At the University at Buffalo School of Social Work (UBSSW), we believe that social workers and educators have a responsibility to attend to the technologies that inform the societies in which we operate. We recognize the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a uniquely transformative technology, presenting both opportunities and threats for social workers and their clients. This document aims to provide faculty, staff, and students with a set of guiding principles for the potential use and education about AI that are consistent with the values and ethical obligations of the profession.
Human Oversight: We value human oversight in all decisions made in the UBSSW. When used, AI should be considered as an aid, with final decisions being made by people.
Bias and Equity: We recognize that AI systems may reflect societal biases based on how they are trained. It is essential to prioritize the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all decision making when using AI, taking care to ensure that AI outputs do not perpetuate or exacerbate inequity.
Critical Thinking: We believe that the responsibility for all aspects of the academic work is with the human author. AI should not supplant the author's responsibility for any part of the academic work, and especially not for critical thinking. AI should not be considered a definitive or authoritative source for academic materials.
Academic Responsibility: Presenting AI-generated content as one’s own work without proper citation constitutes falsifying academic materials and may be treated as a violation of academic integrity policies. Authors are responsible for the content they submit.
Disclosure: At the UBSSW, we value disclosure when using AI to significantly contribute to our work, in line with the evolving norms of the profession and higher education.
Course Expectations: We encourage faculty to state explicitly whether AI is acceptable in their course, what usages are allowed, how to disclose that usage, and where its use is prohibited in their syllabi.
Varied Perspectives: The UBSSW respects and values that there will be a range of views on the use of AI in social work. Faculty members are encouraged to critically engage with AI and decide for themselves how it fits within their pedagogy, research, and practice.
Support and Training: Faculty should have access to ongoing education and training about AI to ensure that they remain informed as the technology evolves.
Professional Readiness: Students should be prepared to use emerging technologies, including AI tools, ethically and responsibly in the field. The school has the responsibility to ensure that our curriculum prepares students to use AI knowledgeably and with integrity, and that simply banning the use of AI throughout our entire curriculum abdicates this responsibility.
Please see the Artificial Intelligence Resources page for more information and guidance about the use of AI.