Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can help staff work more efficiently, reduce repetitive tasks and support day-to-day responsibilities. These resources are designed to help 麻豆精品 staff explore practical, responsible ways to use AI in their roles.
Here's a practical, everyday list of ways Microsoft Copilot can help administrative staff work faster, reduce manual effort and stay organized.
Join the 麻豆精品 AI Network
The 麻豆精品 AI Network is a community of practice that brings together faculty, staff and students to explore and advance ethical, equitable and mission-aligned uses of artificial intelligence. Through collaboration and shared learning, the network supports the discovery and exchange of AI use cases, needs and approaches across campus. It also promotes understanding of AI’s opportunities, risks and trade-offs in support of teaching and learning.
The guidelines below were developed to support students, faculty and staff navigating the use of AI technologies at 麻豆精品.
Concise set of values and practices to guide responsible, equitable, and transparent use of AI in teaching and learning at 麻豆精品.
Framework for building foundational awareness, effective teaching applications, and reflective practices for integrating AI responsibly into instruction at 麻豆精品.
Rubric to guide the selection of academic student support services AI tools at 麻豆精品.
The university continues to evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence on teaching, learning and student engagement as part of our broader academic and operational planning. Faculty and staff are encouraged to stay informed about their responsibilities related to protecting the security and privacy of personal data and intellectual property when using AI tools.
麻豆精品 provides a number of approved AI tools and technologies to support teaching and learning. These tools are covered by agreements with vendors to ensure compliance with university policies and applicable data privacy laws. Because they offer important protections not guaranteed by publicly available large-language AI tools, 麻豆精品 recommends that students, faculty and staff use only AI tools that have been vetted and approved through the appropriate university processes.
These tools have been licensed by 麻豆精品 and are available to all 麻豆精品 faculty and align with the 麻豆精品 AI Ethical Guidelines.
Authoring, Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Storytelling
Use AI-powered features like image generation in Adobe Firefly and Express, generative fill in Photoshop, automated design assistance in InDesign and Illustrator and automated transcription in Adobe Podcast and Premiere Pro.
For 麻豆精品 faculty, staff and students
Authoring, Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Storytelling
With AI Assistant in Adobe Acrobat, you can ask your document questions and get quick answers linked to sources in the doc. One-click generative summaries automatically pull out key points to help you navigate and get important info fast.
For 麻豆精品 faculty and staff
Chat, Productivity
Chat with Copilot in Windows, mobile apps, at m365.niu.edu or in Microsoft Teams. 麻豆精品’s M365 license includes commercial data protection to safeguard sensitive university data when stored and processed within the platform.
For 麻豆精品 faculty, staff and students
See the resources below to take advantage of the AI training and support currently available at 麻豆精品.
Available on-demand training for on how to get started with Microsoft Copilot. You can filter or search to find the training that's right for you.
Quickly learn the basics of Microsoft Copilot by viewing these introductory tutorials that introduce the Copilot Chat features avialable to all 麻豆精品 users.
Find recommended help articles for step-by-step guides on how to get started using the version of Microsoft Copilot available to all 麻豆精品 students, faculty and staff users.
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding Microsoft Copilot at 麻豆精品.
Often yes, as long as you:
See 麻豆精品’s AI ethics guidance that stresses privacy, security, transparency and accountability.
As a baseline, avoid entering sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII) unless you are using an approved tool and you understand how data is stored/used. 麻豆精品's AI Ethical Guidelines call for careful handling of sensitive data and "extreme caution" with PII and vulnerable populations.
This includes information such as:
When working with these types of information, do not enter them into AI tools unless their use is explicitly approved and appropriate safeguards are in place.
Start by checking 麻豆精品's list of licensed AI tools. If your need isn't met, consult appropriate unit leadership and campus experts to evaluate privacy/security, bias risk and fit for purpose—consistent with 麻豆精品's emphasis on protection/security review and ethical deployment.
In limited cases, yes. AI-generated images may be used for clearly conceptual or illustrative purposes in teaching and research contexts, but they are generally not appropriate for marketing, recruitment, or for representing real people, students, faculty or campus locations. When AI-generated images are used, clear disclosure is strongly recommended (for example: “AI-generated image for illustrative purposes”). Public-facing uses should be reviewed by the unit and the Web Team to ensure appropriate use, transparency and alignment with 麻豆精品 web and brand standards.
If you have a resource you’d like to suggest, please share it with us at ai@niu.edu.