Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT Edu - Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What is ChatGPT Edu?
 ChatGPT Edu is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI and tailored for higher education. It can process natural language, generate responses, summarize content, analyze data, and assist with creative and academic tasks — all within a secure, campus-only workspace. See this SDSU page for a comparison of plans.

Why did the CSU purchase ChatGPT Edu?
 The CSU system is committed to closing equity gaps and increasing access to emerging technologies. ChatGPT Edu supports academic achievement, innovation, and workforce readiness across all 23 campuses.

Who is eligible for ChatGPT Edu at CSUMB?
ChatGPT Edu access is available to CSUMB’s stateside students, faculty, and staff. It does not include alumni, emeritus faculty, auxiliary staff, continuing education, community partners, foundation employees, and extended education students.

How much does ChatGPT Edu cost me?
 There is no cost to you or your department. Licenses are funded by the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

Does the campus monitor what I type in ChatGPT Edu?
No, the admin panel for ChatGPT Edu, does not provide that information.
As with all supported apps that might store data, we are required to respond to legal requests for information, such as litigation or FOIA requests. These are handled through different channels than our regular day-to-day administration of ChatGPT.

How long will access be available?
 The CSU has signed an 18-month contract (Feb 2025 – July 2026) with an option to extend the agreement.

Access & Availability

When will ChatGPT Edu be available at CSUMB?
 ChatGPT Edu will launch at CSUMB on March 27th, 2025. Eligible users will receive an invitation directly from OpenAI to join the CSUMB ChatGPT workspace.

How do I access ChatGPT Edu?
 Once invited, log in with your csumb.edu email and Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials. More info will be available on CSUMB’s website and from IT.

How many licenses are available systemwide?
 There are 500,000 licenses available across the CSU system, covering students, faculty, and staff only.

Can I use ChatGPT on mobile or desktop devices?
 Yes! ChatGPT is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, as well as through your web browser.

Will I still have access after graduation?
 No. Access is limited to active stateside students, faculty, and staff. Graduating students will lose access once their CSUMB accounts are deactivated.

Using ChatGPT Responsibly

Can I use ChatGPT to complete my assignments?
 You can use ChatGPT to support your learning — for brainstorming, summarizing, or clarifying concepts — but using it to complete assignments may violate academic integrity policies. Always check with your instructor and cite AI use when required.

Is there an environmental impact to using AI?
 Yes. Like other high-powered tech systems, AI tools consume significant energy and water. While users can’t control this directly, we encourage awareness and support for sustainable tech practices and green data centers.

How should I use ChatGPT ethically?
 At CSUMB, we expect all users to:

  • Use AI as a support tool, not a shortcut
  • Cite AI-generated content when appropriate
  • Maintain academic integrity
  • Follow campus and CSU policies on responsible use

Privacy & Security

Is my data safe when using ChatGPT Edu?
 Yes. ChatGPT Edu includes enterprise-grade protections, such as:

  • SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)
  • Domain verification
  • Data encryption (at rest and in transit)
  • SOC 2 Type 2 compliance
  • Custom data retention policies

Will my conversations be used to train ChatGPT?
 No. The CSU’s agreement ensures that your data is not used to train OpenAI models or improve their services.

Does CSUMB track my usage or conversations?
 No. Conversations are private. The CSU only collects aggregated usage stats to understand overall adoption — not individual content.

Features & Functionality

What features are included in ChatGPT Edu?

  • Access to GPT-4o
  • Web browsing and up-to-date internet search
  • Document summarization and data analysis
  • Support for 50+ languages
  • Custom GPT creation
  • Campus-only workspace and admin controls

Are there usage limits?
 Yes. GPT-4o is limited to 10 messages every 5 hours. Users can switch to GPT-4o mini for unlimited access. CSU is exploring expanded access by May 2025.

Can I create and share custom GPTs?
 Yes! You can build custom GPTs tailored to your course, department, or workflow. These GPTs can be shared within CSUMB’s ChatGPT workspace. Custom GPTs rely on GPT-4o capacity.

Can faculty use ChatGPT for teaching?
 Yes. Faculty can use ChatGPT to:

  • Generate quizzes, writing prompts, or discussion questions
  • Summarize readings or create outlines
    Develop interactive custom GPTs for specific courses
  • Support accessibility and multilingual content

Can I access the OpenAI API with this plan?
 Yes, but there are no CSU-specific discounts for API use. More details will be shared later.

Support & Training

What should I do if I didn’t get an invite or can’t log in?
 Contact the CSUMB IT Help Desk for help with access issues or troubleshooting.

Is ChatGPT Edu accessible to students with disabilities?
 Yes. The platform supports screen readers and other assistive technologies. For more support, contact the Student Disability and Access Center.

Where can I learn to use ChatGPT?
 You can explore a range of self-paced learning resources through the following platforms:

Students 

Faculty

Staff