AI Traffic Laws
This is a quick guide to ethical AI use at Manna University. Please note that your instructor has the authority to determine which assignments in the course are red, yellow, and green assignments.
Red Light
stop ( no ai use)
Students must complete all work independently, without the use of AI tools.
- Assignment Examples:
- Reflection Assignments (written or video)
- Informal journals
- Tests & quizzes
- Expectations:
- No AI tools of any kind.
- No AI tools may be used for any portion of these assignments.
- No grammar checkers, rewrite tools, or automated editing software may be used.
- Basic spellcheck, such as those that come standard in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Apple Pages are acceptable, but students must not use tools that revise sentences, adjust style, or enhance clarity.
- Grammar and formatting are not factors in the grade for these types of assignments unless the writing is unclear enough that the instructor cannot understand the meaning.
- All work must reflect the student’s own authentic writing, thinking, and insight.
- No AI tools of any kind.
faq
Not unless you have read the content yourself. AI summaries should be to help you review what you have read; not replace your reading.
That is acceptable. These RED assignments assess your reflection, understanding, and personal engagement, not polished writing. Your instructor expects your natural voice, not work improved by an outside source.
Yellow Light
caution (minimal ai use)
AI may be used in limited ways that support, but do not replace, your own thinking, structure, or writing.
- Assignment Examples:
- Short essays
- Case study reflections
- Discussion boards
- Selected papers (professors may select specific papers that should be YELLOW-assignments, compared to GREEN-assignments; for example, a Text Response paper, In-Process Paper, or formatted documents provided by the professor for the assignment, such as style guide or outlines)
- You may use AI for:
| Acceptable AI Use for Yellow Assignments | Unacceptable AI Use for Yellow Assignments |
| Grammar, punctuation, mechanics | Adding sentences and/or content |
| Citation formatting | Changing your tone or voice |
| Definitions of terms | Completing your required reading for you |
| Finding Bible verses & academic sources (verify them!) |
faq
Yes, but only on YELLOW or GREEN assignments, and only if it does not change your tone or ideas.
Yes. Asking for clarification of confusing instructions is permitted. Keep in mind that your instructor is an invaluable tool to help you understand their expectations and help make sure you are on the right track.
Yes, but you must always verify accuracy, since AI sometimes invents references.
Yes. Formatting support is allowed.
Yes, as long as you write the assignment yourself.
AI is a great tool that can help you improve your writing and make sure that you are giving professors what they ask for.
- Completely writing a YELLOW or GREEN assignment and then running it through an AI model to check for tone and academic prose, using those suggestions, and then citing this is acceptable. You will need to read and review AI’s reasoning for the changes before accepting them. This will help you improve your tone and prose with every paper you write. Also, AI does get it wrong sometimes.
If you are using the default programs within your word processing, no. If you are using a program outside of your word processing, ALWAYS! Generative AI is a resource just like a textbook or peer-reviewed article; the information is not your own, so you must give credit to the source that provided you with the information.
Green Light
go (guided ai use)
AI may be used as a learning tool that strengthens understanding, organization, and academic skills, but students must remain the primary authors of all submitted work.
- Assignment Examples:
- Research papers
- Academic projects
- Annotated bibliographies
- Topic outlines
- Some minor papers (instructor decision/direction)
| AI may help with | AI may NOT |
| Brainstorming ideas or possible directions | Write any part of the paper – you must be the starting point |
| Organizing or structuring an outline | Rewrite your paragraphs without citation or review |
| Explaining concepts, you’ve already read | Turn your outline into paragraphs or prose |
| Organization suggestions | Writing summaries of articles/texts for you |
| Grammar while keeping your voice | Generating content that replaces your own thinking |
faq
Suggested prompts:
- “Does this outline make sense?”
- “I wrote this; check grammar only”
- “Explain operant conditioning”
- “Help me structure an outline”
- “How can I have better transitions?”
- “Check my writing for academic prose and suggest improvements”
Yes. Brainstorming is allowed as long as you generate the final ideas.
Yes, as long as AI does not write any sentences or add content not written by you.
Yes. This is a permitted use of AI as a study tool.
