Communicating AI Assessment Guidance to Students: Reminder for FSE Staff

Following the reminder to add AI assessment categories to Canvas, FSE staff are also asked to ensure that students receive clear, practical communication about AI use in their assessments through the most appropriate channels for their unit.

Canvas is the minimum requirement and should remain the main place where students can revisit assessment guidance at any time. However, important information is more likely to be understood and acted on when it is reinforced through normal teaching and assessment practice.

Key Message

Make sure students hear the message more than once. Students should be able to find a consistent written record on Canvas, while also receiving assessment-specific reminders in the places where they are most likely to engage with them.

Action Required

Please review how AI guidance is communicated to students for each summative assessment. In addition to adding the AI category and related guidance to Canvas, consider reinforcing the message through appropriate unit-level communication.

This might include:

highlighting the AI category and permitted use in lectures, workshops or seminars;
discussing the guidance when introducing the assessment brief;
including a short reminder in unit announcements or weekly updates;
signposting students to the relevant Canvas section during assessment preparation activities;
adding a short note to assessment briefings, slides or FAQs;
reminding students where to find support for digital skills and responsible AI use.

What students need to know

Student-facing communication should be short, practical and assessment-specific. It should help students understand:

the AI category for the assessment;
what forms of AI use are permitted;
what forms of AI use are not permitted;
what they need to declare or evidence, where relevant;
where they can access further support.

Where relevant, staff may also ask students to include an AI declaration, AI use log, source verification statement, or labels for AI-generated visuals, charts, tables or other outputs.

Need help with text communicating to students – Applying AI policy: what to communicate to students?

Templates and Support

Useful student-facing templates are available to help staff communicate expectations clearly and consistently:

Student guidance — Word document template (10-minute read)
Student guidance — PowerPoint (re-use for a 15-minute talk)
Student guidance on using AI — PowerPoint (5-minute student-designed presentation)

Please also signpost students to relevant digital skills and responsible AI support, where appropriate.

Why this Matters

The aim is to ensure that students receive clear, consistent and accessible guidance before they begin their assessments. Canvas provides the shared written record, but reinforcing the message through lectures, workshops, announcements and assessment briefings will help students understand what is expected and where to go for support.

Applying the University AI Policy to Assessments: Guidance for FSE Staff

Adding AI Assessment Categories to Canvas: Reminder for FSE Staff