles of academic freedom.
   
   
2. Ethical Use:


1. When using AI tools, employees shall make every reasonable effort to protect individuals' privacy and rights.


2. AI systems developed or supported by the University shall be designed and implemented to avoid bias, promote trustworthiness, and ensure equity in their use and availability.


3. AI tools used by the University of Hawaiʻi shall be for the public good and the benefit of students, enhancing personalized learning and critical thinking, and providing students with the knowledge and resources to help them reach their full potential. All tools shall be used in alignment with the Regents’ Policy 12.201 related to Ethical Standards of Conduct and research and scholarly conduct, as well as EP 7.208 that outlines the systemwide student conduct code, in order to align with UH standards on academic integrity in teaching, scholarship, and research.


4. When using AI tools to perform job duties, University employees shall maintain a high standard of moral conduct by avoiding conflicts of interest, being impartial, and upholding ethical values.


5. The ethical use of artificial intelligence requires honesty, transparency, and accountability. Administrators, faculty, staff, and students must not represent AI-generated content as their own original work when the use of artificial intelligence or large language models has materially contributed to the creation of that work, and such use is not disclosed. Passing off AI-generated or AI-assisted work as entirely human-authored may violate institutional standards of academic integrity or professional conduct. Expectations for appropriate disclosure, acknowledgment, or citation of AI tools may vary by context and discipline and may be further defined through institutional guidelines, instructional policies, or course- or unit-level requirements.

No Delegation of Authority found

Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Telephone: 808-956-3501
Email: gyoshimi@hawaii.edu
Website: https://www.hawaii.edu/its/

RP 11.208, Information, Communication, and Cybersecurity Technologies
EP 2.210, Use and Management of Information Technology Resources
EP 2.214, Institutional Data Classification Categories and Information Security Guidelines
EP 2.215, Institutional Data Governance
EP 7.208,  Systemwide Student Conduct Code
RP 12.201, Ethical Standards of Conduct
Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 84 (State Ethics Code)
Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 708-890 (Computer Crime)

AI Tools, UH Guidance and Best Practices for Faculty and Staff, which may be amended periodically by the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer with the input of affected University units. It shall be posted online at https://www.hawaii.edu/its/ai/.