Pillar 2: Ethical Use and Responsible AI Maturity Assessment

This maturity assessment tool is designed to help educational institutions evaluate their current state of AI governance in terms of ethical use and responsible AI practices. The assessment covers the key components of Pillar 2 of the SAGE-AI Framework.

Who Should Participate?

This assessment should be completed by a cross-functional team including:

  • Senior leadership (e.g. President, Provost, CIO)
  • Ethics officers or committee members
  • AI/IT leadership
  • Representatives from academic affairs and student services
  • Legal counsel
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion officers

How to Use This Assessment

Read each question carefully and select the answer that best describes your institution's current state. Be honest in your responses to get an accurate picture of your institution's maturity level. After completing the assessment, use the scoring guide to calculate your overall maturity level for Pillar 2. If you are completing multiple pillar assessments, transfer your score into the master score sheet.

Assessment Questions

  1. Do you have an AI Ethics Committee in place? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  2. Have you developed an AI Ethics Code specific to your institution? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  3. Is there an AI Academic Integrity Policy that addresses AI use in academic contexts? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  4. Have you implemented an AI Ethics Training Program for faculty, staff, and students? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  5. Is there an Ethical Impact Assessment Process for AI initiatives? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  6. Have you established an AI Transparency Framework? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  7. Is there an AI Bias Detection and Mitigation Protocol in place? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)
  8. Have you implemented an AI Ethics Reporting System? (No, Partially Implemented, Fully Implemented)

Scoring

For each question:

  • No = 0 points
  • Partially Implemented = 1 point
  • Fully Implemented = 2 points

Interpretation of Results

Based on your total score, your institution's maturity level can be categorized as follows:

  • Nascent Stage (0-4 points): Your institution is in the very early stages of addressing ethical considerations in AI use. There may be some awareness of ethical issues, but formal structures and policies are largely absent. Focus on establishing an AI Ethics Committee and developing a basic AI Ethics Code to guide future initiatives.
  • Emerging Stage (5-9 points): Your institution has begun to address ethical considerations in AI use, but the approach is still developing. Some key components like an ethics code or academic integrity policy may be in place but not fully developed or consistently applied. Work on formalizing processes, expanding ethics training, and developing more robust frameworks for ethical impact assessment and bias mitigation.
  • Established Stage (10-13 points): Your institution has a clear and consistent approach to ethical AI use. Most key components are in place and functioning effectively. Focus on refining these processes, ensuring they're fully integrated across the institution, and adapting them to address emerging ethical challenges in AI.
  • Transformative Stage (14-16 points): Your institution is at the forefront of ethical and responsible AI use in education. Ethical considerations are fully integrated into AI decision-making processes and are driving responsible innovation across the institution. Continue to refine and evolve your approach, potentially serving as a model for other institutions. Focus on addressing complex ethical dilemmas and contributing to the broader discourse on AI ethics in education.

Next Steps

Based on your assessment results:

  • Identify the areas where your institution scored lowest and prioritize these for improvement.
  • Develop action plans to address gaps in your ethical AI governance.
  • Set goals to progress to the next maturity stage, focusing on the key components that will help you advance.
  • Regularly reassess your maturity level to track progress and identify new areas for improvement.
  • Share best practices and lessons learned within your institution to foster a culture of ethical AI use.
  • Consider assessing other pillars of the SAGE-AI Framework to get a comprehensive view of your institution's AI governance maturity.
  • For institutions at the Transformative stage, explore opportunities to contribute to the broader education community's understanding of ethical AI use and governance.
Maturity Assessments