Citing Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) in Higher Education Scholarship, Teaching, and Professional Writing

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly used in academic settings—for teaching support, scholarly writing, and even faculty development—it's important to adopt citation practices that are centerend on ethics and that ensure clarity, transparency, and academic integrity. Below are structured guidelines across major citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago), tailored to the needs of university instructors, researchers, and students. A final section also offers examples of less formal disclosures appropriate for drafts, instructional materials, and academic development work.

Note that as large language models continue to develop, it will become increasingly important to cite the specific model or agent that was used to generate or modify content. It will also be important to regularly revisit citation guidelines, as these, too, are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of the ever-changing AI landscape.

APA (7th ed.) Style

Official Guidance:
APA Style Blog: How to Cite ChatGPT

Reference Entry Template:
Author. (Year). Title of AI model (Version date) [Description]. Source URL

Example Reference:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 24 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/

In-text citation:
(OpenAI, 2023)

Higher Education Example:
When asked to summarize Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy for use in an introductory education course, ChatGPT stated that “self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments” (OpenAI, 2023).

MLA (9th ed.) Style

Official Guidance:
MLA Style Center: Citing Generative AI

Works Cited Template:
“[Prompt text]” prompt. ChatGPT, Version Date, OpenAI, Access Date, chat.openai.com.

Example Entry:
“Summarize Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy” prompt. ChatGPT, 24 May version, OpenAI, 26 May 2023, chat.openai.com.

In-text citation:
("Summarize Bandura’s concept")

Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.)

Official Guidance:
Chicago recommends citing AI-generated text via footnote only, not in the bibliography.

Footnote Example:

Text generated by ChatGPT, May 24, 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com.

Higher Education Example:

Used in a teaching statement to describe inclusive pedagogy practices. ChatGPT, response to “Give an example of inclusive teaching in STEM,” May 24, 2023, https://chat.openai.com.

Less Formal Disclosures for Transparency

In many instructional or professional academic contexts—such as teaching statements, reflective memos, informal reports, or early-stage drafts—it may be more appropriate to disclose use of generative AI tools in a narrative or parenthetical style rather than a formal citation format. Below are examples of how this can be done responsibly and transparently:

Examples of Less Formal Attribution:

“This draft was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, which helped generate an outline based on course goals I provided. All final content was authored and reviewed by me.”
“In preparing this teaching philosophy, I used ChatGPT to help articulate distinctions between formative and summative assessment. The generated content was edited and integrated with my personal teaching experiences.”
“Some of the examples included in this workshop description were drafted with the help of ChatGPT (May 2023 version). I adapted the AI-generated responses to better align with our institutional context.”
“This syllabus language on academic integrity was initially drafted using a prompt in ChatGPT. The AI output was revised significantly to reflect course-specific values and policies.”
(Used in slide footnotes or speaking notes): “Initial ideas for this section were generated using ChatGPT and reviewed for accuracy and alignment with our campus policy.”

When to Use Informal Attribution:

Internal memos or reports
Course or assignment drafts
Teaching statements or portfolios
Slide decks or workshop materials
Informal educational publications (e.g., blog posts, teaching commons)

Best Practices for Academic Use in Higher Education

Transparency is key. Whether using a formal citation style or a narrative disclosure, always clearly communicate how AI tools were used.
Human review is essential. AI-generated content should always be edited for accuracy, nuance, inclusivity, and disciplinary alignment.
Tailor to context. Use formal citation when required (e.g., published research); use informal attribution for pedagogical artifacts or collaborative drafts.

Citing Generative AI Content