AI Use in Communications, Marketing, and Branding

AI may not be used to create, recreate, alter, enhance, replicate, or upload Fairmont State University trademarks, logos, spirit marks, or mascot assets, including Freddie the Falcon, into generative tools.

All AI-assisted content must be reviewed, edited, and approved by Fairmont State University’s Department of Communications, Marketing, & Creative Services (CMCSreview@fairmontstate.edu) to ensure accuracy, brand alignment, and trademark.

Official university brand assets must only be used in their approved, unaltered forms and through established university brand, licensing, and trademark review processes.

All depictions of our mascot, Freddie, must be approved or designed by the Department of Communications, Marketing, & Creative Services.

AI tools may not be used to input confidential, proprietary, protected, or embargoed information, or to create misleading or fully autonomous university communications or graphics. This guidance applies specifically to communications, marketing, branding, and promotional use and should be interpreted alongside university brand, licensing, accessibility, privacy, and trademark standards.

Failure to follow these guidelines may violate the Student Code of Conduct and may impact student status. Further, failure to follow these guidelines may result in a rejection of your project by CMCS and the procurement office.

For review of all AI-generated content intended for promotional purposes, please contact CMCSreview@fairmontstate.edu.

Recommended Fairmont State University AI Guidance for Communications, Marketing, and Branding

Do

Use AI as an assistive tool for brainstorming, outlining, headline development, message variation, SEO support, content planning, and early drafting.
Use AI to improve efficiency in routine communications tasks such as organizing ideas, summarizing non-sensitive content, refining structure, and adapting copy for different audiences.
Require human review, editing, fact-checking, and approval for all AI-assisted content before publication or distribution.
Ensure all AI-assisted work aligns with Fairmont State brand standards, editorial standards, accessibility expectations, and ethical communication practices.
Use AI-supported editing tools in limited ways on university-owned images, such as minor cleanup or retouching, only when the edits do not misrepresent reality or alter the meaning of the image.
Encourage staff to learn AI tools responsibly so they can improve productivity while understanding the legal, reputational, and creative risks involved.

Do Not

Do not upload Fairmont State logos, wordmarks, spirit marks, athletics marks, mascot assets, or Freddie the Falcon into generative AI platforms for creation, recreation, editing, expansion, stylization, or manipulation.
Do not use AI to create new images, illustrations, variations, or photorealistic renderings of Freddie, university logos, or any other trademarked university asset.
Do not use AI to alter official university brand assets in ways that bypass CMCS review, trademark standards, or licensing requirements.
Do not publish fully AI-generated copy as final communications without substantial human revision and approval.
Do not copy and paste AI output directly to the website, social media, email, press materials, or printed pieces without checking facts, tone, grammar, accessibility, and brand alignment.
Do not use AI-generated visuals in a way that implies something is real when it is not, or that misrepresents campus people, places, events, or experiences.
Do not use AI to produce deceptive, misleading, plagiarized, or copyright-risk content.