AI Policy

I. PREAMBLE

Technology magnifies human intention.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and automation represent extraordinary tools—capable of revelation or deception, healing or harm.
Atlas University therefore approaches all data and AI development as sacred stewardship, bound by the covenantal principles of truth, justice, and wisdom.
Every algorithm must serve life, never mastery; every datum must illuminate reality, not manipulate it.

This Policy codifies the ethical, spiritual, and legal framework guiding all data creation, management, and AI applications at Atlas University.

II. PURPOSE

The purposes of this Policy are to:

  1. Ensure ethical use of data and artificial intelligence consistent with divine and human law.

  2. Protect privacy, dignity, and autonomy in all technological operations.

  3. Govern research, instruction, and deployment of AI within the University.

  4. Position Atlas University as a leader in responsible and faith-aligned innovation.

III. SCOPE

This Policy applies to:

  • All faculty, staff, students, researchers, contractors, and collaborators.

  • All research, coursework, administrative systems, or external partnerships involving AI or data analytics.

  • All software, algorithms, and automated systems developed, acquired, or deployed by Atlas University.

IV. THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION

Atlas University affirms that knowledge is derivative of divine Logos — rational, moral, and purposeful.
Therefore, data must be used to restore order, not create chaos; to heal, not exploit; to elevate human consciousness, not reduce it to machinery.

AI systems shall be governed by the following Covenantal Principles:

  1. Transparency (Veritas) – No hidden manipulation or secret bias.

  2. Accountability (Fidelitas) – Human oversight over all automated decision-making.

  3. Justice (Iustitia) – Protection against algorithmic discrimination or inequity.

  4. Privacy (Sanctitas) – Respect for human dignity and autonomy in all data use.

  5. Purpose (Telos) – Every technological action must serve education, healing, or truth.

V. ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY

  • PresidentUpholds moral and strategic oversight of AI and data ethics.

  • Chief Information Officer (CIO)Implements technological governance and compliance.

  • Director, Office of Research and Innovation (ORI)Oversees AI-related research and experimentation.

  • General CounselEnsures compliance with U.S. and international data laws (FERPA, FIPA, GDPR, HIPAA).

  • Atlas Ethics Council for Data and AI (AECDAI)Permanent body governing AI ethics, comprised of theologians, scientists, and ethicists.

VI. DATA ETHICS STANDARDS

  1. Data Ownership and Stewardship

    • All data produced or stored through University systems are property of Atlas University, Inc.

    • Personal data are held in trust, not ownership, by the University for the benefit of the individual.

  2. Consent and Transparency

    • Individuals must be informed when data are collected, processed, or analyzed by AI systems.

    • Informed consent is required for identifiable data use beyond academic administration.

  3. Bias and Fairness

    • AI systems must be audited regularly for bias related to gender, ethnicity, belief, or other protected attributes.

    • Algorithms showing discriminatory outcomes shall be suspended pending correction.

  4. Human Oversight

    • AI may inform but never replace human decision-making in admissions, grading, hiring, or discipline.

    • Automated systems must include a human review layer before final outcomes are enacted.

  5. Privacy and Security

    • All AI and data systems shall comply with the Privacy Policy, FERPA, FIPA, and international data standards.

    • Sensitive data shall be encrypted and anonymized whenever possible.

  6. Transparency in Algorithmic Use

    • The purpose, data inputs, and decision logic of AI systems must be documented and publicly explainable.

    • Research using proprietary or opaque algorithms must include ethical disclosure to the AECDAI.

VII. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

  1. Research Approval

    • All AI-related research must be approved by the Office of Research and Innovation and, if human data are involved, by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

    • Research proposals must include ethical impact statements addressing bias, fairness, and potential misuse.

  2. Generative AI Use

    • Faculty and students may use generative AI tools (e.g., text, art, code) only when explicitly permitted by course policy and with full attribution.

    • AI-generated content must never be presented as original human authorship without disclosure.

  3. Publication Ethics

    • All AI-assisted research publications must declare the nature and extent of AI involvement.

    • Fabrication or falsification of AI-generated data constitutes academic misconduct under the Academic Integrity Policy.

  4. Commercial and External Partnerships

    • External use of University-developed AI or data products requires legal agreement and ethical review by the AECDAI.

    • No project may commercialize AI developed through University research without Board approval.

VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE USE OF AI

  1. Automation in Operations

    • AI systems may be used for scheduling, enrollment forecasting, or financial modeling only after review by the CIO and approval by the President.

  2. Admissions and Evaluation

    • AI may assist in evaluating applications but final admission decisions must remain human.

  3. Learning Analytics

    • Data used to track student progress must remain confidential and used solely for educational improvement.

IX. INTERNATIONAL AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Atlas University adheres to the following laws and frameworks:

  • FERPA (U.S. student records protection)

  • Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA)

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU data subjects

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

  • OECD AI Principles (for international ethical alignment)

The University shall appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsible for compliance with global privacy and AI governance standards.

X. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  1. All faculty, staff, and students must complete annual training on AI literacy, data ethics, and digital discernment.

  2. Specialized certifications offered through the Atlas Center for Ethical Technology (ACET).

  3. Ongoing seminars on theology, philosophy, and data science integration.

XI. ACCOUNTABILITY AND AUDIT

  1. The Atlas Ethics Council for Data and AI (AECDAI) shall publish an Annual AI Ethics Report summarizing audits, incidents, and compliance measures.

  2. Breaches of this Policy are investigated by the Office of Institutional Integrity.

  3. Violations may result in disciplinary action, revocation of research privileges, or termination.

XII. SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL FOUNDATION

Atlas University holds that artificial intelligence must serve divine intelligence.
Technology is redeemed when it becomes transparent, humble, and truthful — a servant to the good, not a rival of the divine image.
Every act of data use is an act of conscience; every algorithm must answer to eternity.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10

XIII. REVIEW AND AMENDMENT

This Policy shall be reviewed annually by the Atlas Ethics Council for Data and AI, approved by the President, and ratified by the Board of Trustees.