Important: Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection

Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, a generative Artificial Intelligence tool, is available to all faculty, staff and students through your JMU Microsoft 365 account.  Copilot with Data Protection uses large language models to help with tasks such as drafting digital media, summarizing information, and understanding topics. Data Protection offers enhanced security features for JMU users and can operate on JMU data without releasing it to the public, as other, non-protected generative AI (gAI) systems may do.  

Despite the enhanced security features, however, it does not meet our requirements for use with sensitive or highly confidential data. Using Copilot with these data types might inadvertently expose sensitive university data to those in our community who are not authorized to view it.

If you would like to use Copilot, please note:

• Copilot should only be used with lower-risk data.

• You must ensure you are logged into your JMU Microsoft 365 account when using Copilot for university purposes. You can verify that by seeing a shield icon at the top right of the screen.

• All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

• All chat session data is deidentified and not associated with the user or their domain.

• After the chat session ends, prompts and responses are discarded. At no time are they viewable by IT or system administrators.

Please see Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) - JMU for more details on Copilot and how to access it.

The Commonwealth of Virginia and Information Technology have issued additional guidance for the use of gAI and AI tools:

• All AI tools require review and approval. No gAI or AI tools that lack review and approval by Information Technology are authorized for use with JMU data. Requests for review may be submitted here.

  • Information on the AI models used by the technology will be requested as part of the review.

  • Using JMU-licensed AI tools (such as Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection) provides contractual protections of university data when used properly and when all prompt data remains in JMU-specific storage.

• Transparency matters. Any AI tool used to generate content that is then shared must include a disclaimer noting that an AI tool was used to generate it.

• All users must adhere to existing university policies including:

  • 1205 – Data Stewardship

  • 1207 – Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources

• Understand that all answers may not be accurate or appropriate.  All AI- generated content should be closely reviewed by a knowledgeable person before using or publishing.  

• Be mindful of data bias potential.  AI models are trained on large data sets and bias may be present in the training data, affecting the results presented.

• Learn about prompt engineering.  It takes time and practice to develop good prompting skills that result in relevant and reasonably accurate responses.  There are many resources available on prompt engineering, including short courses and videos provided to you through JMU’s subscription to LinkedIn Learning. (Learn how to make an account.)

 
We will be announcing the availability of Copilot with Data Protections to students soon.
 
If you are a faculty member who teaches courses or a staff or faculty member who employs students in your department, it is important to clearly articulate how and when Copilot or other approved AI tools may be used. Resources on AI in education from the JMU Libraries are available here, with more forthcoming soon.
 
General resources for use of Copilot may be found here.  Questions may be submitted through the IT Help Desk as well.  
 
Robin Bryan, AVP for Information Technology
Bethany Nowviskie, Dean of Libraries