Prime Highlight
- The University of Utah is providing free campuswide access to ChatGPT Edu, supporting secure, responsible, and innovative use of AI in teaching, research, and administration.
- The initiative reflects the university’s commitment to ethical AI integration and modernizing digital services for its community.
Key Facts
- More than 100 faculty, staff, and students will receive formal AI training this year, with additional sessions scheduled to begin in January.
- ChatGPT Edu access excludes hospital and clinic staff pending a separate evaluation of its use in medical environments.
Background
The University of Utah has announced that it is providing free access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Edu for all students, faculty and staff, marking a major step in its effort to promote responsible and secure use of artificial intelligence across campus. University members can request access through the institution’s IT service catalogue, ensuring use of the tool without sharing university data for training purposes.
Officials said the decision reflects the university’s broader goal of building a strong foundation for ethical and effective AI adoption. “ChatGPT Edu represents a major leap forward,” said Manish Parashar, the university’s Chief AI Officer. He noted that the tool will support teaching, learning, and research in a way that matches the institution’s values and strengthens academic innovation.
ChatGPT Edu comes with built-in security and privacy safeguards, making it safer than personal accounts for academic work. The university is encouraging everyone on campus to use ChatGPT Edu exclusively for non-restricted tasks to remain compliant with institutional guidelines. Hospital and clinic staff, however, will not have access until a separate evaluation on medical use is complete.
To support adoption, the University of Utah has partnered with OpenAI to provide virtual training sessions. More than 100 individuals will be trained this year, with additional sessions beginning in January. University officials said the training will help users integrate the tool into coursework, research projects, and administrative tasks responsibly.
The rollout follows the recent launch of Utah 360, a new platform that brings together several campus applications into a single, personalized interface for students, staff, and alumni. The university said both initiatives reflect its ongoing push to modernize digital services and expand access to advanced technologies.
