The CU system is set to launch ChatGPT EduD on March 31, giving students, staff and faculty free access to a university-supported version of the AI for three years.
According to Kacey Ross, co-chair of the UCCS AI working group and a faculty representative, the program is a middle ground between the free and premium versions, allowing for advanced prompts and a larger memory. Equity was a critical factor in the decision to implement the program.
“We wanted to avoid a situation where there was a divide between those who have access and those who don’t,” Ross said.
The project for a systemwide AI tool was introduced in spring 2025 when the CU president created an AI task force to explore offering a centralized AI resource.
According to Ross, the CU version of the program has enhanced data protection measures.
“An important part of the ChatGPT Edu experience is that our data won’t be used to further train the model,” Ross said.
Administrators will have access to statistics on usage but not prompt histories to protect user privacy.
Before accessing the platform with UCCS credentials, students and employees are required to complete a short training session that outlines university expectations when using AI.
According to Ross, achieving a 40 percent adoption rate in the first year would be seen as a huge success. Professors incorporating AI into their assignments should provide alternative assignments or allow students to opt-out.
Due to the new program, UCCS is revising its academic ethics code to address the use of AI and its purpose in higher education. Ethical concerns include plagiarism and how to detect it.
“With old school plagiarism, we had clear evidence — but with AI, it’s not as easy to prove,” Ross said.
The CU foundation is funding the first year for $2 million, but each college will be responsible for permanent funding if the contract is renewed.
According to Ross, faculty members expressed concern if AI was the right choice when funds could be used for other areas, such as hiring more instructors and enhancing student services on campus. However, they ultimately recognized AI’s increasing presence.
Concerns about environmental impacts were raised by the team, but they were not a primary focus in the decision-making process.
“If this is the direction of society, the economy and the world are heading, are we doing a disservice by not equipping students with the resources to learn how to use it?” Ross said.
Graphic by CU Connections.