Evanston, United States

Northwestern University

Northwestern University is listed as QS 2026 rank =42. Northwestern University has 6 source-backed AI policy claim records from 6 official source attributions. The public record preserves original-language evidence snippets, source URLs, snapshot hashes, confidence, and review state.

Last checkedMay 10, 2026Last changedMay 10, 2026Review: Agent reviewedConfidence98%

Public JSON Citation rules Dataset access

Reviewed claims6Candidate claims0Official sources6

Candidate claims are source-backed records pending review. They are not final policy conclusions and are not legal or academic integrity advice.

Reviewed claims

6 reviewed public claim

Normalized value: no_institutional_data_in_unvalidated_ai

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

University faculty, staff, students, and affiliates should not enter institutional data into any generative AI tools that have not been validated by the University for appropriate use and have explicit permission of the data provider.
Source: Northwestern Guidance on the Use of Generative AI

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 39cbe001cfa35e18a63be24a6b9c213b5543051ead3f71965a299c65315a8a22
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Privacy section

Normalized value: three_course_ai_policy_options

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

As with other course features, instructors are free to integrate generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to support their teaching goals. Instructors should carefully consider whether and how they will allow the use of GAI in their courses. All instructors should clearly communicate their expectations or requirements to students to avoid confusion. It may help to consider three main options: Open: The use of GAI is permitted. Conditional: The use of GAI is permitted when explicitly authorized by the instructor. Closed: The use of GAI is prohibited.
Source: Instructor Options

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 19e5d246a33e95a64ca2f7ec0cb31571d35063dcece033620346e5fc9642464a
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Instructor Options overview section

Normalized value: data_classification_levels_ai_use

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

To determine whether your data requires special attention, consult Northwestern Data Classification Policy. If your data is Level 1 (non-confidential and public data), uploading it to generative AI tools is permissible. To process data above Level 1, any generative AI tool must have been approved through Northwestern IT procurement and security review processes.
Source: Northwestern Guidance on the Use of Generative AI

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 39cbe001cfa35e18a63be24a6b9c213b5543051ead3f71965a299c65315a8a22
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Data Approved for Use with Generative AI section

Normalized value: copilot_primary_approved_tool

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

Microsoft Copilot is the primary, general-use AI tool available at Northwestern. All Northwestern students, faculty, and staff have access to the free Copilot Chat, and faculty and staff can use the full Copilot for Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities with an add-on paid subscription. When you are logged into these services with your Northwestern NetID, your data is protected and operates fully within Northwestern security, compliance, and data boundaries.
Source: Getting Started with Generative AI

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 5892fd4ad2d066d68e9fed6fa2d94589d288f58ea015a8cf298b394c8bdba543
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Start with Microsoft Copilot Chat section

Normalized value: unauthorized_ai_use_is_cheating

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

Unauthorized use of ChatGPT or other Generative AI tools is considered cheating and/or plagiarism in Academic Integrity: A Basic Guide.
Source: Academic Integrity & Citing AI - Using AI Tools in Your Research

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 0e694d977fb723ce3c9b88b3feeefe8b65024e248b3492ea7e32d2a4d0967ebe
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence section

Normalized value: copilot_approved_for_sensitive_data

Last checked: May 10, 2026
Last changed: May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1

The following table outlines Northwestern current services posture based on data classification: Conversational/Interactive Mode - Public Data (Level 1): Use of publicly available tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Bard/Gemini, MidJourney, etc.). Sensitive/Regulated Data (Level 2, Level 3, Level 4): Microsoft Copilot, when signed in with a Northwestern Microsoft account for Level 2 and Level 3 data.
Source: Northwestern Guidance on the Use of Generative AI

Source language: English (en)
Snapshot hash: 39cbe001cfa35e18a63be24a6b9c213b5543051ead3f71965a299c65315a8a22
Retrieved: May 10, 2026
Evidence locator: Data Approved for Use with Generative AI - services posture table

Candidate claims

0 machine or needs-review claim

Candidate claims are not final policy conclusions. They preserve source URL, source snapshot hash, evidence, confidence, and review state so the record can be audited before review.

