University at Buffalo AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L0 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D2 → D0 (Unknown policy)
Enforcement: E2 → E0 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University at Buffalo?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •University Honors College: AI use prohibited
- •School of Law: AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on main undergraduate or graduate admissions websites”
— Apply - Undergraduate Admissions - University at Buffalo(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
University Honors College
“Any use of generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.) for any student-submitted application materials is strictly prohibited”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application materials, essay responses
School of Law
“The use of AI tools to draft, edit, or generate any portion of your personal statement or other application materials is prohibited”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement, application materials
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| University Honors College | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| School of Law | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (11)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.buffalo.edu/admissions/apply.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/admissions/apply/first-year.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/admissions/first-year.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/admissions/apply/transfer.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/grad/explore/admissions.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/honors/admissions/apply.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/honors/application/buffalo.html
- https://www.law.buffalo.edu/admissions/apply-to-law-school.html
- https://www.buffalo.edu/academic-integrity/about/artificial-intelligence.html
- https://www.law.buffalo.edu/blog/2025-law-admissions-trends.html
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D2 | E2 | High |
Additional Context
UB has no university-wide AI policy for admissions essays. The main undergraduate and graduate admissions pages are silent on AI use in application materials. However, two specific programs have explicit L4 prohibitions: (1) The University Honors College strictly prohibits any generative AI use in application materials, uses AI/plagiarism detection tools, and bars violators from admission; (2) The School of Law prohibits AI tools for drafting, editing, or generating personal statements or other application materials. The general academic integrity office defers AI decisions to individual instructors for coursework but does not address admissions. UB launched BullsAI (its own ChatGPT-like platform) in late 2025 for academic use but this does not affect admissions policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University at Buffalo allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University at Buffalo?
How does University at Buffalo check for AI?
Which University at Buffalo programs have different AI policies?
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