ChatGPT Edu FAQ

1 General Overview
2 Eligibility & Access
3 Account Access and Use
4 Learning and Support
5 Features & Functionality
6 Data Privacy & Ethics
7 Environmental Impact

General Overview

What is ChatGPT Edu?

ChatGPT Edu is a specialized version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT designed specifically for educational institutions. It leverages AI to process natural human language and generate intelligent responses. This version includes tools to enhance productivity and support teaching, learning, and research activities—while prioritizing user privacy and data protection.

Why did the CSU purchase ChatGPT Edu?

Under the CSU AI initiative, CSU aims to close equity and accessibility gaps by providing AI tools that support academic achievement for both students and employees. ChatGPT Edu supports with this mission while ensuring strong data protection.

Who is paying for the ChatGPT Edu licenses?

The CSU Chancellor's Office fully funds licenses for eligible students, staff, faculty, and emeriti.

Eligibility & Access

Who is eligible for ChatGPT Edu?

Current CSU students, faculty, and staff, Cal Poly Partners and ASI staff (including Casual) are eligible.
Emeritus faculty are eligible if sponsored by a department for active work or projects.
Licenses are not funded for alumni, auxiliary employees, Extended/Continuing Education, ASI members, volunteers, guests, or admits who haven’t enrolled yet.

How do I access ChatGPT Edu if I am eligible for ChatGPT Edu?

There are a couple ways to access the Cal Poly ChatGPT Edu workspace:

Log in at https://chatgpt.com/auth/login with your Cal Poly email
From the My Apps section of your Cal Poly Portal

Can I use my Cal Poly email with ChatGPT if I’m not eligible for ChatGPT Edu?

Yes. Even if you’re not eligible for ChatGPT Edu, you may still have a professional or academic reason to use ChatGPT where using your Cal Poly email address is preferred. You can create or continue using a ChatGPT account with your Cal Poly email, but you’ll log in with a password you set—not your Cal Poly SSO credentials. Be mindful that any information shared in ChatGPT is not protected by the Edu licensing and can be used to train their underlying large language models or improve their services.

How long will I have access to ChatGPT Edu?

The CSU has a systemwide contract running from February 2025 through July 2026, with an option to extend. You will have access to ChatGPT Edu during this time period as long as you are eligible.

Can I opt out of using ChatGPT Edu entirely?

Yes! This initiative is not a mandate—you are under no obligation to incorporate ChatGPT Edu into any aspect of your work. Instead, this resource is being made available as a tool to explore how AI might support student success, address skills gaps, enhance career readiness, and streamline administrative activities.

Account Access and Use

Can I use ChatGPT on my phone or personal devices?

Yes. OpenAI offers apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. You can also access ChatGPT through any web browser.

What if I already have a ChatGPT account with my @calpoly.edu email?

For detailed instructions, please visit this Knowledge Base article - https://calpoly.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CPKB/pages/2709520386

Will ChatGPT Edu be available after I graduate or leave Cal Poly?

No. When you are no longer a current student, faculty or staff you become ineligible for ChatGPT Edu. Your account will be deprovisioned and you will no longer be able to log into the Cal Poly ChatGPT Edu workspace. Data within the ChatGPT Edu Cal Poly workspace is protected and secure within the Cal Poly workspace and therefore there is no available feature which allows the export of conversations. You should document anything in your Cal Poly workspace that you would like to keep PRIOR to your departure.

Can I use ChatGPT Edu for work outside of Cal Poly or the CSU?

ChatGPT Edu is designed for academic and professional tasks in higher education, so you may still want a paid personal plan for business, creative projects or other personal AI use cases. If you intend to use ChatGPT for non-Cal Poly purposes, we recommend that you create a new, personal account using a non-Cal Poly email address.

Learning and Support

Where can I learn how to use ChatGPT effectively?

See this Knowledge Base article for a list of resources - https://calpoly.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CPKB/pages/2709127177

How do I get help from OpenAI?

Review OpenAI help articles by visiting http://help.openai.com or contact OpenAI Support by opening the chat bubble icon displayed at the bottom-right.

OpenAI Developer Community https://community.openai.com/ can also be used to suggest new features.

Features & Functionality

What features are included in the ChatGPT Edu plan?

ChatGPT Edu features are the same as those offered by the ChatGPT Plus plan with added security features. ChatGPT Edu does not use data to train OpenAI’s models or improve services.

Can I create and share custom GPTs?

Yes! ChatGPT Edu allows for creating and sharing custom GPTs—such as tools tailored to specific courses or administrative needs. Sharing within the campus workspace is supported. To preserve data privacy, sharing outside the workspace is not allowed. Third-party GPTs created by companies or users outside our campus workspace (ex. Canva or Scholar AI) have been approved for use.

Can I create and share custom APIs?

Not at this time. The API platform is not free under the CSU AI initiative. Its implementation is under review.

Data Privacy & Ethics

Is my data safe?

Yes. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

Will OpenAI use my data to train AI models?

No. The CSU’s agreement with OpenAI includes specific language ensuring that user data from the ChatGPT Edu workspace is not used to train OpenAI’s models or improve their services.

What kind of usage data can Cal Poly or the CO see?

Cal Poly and the CO have access to aggregate user analytics data. This data includes active user, message, and tool counts. This data does not include interaction content or metadata.

What governance is in place to guide AI use?

CSU policies on privacy and ethical AI use are being refined to reflect new tools like ChatGPT. The CSU GenAI Committee—comprised of leaders and faculty—provides systemwide guidance on responsible AI integration.

What kind of data can I safely upload to ChatGPT?

Use of ChatGPT Edu must align with Cal Poly’s Academic Integrity Policies and CSU’s guidelines for Ethical and Responsible Use of AI. The CSU is committed to user privacy. As outlined in the CSU Safe and Responsible Use Guidelines, the CSU has legal obligations that may require access to user data. These activities do not aim to restrict, monitor, or utilize legitimate academic and organizational communications. ChatGPT Edu is approved for Cal Poly Level 2 and Level 3 data, but is not approved for Cal Poly level 1 data or HIPAA-protected data.

Environmental Impact

What are the environmental impacts of AI, and how is the CSU addressing them?

AI systems—especially those involving large models like GPT-4—can consume significant computing power and energy. Help promote sustainable AI use through:

Using AI only for complex, generative tasks
Optimizing prompts to reduce energy load
Turning off unused AI integrations
Education via Faculty/Staff Academic Applications of AI (AAAI) Course (CSU Students - AAAI Course Enrollment - Coming Soon!)

OpenAI’s sustainability efforts include:

Funding AI tools aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals
Hosting hackathons for clean energy innovation
Running operations on Microsoft Azure, which is committed to being carbon negative by 2030
OpenAI Environmental Impact - External Research

Request support online via Support Center.