Official sources

6 source attribution

Academic Integrity & Citing AI - Using AI Tools in Your Research

libguides.northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://libguides.northwestern.edu/ai-tools-research/acad-integ
Snapshot hash: 0e694d977fb723ce3c9b88b3feeefe8b65024e248b3492ea7e32d2a4d0967ebe

Generative AI on Your Terms: Data and Privacy 101

it.northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://www.it.northwestern.edu/departments/it-services-support/teaching/teach-tech/2024/generative-ai-on-your-terms-data-and-privacy-101.html
Snapshot hash: 175519c842e7b417f907ff5512eacf917d42dcbc5eeea43d0c3f200894595853

Getting Started with Generative AI

it.northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://www.it.northwestern.edu/ai/tools-and-use-guidance/getting-started-with-generative-ai.html
Snapshot hash: 5892fd4ad2d066d68e9fed6fa2d94589d288f58ea015a8cf298b394c8bdba543

Instructor Options

it.northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://www.it.northwestern.edu/ai/teaching-with-ai/instructor-options.html
Snapshot hash: 19e5d246a33e95a64ca2f7ec0cb31571d35063dcece033620346e5fc9642464a

Northwestern Guidance on the Use of Generative AI

it.northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://www.it.northwestern.edu/about/policies/guidance-on-the-use-of-generative-ai.html
Snapshot hash: 39cbe001cfa35e18a63be24a6b9c213b5543051ead3f71965a299c65315a8a22

Overview of Generative AI for Learning

northwestern.edu

Source URL: https://www.northwestern.edu/academic-support-learning/academic-resources/ai-in-learning/ai-for-learning-overview.html
Snapshot hash: afb0ed465a40f66b9e778ff8bdd62e9a5a963909f420dba03f6968fbd17be2d0

Back to universities

University AI Policy Tracker. "Northwestern University AI Policy Tracker record." Last checked May 10, 2026. https://eduaipolicy.org/universities/northwestern-university

Versioned university record with claims, evidence, source attribution, review state, confidence, and citation fields.

6 source attribution record.

Tracker metadata is open licensed. Official source documents, page text, PDFs, and other source materials retain their original rights and terms.

Tracker metadata: CC-BY-4.0

This tracker is not legal advice, not academic integrity advice, and not an official university statement unless a linked source is the university's own official page.

Human reviewed
Agent reviewed
Machine candidate
Needs review
Rejected

Review state describes workflow status. Confidence is a separate machine-assessed support score.

Northwestern University

Citation-ready overview

Reviewed claims

Northwestern guidance states that faculty, staff, students, and affiliates should not enter institutional data into any generative AI tools that have not been validated by the University for appropriate use and have explicit permission of the data provider.

Northwestern provides instructors with three course-level AI policy options: Open (GAI permitted), Conditional (GAI permitted when explicitly authorized), and Closed (GAI prohibited).

Northwestern classifies data into four levels. Only Level 1 (non-confidential, public) data may be uploaded to publicly available generative AI tools. Data above Level 1 requires tools approved through Northwestern IT procurement and security review.

Microsoft Copilot is Northwestern's primary approved generative AI tool. All students, faculty, and staff have access to free Copilot Chat, with full Copilot for Microsoft 365 available as a paid subscription.

Unauthorized use of ChatGPT or other Generative AI tools is considered cheating and/or plagiarism per Northwestern Academic Integrity guidelines.

Microsoft Copilot, when signed in with a Northwestern Microsoft account, is approved for Level 2 and generally Level 3 data. Publicly available AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, MidJourney) may only be used with Level 1 public data.

Candidate claims

Official sources

Academic Integrity & Citing AI - Using AI Tools in Your Research

Generative AI on Your Terms: Data and Privacy 101

Getting Started with Generative AI

Instructor Options

Northwestern Guidance on the Use of Generative AI

Overview of Generative AI for Learning