The Senate of College Councils unanimously passed a resolution meant to promote authenticity in University-funded scholarship applications.
The resolution, passed Feb. 19, proposes applications to add a required statement against generated or unoriginal content, consequences for inauthentic work and for applicants to submit a statement saying all content is purely original writing. Jonathan Chao, a chemical engineering freshman, said this can include, but is not limited to, artificial intelligence use.
“With emerging tools that directly threaten original and creative voices as part of the scholarship process, the standard should be clear: authenticity should be the core of every application, providing a truthful representation of each unique applicant,” the resolution states.
Chao said that when implemented, it will provide student governance organizations and Longhorn Awards and Student Scholarship Opportunities, the University’s official scholarship program, with guidelines that reflect student opinions. When Senate presents the resolution to UT administration on March 25, Chao said it will present data from its survey, currently open for student input on future AI policies with the resolution.
Both Senate and Student Government offer scholarships focused on academic growth or research and have selection committees that members can serve on. Chao, who is a member of a scholarship selection committee, said Senate noticed there were no clear guidelines on what makes an authentic application.
“What the Senate of College Councils values in every single scholarship application that we see is the authentic voices and the unique perspective and lived experience that every single applicant can present to us,” Chao said.
