ChatGPT at CU Boulder - FAQ
Access, Eligibility & Accounts
Access instructions are still under development and will be shared as soon as they are finalized by the CU System and campus OIT.
Yes. Base access is provided at no cost. Advanced or high-volume capabilities may incur costs, which will be communicated as details become available.
Yes. Users will be required to complete brief training before accessing ChatGPT Edu. Additionally, CU Boulder has created the optional AI Literacy Foundations self-paced course hosted in Canvas where users can learn more about the strengths and limitations of generative AI tools, ethical considerations of use, and the responsibilities of using AI tools within the CU environment.
Individuals or units that already use ChatGPT through CU Boulder credentials will receive guidance on migrating accounts to avoid unnecessary costs and ensure consistent data protections. Users with preexisting ChatGPT accounts using @colorado.edu credentials will receive targeted email communication from OIT in the future regarding the migration process.
No. Use of AI tools, including ChatGPT, continues to be completely optional, and there is no requirement to use AI as part of their work at CU. For those individuals who already have a personal ChatGPT account for CU-business, the university strongly recommends using ChatGPT Edu, which provides a more secure, institutionally protected environment designed to safeguard student, faculty, staff and university data and align with campus privacy and security expectations.
Features, Capabilities & Integrations
ChatGPT Edu provides access to institutionally supported versions of ChatGPT and related tools. The specific set of included features (such as model versions, Deep Research, etc.) will be confirmed during rollout and updated on this page.
ChatGPT Edu offers:
- Heightened data privacy (data used with ChatGPT Edu is not used to train public models)
- Centralized campus support
- No personal subscription cost
- Integration with CU credentials
- Enhanced sharing capabilities within ChatGPT, including Custom GPTs and Projects
CU Boulder strongly recommends using ChatGPT Edu instead of free or paid personal accounts for any university-affiliated work.
Yes. ChatGPT Edu allows users to create and share custom GPTs for use across campus. These GPTs must still comply with CU data standards and responsible-use guidelines.
Base access is provided at no cost. However, advanced features, such as API access or Deep Research, may include fees. More details will be shared as the service develops.
All integrations involving CU data must go through standard campus security, privacy and data-governance reviews. This ensures that data-sharing aligns with institutional policies and system-wide requirements.
Use of Connectors or other automated integrations with ChatGPT Edu will be evaluated in a later phase of the project. At launch, Connectors will not be enabled. The CU System and campus data governance and information security teams will assess security, privacy and support requirements before determining whether and how Connectors may be approved for future use.
Data Privacy, Security & Monitoring
ChatGTP Edu is approved for public & confidential data when logged in with a CU account. Use for highly confidential data will be reviewed as a future part of the evaluation and data process.
No. Data submitted through ChatGPT Edu is not used to train OpenAI’s models. This means that university data shared with ChatGPT Edu will not be shared outside the university’s ChatGPT instance.
No. CU Boulder does not monitor individual conversations or chat content.
Policy, Governance & Responsible Use
Use of ChatGPT Edu must align with CU’s existing policies, including data protection standards, academic integrity expectations, accessibility requirements and responsible-use guidelines. Key applicable CU policies and practices include:
Yes. You may continue using other AI tools. However, only institutionally supported or approved tools are approved for use with CU-affiliated work and data. Public versions of AI tools should not be used with university data as this puts the university at risk.
Faculty retain full discretion over whether and how AI tools are permitted in their courses. Instructors should clearly outline expectations and allowed use cases in their syllabus and communicate guidance to students.
CU Boulder is taking a multifaceted approach to supporting faculty as generative AI introduces meaningful change across campus. The university maintains an up-to-date AI homepage with comprehensive guidance on best practices, policies, and responsible use, and supports two active AI Communities of Practice, including a faculty-focused community led by the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) that provides space for discussion, experimentation, and peer learning. Faculty also have access to a transparent, easy-to-navigate list of AI tools that outlines approved options and clearly explains how to request review or approval of new tools. In addition, CU Boulder is investing in AI literacy through multiple channels, including the CTL’s extensive online resources and a cross-campus collaboration that produced the AI Literacy Foundations course, ensuring faculty have both practical support and opportunities to engage in shaping how AI is used on campus.
General
Training materials, workshops and documentation are currently being developed. More information will be available before campus-wide access begins.
Sustainability is a shared principle at CU Boulder, and we recognize that generative AI technologies have real environmental impacts, including the consumption of energy and water required to train and operate large-scale computing systems. At the same time, the university has an obligation to provide the campus community with access to technology that is safe and secure. ChatGPT Edu is being made available from the system-level leadership to support teaching, learning, research, and operational needs, and we acknowledge that this technology is not without cost.
Use of AI tools on an individual level remains optional, and campus members are encouraged to think critically about when the capabilities of generative AI are truly needed versus when lower-impact alternatives, such as a traditional internet search or smaller, less compute-heavy AI models, may be sufficient. Although individual use of tools may only be a small part of a larger trend, thoughtful, intentional usage helps reduce unnecessary resource consumption while still enabling innovation.
Each AI system has different strengths. ChatGPT Edu complements existing tools by offering enhanced reasoning capabilities, secure and shareable custom GPTs and strong alignment with CU’s data protections. Providing multiple institutionally supported tools ensures flexibility and equity for users with varied needs.
While Microsoft Copilot uses OpenAI models, it is integrated into Microsoft’s productivity ecosystem and governed by Microsoft’s security boundaries. Microsoft Copilot will remain valuable to campus users as a generative AI tool integrated within the Microsoft ecosystem and applications whereas ChatGPT Edu offers different and complementary features such as customGPTs, cutting edge model access, Deep Research, etc. Both tools will continue to coexist and serve different needs on campus.