Faculty in the Department of Classical Studies are dedicated teachers, devoted to student success. Because the indiscriminate use of generative AI conflicts with our goals of teaching and learning, the Department does not permit the use of generative AI for any stage of the conception, research, or writing of class assignments without the clear written and verbal permission of the instructor; the Department also does not permit the use of generative AI to translate Greek or Latin texts for assignments, examinations, or other assessed work without the clear written and verbal permission of the instructor. The same applies to all assessed work in the PhD and Bridge programs (e.g. class assignments, Qualifying and Preliminary Exams, Dissertation). Unauthorized use of generative AI for such will be treated as plagiarism and a violation of Duke’s Community Standard. Each instructor’s class policies about AI use should be stated in the syllabus and clarified in class as needed. While there may be opportunities to explore this technology in Classical Studies classes with the guidance of an instructor, we take this position for the following reasons:
- The use of generative AI conflicts with our goal of teaching students foundational skills in reading, writing, research, translation, evaluation and analysis of sources, critical thinking, and decision-making. It is our view that use of AI negatively impacts the development of these skills, which are essential in academic settings, in the workforce, and in life.
- We believe in the value of human feedback and communication in the research, writing, and translation process, and are committed to providing personalized feedback to our students. If you have questions or need feedback, ask us; we are here for you.
If you see some benefit in using generative AI not discussed in this policy or in the instructor’s syllabus or if you have questions about what is permissible in Classical Studies courses, we invite you to talk with the instructor, teaching assistant, or relevant faculty member. We will be happy to discuss.
as of January 2026