Universities / University of Waikato
University of Waikato AI acknowledgement
From A Trimester 2026 every Waikato assessment is set as Prohibited, Guided or Focused Gen AI use. Wherever Gen AI is used, students attach a short declaration (an official Gen AI Declaration Form exists) listing the tools, purpose, extent of use and any fact-checking, and cite AI content to academic standards.
Checked against University of Waikato's own pages on 9 October 2026 · See the full rules
Write yours
University of Waikato doesn't publish a fixed template, so this uses a general format that covers what it asks for.
University of Waikato's own wording
Official 'Gen AI Declaration Form' with student/assessment details, a tick-box for the Gen AI use category, a table (tool and version / purpose / extent and way used / fact-checking), and two tick-box declarations: assessment instructions on Gen AI were followed, and Gen AI contributions were acknowledged and records kept.
Summarised from University of Waikato's guidance.
The rules at a glance
- When you need one
- For all assignments where Gen AI is used; the student assessment handbook says always acknowledge Gen AI use in assessment tasks. The form also asks students to tick the category even when no Gen AI was used.
- Framework
- Three tiers (Jan 2026 guidelines): Prohibited Gen AI use / Guided Gen AI use / Focused Gen AI use (required). Studiosity is an approved tool outside these rules.
- Where it goes
- A short declaration attached to the assignment drop box; the form can be attached, its tables pasted into the assignment, or done on paper, as the paper convenor prefers.
- Prompts and outputs
- In Guided use, students must keep records of their Gen AI use. The library suggests including exact prompts and, where needed, an appendix with the full AI response (called out in the body), because outputs differ each session.
- Referencing
- Gen AI content must be cited and referenced to academic standards; library APA 7th guidance, plus MLA and Chicago 18th (14.112) pointers. AI image example: in-text (Microsoft Copilot & OpenAI, 2024); reference "Microsoft Copilot & OpenAI. (2024). Copilot (DALL-E 3). [AI Image Generator]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/", with the prompt in the figure note. In-text acknowledgement example: "ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) was used to brainstorm ideas and I assessed its results for biases..."
- Must include
- Gen AI use category ticked (prohibited / guided / focused)
- tools used, including version number
- purpose of use
- extent and way Gen AI was used
- fact-checking performed (where appropriate)
- declaration that assessment instructions were followed and that use was acknowledged and records kept
- paper code, assessment name, due date, student name and ID if submitted separately
- Also note
- using AI to generate or rewrite assignment/test answers and submitting them as your own is cheating unless the assignment requires or permits it (Studiosity excepted)
- translation with Gen AI only for individual words or short phrases, not full sentences or documents
- do not enter confidential or personal data into public Gen AI tools; use institutionally managed tools
- Turnitin is used to identify Gen AI use from 2025
- do not reference AI output as a source unless the assignment allows it
If you didn't use AI
The form includes the category 'Prohibited GenAI use (No GenAI used)' to tick; no separate wording given.
Sources
- https://libraryguides.waikato.ac.nz/c.php?g=980504&p=7181608
- https://libraryguides.waikato.ac.nz/ld.php?content_id=52971972
- https://libraryguides.waikato.ac.nz/c.php?g=980504&p=7149154
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