Artificial Intelligence (AI) and critical thinking

CCC's Generative AI Policy and Practice (GAPP) Task Force was formed to explore how generative AI is reshaping the way we work, the way we teach and learn, and the way we grow as a college community, while also providing guidance and recommendations for an institutional policy.

While policies and guidelines are being developed, CCC Library is compiling information shared by the College regarding AI. (Feel free to let us know what we've missed.)

• Has the College endorsed a particular Generative AI detector to check student work?
• "CCC has not endorsed an AI detector, and currently we discourage the use of AI detectors. We recognize the commitment faculty bring to upholding rigorous and ethical academic standards. Your concerns are valid and reflect the deep care you have for students and the integrity of your discipline. However, the results of AI detectors are not reliable. They are inconsistent, leading to false positive results that can unfairly penalize students and damage student-instructor trust. For those who are intent on committing academic dishonesty, they can also be fooled into producing false negatives. Until we can collectively establish an approach that supports both our commitment to academic honesty and our responsibility to minimize unintended harm, we’re asking that these tools not be used to make academic integrity decisions." (June 11, 2025, David Plotkin)
• Guidance on Microsoft Copilot
• Many of you have begun exploring Microsoft’s Copilot tools, and I’d like to share some important guidance. There are two versions of Copilot, and it’s essential to understand the differences:
  1. Free Copilot (Chat) Works like a general chatbot (similar to ChatGPT).
     • Can be used for light, non-sensitive tasks such as brainstorming ideas, drafting rough outlines, or summarizing information you type or paste in.
     • Not connected to College files, email, or systems.
     • Important: This version should never be used with College data or any confidential/sensitive information. Its role is limited to general, low-risk use only.
  2. Paid Microsoft 365 Copilot
     • Built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
     • Securely works with your College files, emails, and Teams conversations (based on your permissions).
     • Designed to save time with work tasks such as drafting documents, summarizing meetings, or creating presentations.
     • Includes enterprise-level security built into Microsoft 365.
     • Currently in pilot at Clackamas and not yet available for general use.
  Why This Matters The free version can be helpful for quick, low-risk brainstorming, but it does not have the protections, controls, or features of the Microsoft 365 Copilot. To keep College information safe, its use should remain limited to non-sensitive, general tasks only. The enterprise version of Copilot is where we see real potential. Because it integrates securely with College files, email, and Teams (based on permissions), it can save significant time on tasks such as drafting documents, summarizing meetings, or creating presentations. However, broad use will only come after we’ve implemented key safeguards like Data Loss Prevention policies and sensitivity labeling. This ensures the tool is both secure and aligned with our governance standards before it becomes part of daily work.
  Learn More For updates and details on our Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment, please visit: Learn more about Microsoft 365 Copilot Deployment