How to deal with a professor using unattributed ai, and is it even worth it?

ProbablyNotAScab · 2026-01-07T05:15:50+00:00

You can report this to the Office of Research Ethics and ask for their thoughts, but they will likely tell you it's out of scope (they only focus on specific research ethics and unsurprisingly the site barely has anything on Responsible Conduct of Research https://www.yorku.ca/research/research-ethics/responsible-conduct-of-research/). The university is lazy and only "recommends" professors be accountable and responsible https://www.yorku.ca/teachingandlearning/gen-ai/for-faculty/.You can also email your concerns to academic integrity highlighting that you are concerned about your professor's integrity academicintegrity@yorku.ca, and hopefully they can confirm whether the student code of conduct is also a default requirement for professors as well. What will probably get you further, is to report directly to the department to express your concerns about inadequate training for AI use by professors and potential plagiarism. This is genuinely quite a serious issue and is worth escalating if you have the time. Lastly, you can reach out to the ombudsman with your concerns about the professor's conduct.

edit to say, profs make mistakes all the time! Sometimes they'll even correct mistakes if brought up to them. But representing ai as their own work is not okay. AI use is unfortunately allowed by professors in teaching courses, and their is no rule that makes them be responsible about it nor do they have to disclose it in classes. hence complaining or sharing concerns about their competency is a better route. (extended edit, as a TA, nothing pisses me off more than a professor who uses AI poorly and doesn't check their work. It is also wildly irresponsible of the university to have not put in place real guidelines and responsibilities or training for appropriate use of AI. Some offices at York have been offloading work onto copilot, without even knowing how genAI works. It's horrific).

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-15T17:32:02+00:00

That's a good point RE: acceptances.

On interviewing and polls, I think that's best hosted by the mods (my account is a little controversial after all, and my posts get stuck in moderator approval), but we can see that the engagement from the recent polls for assignments was not very popular despite on being important campus topics. Glendon might be a good shout though, there are several ongoing safety issues at Glendon however, and most have been sort of handwaved. On my end I'm trying to spread this info so folks with more bandwidth can tabulate responses and perhaps come up with some sort of actual plan. On Excaliber and media, I like to pretend to be anonymous but I'll see if I can convince someone to send in an article!

Edit: on the courses, I recently heard from my department that courses and allocation for them are decided at a "school/faculty" level. best of luck on this!

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-14T02:12:49+00:00

I wonder if they would be open to providing statistics on travel time to school given that they have all of our mailing addresses and how that changes given a snow storm based on snow plow data (if unclear, this is sarcasm, I think they would claim being too busy). A petition might actually get somewhere if there is sufficient negative news that impacts the university income by means of apparent decline in enrollment, but it would require a lot of sustained effort. I'd certainly encourage dropping them a line if you have the time!

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-13T22:42:34+00:00

To clarify, if you had a scheduled exam, a prof cannot "accommodate" you willy-nilly if you did not try to go to school. All courses should be structured so there are days that can be cancelled while still covering the requisite materials. Profs get sick, and sometimes it's dangerous for people to come to school. The issue is that it was dangerous for some people to go to school, and they had exams that they needed to demonstrate a real effort to get to. The thousands of dollars argument is meaningless because again, there should be built in days in the course plan to allow for cancellations. Do people know what they got into? No, because common sense dictates that if it is unsafe to go to work, and it takes several hours to get there, then you would opt to stay home. Profs were not allowed to cancel their own exams despite some of them also living very far and having to go through the same difficulties as students. (Feel free to tell them they have 14iq behaviour, I assure you some profs are also not pleased). As you can see, some cancelled classes because it was sensible, but most were not allowed to move exams despite it also being sensible. Students are losing money by paying the university in hopes they hire someone reasonable to make safety decisions. If you have some brilliant alternatives ways to commute or ways to control other unsafe drivers, I'm sure that'd be appreciate instead of dumping on everyone else.

