Using AI at FIU
AI tools are changing the way we create content. At FIU, we want to make sure AI is used honestly and responsibly. These guidelines are here to help you make smart decisions when using AI tools to create content on behalf of FIU.
These guidelines apply to everyone who creates content for the university, including faculty, staff, students and vendors. This covers colleges, departments, programs, student organizations and affiliated entities.
Any content made with AI tools must follow the same brand, accuracy and style rules as all other FIU content.
Ethics & Integrity
As a public research university, the content we produce must be authentic, truthful and serve the public interest. AI tools can be helpful, but they must always be used responsibly and ethically.
FIU communicators must never use AI to:
- Create misleading, biased, harmful or discriminatory content of any kind
- Generate content that misrepresents FIU's rankings, research, academic programs or institutional claims
- Fabricate quotes, testimonials or endorsements from real individuals
- Produce deepfake imagery, video or any content designed to deceive audiences about its origin
- Impersonate FIU officials, faculty or public figures in AI-generated content
- Generate content that would violate FIU's Non-Discrimination Policy or Title IX obligations
AI-generated or AI-assisted content must follow the same review and approval process as all FIU materials. If AI is used in significant ways, it should be noted when submitting the work for brand or compliance review.
Brand Identity
FIU's logos and brand marks, such as the Panther Head, the FIU wordmark and Roary, represent who we are as a university. These marks are carefully protected and cannot be recreated or changed using AI tools.
Do not use AI:
- Recreate or alter the Panther Head, FIU wordmark or any official university logo
- Generate new or stylized versions of FIU's logos or brand marks
- Change the colors of official logos outside the approved brand colors
- Place Roary in new scenes or contexts without brand approval
- Suggest FIU endorsement using AI-generated images with FIU logos
For more information about university logos, refer to the Logo Guidelines. All FIU and specialized unit logos are available for download. For questions, email brand@fiu.edu.
Colors, Typography, and Visual Style
FIU uses a set color palette, including blue (#081E3F), gold (#B6862C) and approved accent colors. AI-generated visuals should follow these colors and match FIU’s overall look and feel.
Do not use AI tools to create text styles that copy or compete with FIU’s official fonts. Approved fonts and design rules can be found in Visual Styles.
Photos & Video
At FIU, our visual storytelling reflects the real students, faculty, staff and Miami community we serve. AI-generated visuals require careful human oversight to ensure it meets our standards for accuracy and respect.
Standards for AI-created visuals:
- Do not present AI images as real photos of FIU students, faculty, staff or campus events.
- Do not depict identifiable individuals without their explicit written consent.
- Do not use AI imagery to represent FIU traditions (like commencement, Homecoming or athletics) in ways that could be mistaken for real events.
- Label all AI-generated illustrations or composites clearly as AI-created.
- Do not alter attendance, participation or endorsement of specific university events or activities.
When AI tools assist with editing, such as photo touch-ups, background removal, or enhancement, the final image must still reflect FIU’s standards for accurate and respectful representation.
Stock photography and video resources are available via the FIU Public Stock Library on Brandfolder (requires logging in with FIU credentials). Photography and videography services are also available through the Division of Marketing and Strategic Communications.
Accessibility
AI can help generate alt-text, captions and transcriptions, but human review is always required. All AI-assisted accessibility content must be reviewed for accuracy, tone and contextual appropriateness before publication.
Accessibility review checklist:
- Review all AI-generated alt-text for accuracy and appropriate context
- Manually verify AI-generated video captions before publishing
- Ensure AI-assisted transcriptions reflect spoken content accurately, including speaker identification where relevant
The full accessibility guidelines can be found on Accessibility.
Editorial Standards
FIU’s editorial voice is direct, energetic and reflects our community and goals as a public research university. AI-generated written content must be reviewed and edited to align with FIU's established voice, tone and editorial style before publication.
AI tools can help with drafting, summarizing, proofreading and brainstorming. However, they do not replace human judgment or responsibility. The department or individual who creates the content is responsible for what is published.
Editorial standards for AI-assisted content:
- Review content for accuracy, including statistics, rankings, program details and names
- Make sure the writing matches FIU’s voice and style guidelines
- Do not publish AI-generated quotes from FIU leaders, faculty, students or other real people
- Do not use AI to create misleading, biased or harmful content
- Check all program details and official statements against trusted sources
Full writing guidelines are available in the FIU Editorial Style Guide.
Data Privacy & Institutional Security
FIU is trusted with the personal and academic data of hundreds of thousands of students, alumni, faculty and staff. Do not input sensitive, confidential or personally identifiable information into external AI platforms that have not been vetted and approved by FIU's Division of IT.
Never upload or input the following into AI tools:
- Student records, grades, FERPA-protected data or any personally identifiable student information
- Unpublished research data, grant proposals or proprietary institutional findings
- Donor or alumni information, including names, contact details or giving history
- Internal strategic plans, budget documents or confidential operational data
- Any data covered by HIPAA, FERPA or other applicable federal or state privacy laws
When in doubt about whether a tool is approved for institutional use, contact the Division of IT or your department's compliance officer before proceeding.
Transparency & Disclosure
Honesty is central to everything FIU produces. When AI tools have meaningfully contributed to the creation of published content, that contribution should be disclosed. The level of disclosure required depends on the nature and context of the content.
| Content type | Disclosure required? | How to disclose |
| AI-generated illustration or graphic used as editorial art | Yes | Label as Illustration: AI-generated in caption or image credit |
| AI-assisted copy drafted by AI and substantially edited by a human | Recommended | Note in document metadata or editorial notes, not required in published copy |
| AI-generated video or animation | Yes | Label prominently as AI-generated in caption, description or on-screen text |
| AI-assisted editing or proofreading only | No | No disclosure needed when AI was used only for minor editing or grammar |
| AI-generated imagery depicting campus, events or people | Yes, clearly visible | Label as AI-generated, illustrative only in proximity to the image |
Brand Review Process
All external-facing content produced for FIU, whether created with AI tools or through traditional workflows, is subject to brand review and approval. The Division of Marketing and Strategic Communications is responsible for stewarding FIU's brand across all platforms and channels.
Submit work for review when AI tools are used to:
- Generate primary visual assets like illustrations, composites, hero images or video intended for external publication
- Produce content for high-profile campaigns, institutional advertising or materials representing FIU to external audiences
- Create content featuring or referencing FIU brand marks, the Panther Head, Roary or other official identifiers
- Develop materials for external media placement, sponsorship activations or partner-facing communications
To begin a project with the Division of Marketing and Strategic Communications, submit the project request form. For help with branding, email brand@fiu.edu.
Evolving Standards for AI
AI capabilities and best practices are changing rapidly. These guidelines represent FIU's current standards and will be updated as the landscape changes. Communicators are encouraged to stay current with developments in AI tools and to bring questions to the Division of Marketing & Strategic Communications.
The Division of Marketing and Strategic Communications sets the guidelines for using AI-generated content and media. For questions about AI use in FIU-related materials, email brand@fiu.edu.