Microsoft Copilot
About Microsoft Copilot at UC
Copilot (formerly known as Microsoft Bing Chat) is a generative AI chat assistant service grounded in data from the public web. It is designed to efficiently search, write summaries, and tackle complex inquiries.
Copilot is not the same as Copilot for Microsoft 365. It doesn't have access to organizational resources or content within Microsoft 365, such as documents in OneDrive, emails, or other data.
Visit the IT Knowledge Base for helpful how-to information about Copilot.
Sign into Copilot with Your UC Email
The university’s Microsoft 365 licensing agreement provides current students, faculty, and staff privacy protected access to Microsoft Copilot. It is strongly recommended that you use your UC email for all university-related Copilot searches.
Follow the instructions below to access Microsoft Copilot.
- Go to https://copilot.microsoft.com/.
- Copilot supports Microsoft Edge (desktop and mobile) and other major non-Microsoft browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
- Sign in with your official UC email.
- This is the email address that uses your UC Username (sometimes called a 6 +2). For faculty and staff, it is typically xxxxxx@ucmail.uc.edu; for students, xxxxxx@mail.uc.edu.
General Guidelines for Use
Use a university-issued email account for university-related Copilot searches.
- A university-issued email account is recommended for all university-related Copilot searches. Using a personal, non-UC email account is not recommended for searches that involve university-related academic or administrative content.
Use publicly available data.
- Microsoft Copilot can be used for engaging with publicly available data as defined by the university’s Data Classification Policy.
- When engaging with Microsoft Copilot for academic or administrative purposes, it is crucial to ensure that the data involved is classified as Public.
- This classification reaffirms that the use of Copilot should not involve confidential, sensitive, or restricted information, safeguarding both individual and institutional privacy and security.
Public Data is defined as information that is readily available to the public. This category of data requires no confidentiality or integrity protection and is considered open for public access. According to the university’s data classification policy, public data needs no additional protection measures due to its nature.
Examples of Public Data:
- Published research articles and findings.
- Publicly available statistics and datasets.
- University press releases and news articles.
- Open educational resources (OERs).
- Verify Data Classification: Before using Copilot, verify that the information or data you intend to interact with is classified as Public under the university's data classification policy. When in doubt, consult the official policy documents or seek guidance from the data security office.
- Exercise Caution with Personal Information: Even when dealing with public data, exercise caution to avoid inadvertently sharing personal information that, while may be publicly accessible, could compromise privacy when aggregated or analyzed.
- Adhere to Legal and Ethical Standards: Ensure that your use of Copilot and public data complies with legal requirements, copyright laws, and ethical standards, particularly when it involves research or the dissemination of information.
Microsoft Copilot does not store search history or retain the specifics of inquiries and responses. It is disconnected from accessing organizational resources within Microsoft 365. Information shared with a university email address during search sessions remains private.
Copilot adheres to rigorous privacy and protection standards. For comprehensive details, please see Microsoft’s Privacy and Protections section.
While using AI tools for searches unrelated to personal or institutional data, accuracy of the information provided should always be verified, referencing the tool as you would any other source.
For privacy concerns or inquiries about data sharing with Copilot , please contact the university’s AI Committee.
Guidelines for Academic Use
The integration of generative AI tools, including Copilot, into coursework and studies must be navigated with consideration to the academic policies and expectations set forth by instructors.
The decision to incorporate Microsoft Copilot or any generative AI tool into classroom activities, assignments, or research projects rests with the faculty member leading each course.
Instructors may have specific guidelines, restrictions, or perspectives on the use of such technologies in their curriculum, reflecting the unique needs, objectives, and academic integrity standards of their disciplines.
Before utilizing Microsoft Copilot or similar AI tools for any academic purposes, you are encouraged to:
- Check with Faculty Members: Openly communicate with your instructors about the acceptability and appropriate use of Copilot in your coursework. Faculty members can provide clear guidance on how these tools may or may not fit into their learning objectives and evaluation criteria.
- Review Course Syllabi: Carefully read the syllabi for each of your courses at the beginning of the term. Syllabi often contain vital information about course policies regarding the use of technology, including AI tools. Look for sections on assignments, academic integrity, and technology use, or reach out to your instructor if you're unsure.
- Understand Academic Integrity: Remain cognizant of UC’s policies on academic integrity. The responsible use of technology, including AI like Copilot, should align with principles of honesty, fairness, and respect for the intellectual work of others.
While Microsoft Copilot offers significant advantages for information discovery and learning enhancement, its use should be aligned with the educational values and integrity standards of the University of Cincinnati.
The university encourages the exploration of these technologies and a commitment to ethical use in consultation with instructors.
By fostering open dialogue with faculty members and adhering to course guidelines, students can effectively leverage Microsoft Copilot and other AI tools to complement their educational experiences, ensuring that technology serves as a bridge to deeper understanding and innovation in their academic pursuits.