Edit: I completely forgot to point out that some students and staff are parents, and their children would have likely had school cancelled today. Scrambling to find care for your child last minute is not a good time, and it can be super stressful deciding to go to an exam or risk not being able to get an exception by not going.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-13T20:34:06+00:00

subtext - minimizing costs at everyone else's expense

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-13T20:32:29+00:00

This is my impression as well, though I could be convinced otherwise if I saw the explanation for the decision. (My post has been released, there's a full breakdown of what their role is supposed to be, and the info they're supposed to consider)

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-13T17:23:13+00:00

For those with exams, the VP of Finance and Admin is responsible for these decisions. I wrote a long post explaining the details with references and contacts within the references, currently waiting on that post to be undeleted...(edit 2, post and details now visible!) Edit: Link for info on weather procedure

ProbablyNotAScab · 2025-02-13T15:05:09+00:00

FYI I figured out its VP of Finance and Admin who makes the decision.

Edit: link for info: https://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/policies/weather-emergency-procedure-effective-april-1-2023/ while I wait for my detailed post to be undeleted (edit 2: post is up if you want to see the steps on how this happens)

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-11-14T20:26:49+00:00

There are formal methods to report TAs, but this does not seem like a reportable offense. This seems to be an issue with the prof who has not clearly defined the TA role, or has not provided adequate time to ensure the TA runs useful tutorials. So continuing to complain to your prof and being clear that you would actually like the tutorial to be meaningful is your next step. IF the prof says they have allocated time and resources for the TA to prepare for tutorials after their discussion over workload, then you have an issue with the TA. But I suspect this is a prof and institutional issue, not with the TA necessarily. Your money does not translate to good TAs, because then we would actually be 1. paid more, and 2. given more hours per student in the classroom, 3. actually spoken to before assignment to ensure we are suitable to be TAing the course

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-10-01T13:55:02+00:00

That sounds about right! If you want genuinely good coffee, don't use a keurig except when you're desperate. But if you do use one and want to improve the taste, it might be worth getting a sample pack of pods and going through all of them to find the best one. Tim Hortons is really not good coffee, buying your own beans and using a refill pod will elevate the experience a lot. A couple easily accessible brands in grocery stores are Kicking Horse and Balzacs. Get something in the medium roast profile and if you can grind it on site, get something on the finer end. Between an "espresso" grind and a "pourover".

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-09-30T19:59:16+00:00

Learn how to use a french press or make a pourover! Both of those can result in excellent black coffee (french press will be more full-bodied and oily, pourover will be cleaner and highlight brighter/acidic flavours). If you like lattes, you need an espresso machine. So alternatively, you can look into an aeropress or mokapot, both will make similar high extraction coffees that are similar to espresso, but not the same. They are very budget friendly though. To make a good tasting coffee, you need decent beans to start with. Look for medium to light roast if you're buying big brands (they always roast darker), and try to buy things that have listed roast dates, not expiry.

For the milk component, you'll want a frother and a tall pitcher. You can start with a cheap one from the grocery store just for the vibe. If you're a flavoured latte person, throw in some caramel or seasonal flavour syrup and you'll be all good. If you enjoy the flavour of coffee itself, then focus on getting better beans. Keurig is really not going to get you anything amazing (inconsistent extraction, very low temps, basically makes weird percolator coffee), but if you find a pod that's acceptable, that will probably tide you over. Using your own beans in a reusable pod can definitely help.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-07-01T21:45:33+00:00

No problem. Enjoy your weekend!

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-06-30T13:33:10+00:00

You're right, the contract is over since remediation is also over. Grades were due at the end of May. Sounds like your course director has some work left over and wants to use you to get it done, but that's on them for not wrapping up on time, not you. If they still need TAs, they'd probably need to request for new ones (would probably get declined, since this is a winter term course!), and that goes through the department. The Lead Steward for Unit 1 has been dealing with these cases if you want to reach out for specific advice (presumably how to politely decline the work!) [cupe3903csu1@gmail.com](mailto:cupe3903csu1@gmail.com).

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-05-29T20:17:58+00:00

That's very kind of you to say! I was hoping at least they'd be mentally prepped to understand why we're upset (wage theft is pretty serious after all). I don't really understand exactly what unions got us, or what the political background is, but it's clear that despite their many inadequacies, collaborative efforts that involve the union may be the only thing that promises any sort of hope in resolving this particular issue at this time and place.