This can be done; however, you need to ensure that you have completed all writing first, review everything AI suggests, and then make sure you cite the prompt, use of AI, and any additional tools or resources used.
Yes, this is allowed for both YELLOW and GREEN assignments.
For GREEN assignments only, you may use AI tools to brainstorm research topics or questions and to help create an outline for your paper. If you do so, this use must be acknowledged in your bibliography or works cited page.
All content submitted for this assignment including analysis, arguments, and written paragraphs must be your own original work. AI tools may not write or generate sections of the paper for you.
After you have written your original content, you may use the suggestions above to edit for clarity, organization, or grammar. AI should function as a support tool—not the author.
AI Disclosure Requirement
Examples of acceptable AI disclosure statements to include on a bibliography or works cited page:
- I used AI only for grammar, formatting, or organization support. All ideas and wording are my own.
- I used ChatGPT for concept clarification and Grammarly for basic grammar support. Neither tool generated nor rewrote any sentences. All original ideas and content are my own.
- I used ChatGPT and/or Grammarly only for permitted support tasks (grammar, formatting, organization guidance, concept clarification). AI did not generate any content for the final draft of the assignment. All original ideas and content are my own.
- I used Grammarly (or Microsoft Editor, etc.) only for basic grammar and writing mechanics support. All original ideas and wording are my own.
- I used ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas for my assignment. After I chose the direction of my writing, ChatGPT was used to format my outline, to include headings. All content within the paper is my own – GREEN assignments only.
- I used ChatGPT only for brainstorming possible directions for my assignment. I chose the ideas I used and wrote all original sentences myself – GREEN assignments only.
- I used ChatGPT for concept clarification, transition support, and academic prose after completing my writing. I reviewed the suggestions and then copied and pasted suggestions that fit the assignment – GREEN assignment only.
general faq
Yes. Any use of AI on assignments requires a disclosure statement.
It is treated as a form of academic dishonesty with possible course or disciplinary consequences. This may include an opportunity to rewrite the assignment with no AI use, an F on the assignment, and/or notation in the student’s academic record. For repeated offenses, students may be suspended or expelled from Manna University.
In all areas, Manna University seeks to educate, equip, and empower students. This holds true for AI usage. To that end our AI policy protects academic integrity, spiritual formation, and skill development — “formation, not automation.”
Always follow the professor’s assignment-specific instructions. Professors may add additional requirements for assignments, but the core expectations of our Traffic Laws remain in place, including restrictions on uncited AI use and on AI serving as the author or originator of your work. If anything is unclear, reach out to your professor for clarification before using AI.
Review the traffic laws for the assignment, then ask your professor before using AI. Confusion is understandable, and faculty are happy to clarify.
Below you will find examples of how to cite properly within your paper. Note that you will need to include your actual AI disclosure statement(s) (prompts) on your bibliography/works cited page. See the examples provided to understand how to ask AI for help and what to include in your disclosure statement(s).
APA Example
- Parenthetical citation:
(OpenAI, 2025) - Narrative citation:
OpenAI (2025)
Turabian Example
Footnote:
OpenAI, ChatGPT (GPT-5.1), large language model, https://chat.openai.com/.
Anthropic, Claude, large language model, https://claude.ai/.
Google, Gemini, large language model, https://gemini.google.com/.
Microsoft, Copilot, generative AI assistant, https://copilot.microsoft.com/.
Perplexity AI, Perplexity, AI-powered research assistant, https://www.perplexity.ai/.
Grammarly includes traditional grammar-checking tools along with newer AI-supported suggestions. Basic grammar and mechanics support is allowed in YELLOW and GREEN assignments. Minor rephrasing suggestions that improve clarity without changing your tone, ideas, or structure are acceptable. Features that significantly rewrite sentences, alter your voice, or generate new phrasing move into generative AI. This tool may be used; however, you must review the suggestions before accepting and cite the use in your paper.
This document was developed by the Manna University Academic Team. The team created the core ideas and direction for the AI Traffic Laws. ChatGPT was used to help organize early drafts and to generate sample FAQ questions. The Academic Team revised, expanded, and approved all content, and many sections were written entirely by the team. AI did not replace authorship, academic judgment, or institutional oversight.