In collaboration with Dr. Clayton Smith, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Windsor, and Editor of the Journal of Teaching and Learning (JTL), the following artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines are provided as a template for all Open Access journals hosted by the University of Windsor. These guidelines aim to ensure transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and ethical use of AI in scholarly publishing.
For Authors
Authors may use generative AI or AI-assisted tools prior to submission, but only to improve the language and readability of their manuscript. The use of AI must be:
- Conducted with human oversight and control
- Reviewed and edited carefully by the authors
- Disclosed clearly in the manuscript
Disclosure Requirements:
- Mention the use of AI tools in the Methods section
- Include a statement in the Acknowledgments section
- Example: “Portions of this manuscript were edited using [AI Tool Name] to improve clarity and grammar.”
For example, the Journal of Teaching and Learning uses Grammarly Pro to monitor AI-assisted content.
For Reviewers
Reviewing a manuscript is a human responsibility that requires confidentiality and professional judgment. Reviewers are not permitted to upload submitted manuscripts - or any part of them - into generative AI tools. Doing so may:
- Violate confidentiality and proprietary rights
- Breach data privacy, especially if personally identifiable information is included
- Compromise the integrity of the peer review process
This restriction also applies to peer review reports, which may contain confidential information. Reviewers are expected to write and edit their reports independently, without the assistance of AI tools. They remain fully responsible and accountable for the content of their reviews.
Adapted from Elsevier’s Reviewer Guidelines
Suggested Template Language for Journals
Use of AI Tools
Authors may use generative AI tools to enhance the clarity and readability of their manuscripts prior to submission. However, all content must be reviewed and approved by the authors, who remain fully responsible for the final work. Any use of AI must be disclosed in the Methods and Acknowledgments sections.
Reviewers must not use AI tools to process or summarize submitted manuscripts or peer review reports, in order to maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards.
Implementation Support
Leddy Library’s Research and Publishing Services Unit is available to support journal editors in adopting and customizing these policies. Please contact scholarship@uwindsor.ca for assistance or to discuss how these guidelines can be adapted for your journal.
Connect with your library