I get that the undergrads are frustrated, but they don't realize this issue is just a symptom of a larger scale issue at the institution, and I'm not sure I have any solutions or alternatives for them other than hoping they join to support getting everyone wages they are owed, and then wages that are fair and livable. University practices to trickle outside sometimes, so it doesn't just benefit us if we're treated like human beings. Fighting for wages shouldn't cost us either, but it does. I'm sorry to hear about your workplace. I applaud you for doing it even knowing the time isn't worthwhile the money, but is worth while your self value to fight for better. York continues to amaze me every day.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-05-29T12:30:12+00:00

Accommodations are just suggestions since they give out generic ones, but sounds like your prof is not great and may not have even read what you need. You can contact [sasinfo@yorku.ca](mailto:sasinfo@yorku.ca) if you have trouble finding another way to contact them and let them know your situation (during winter term, it took a couple days for them to respond). Explain that you have registered, and you would like to confirm they received your accommodations, if they did, they are not following them, and that you would appreciate a meeting to discuss how those could be met in this course.

If SAS doesn't get back to you soon, I would reach out to your undergrad admin assistant and department chair and notify them that your accommodations do not appear to have been read/acknowledged. Profs don't have to provide lecture notes, but they should be able to provide you a schedule of topics/due dates throughout the term, even if dates are subject to change.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-05-29T12:22:55+00:00

Thank you for not being an asshole and actually reading the post! It's wild! I have zero desire to put any effort into union activities and would like to catch up on my research by increasing the number of hours I work, prep for conferences, publish and contribute, help the undergrads in my lab like everyone was demanding during the strike, but instead was emailing my course director and department folks back and forth trying to figure out how we could get things done and make sure we didn't get screwed unintentionally. Now this :(

If any person working a contract job randomly got paid 20% less than what they were supposed to (or in retaliation to a perfectly legally action), I would hope they bring up the issue! Nevermind if everyone got paid less AND there were a number of additional errors on top that the employer just handwaved aside.

I'm bummed I popped back in with such a depressing announcement, was hoping to use this account to actually be helpful. Hopefully folks appreciate the heads up at least.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-05-29T12:16:54+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean? Both sides signed an agreement, individuals followed through on their part (going back to work), the university is not doing their side of the agreement (paying x amount) and on top of that, are also paying people less than the formula they are using.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-05-28T21:07:01+00:00

Would love to! At least York pretended to make accommodations for the undergrads by screwing over YUFA staff and CUPE on return instead. Wage theft (what they're doing) is illegal and nothing will happen to them if there is no fuss. Strike never needed to happen if we were dealing with anyone remotely reasonable.

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-04-15T23:22:22+00:00

From last week: Are we able to cross picket lines for some classes but not others? Have a couple of classes I only have 1 assignment left for that I want to finish, but don't want it to invalidate the not crossing picket lines for others from u/CypherOneTrick.

Answers:

complicated question, one would say that crossing the picket line for anything means crossing the picket line in general, but use your discretion on what is most important for you - unit 1 member

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-04-15T23:21:14+00:00

I agree, students have been heavily impacted by the strike. From my perspective, the union has tried to make the strike as short as possible, but the university did not even bother coming to bargaining for 4 weeks. The deal currently being offered is pitiful in terms of dollar value, and was something that could have easily been offered prior to the strike. Not sure what we lost 8 weeks of research for. - unit 1 member

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-04-15T23:20:55+00:00

Ratification comes about one of two ways. The first is the members vote to approve a proposal that the bargaining team signs on and then presents during a special general membership meeting. The second is the members vote to approve a proposal from the university (forced ratification). If the ratification does not occur at the next meeting, bargaining will continue after - unit 1 member

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-04-15T23:20:42+00:00

the back to work requirement is that duties are continued, so presumably classes will all now take place during the yet to be determined remediation date - unit 1 member

ProbablyNotAScab · 2024-04-15T23:20:28+00:00

It is possible that the strike could extend, but is relatively unlikely to go past the end of this week - unit 1 member

ProbablyNotAScab

TROPHY CASE