Sonoma State University

ChatGPT Edu

ChatGPT Edu is Sonoma State’s secure, educational version of ChatGPT, free to all SSU students, faculty, and staff. Like other large language models, it can assist with reading, research, data analysis, and generating various forms of media. Unlike the public version, ChatGPT Edu keeps all data private—content entered is not used for model training.

To get started, log in through  the Sonoma State Online Services page, click the ChatGPT tile, and connect your SSU account. After setup, you can access it directly atchatgpt.com. ChatGPT Edu is funded through the 2025–26 academic year as part of CSU’s exploration of AI in education, supported by CTET and IT.

Best Practices: Making AI Work for Teaching and Learning

Be explicit about how AI can or cannot be used in your class, and explain why. Whether you prohibit or permit it, helping students understand your reasoning strengthens their engagement.

If you use AI yourself, share how and why, especially if you limit student use.

Use SSU’s licensed AI tools to see how your activities hold up and to gain proficiency without exposing data.

LLMs still make errors; always review content and check sources.

Only use SSU’s licensed AI tools with student work or university data. Never submit it to unlicensed tools, as this may violate CSU data and intellectual property policies.

Resources

  • AI in Education. This page collects CTET's resources around AI in higher education.
  • ChatGPT Edu FAQ. This page, hosted by SSU's IT team, answers many common questions about ChatGPT Edu.
  • CSU GenAI. A collection of courses, videos, and other resources offered to CSU faculty by the CSU Chancellor's Office.

Get Support

If your question isn’t answered above, please reach out to CTET: in person, via Zoom, by submitting a help request, or by email. We’re happy to provide one-on-one training or support. Current business hours and contact details, including our Zoom link, are available on our Contact Us page.

We offer a variety of AI-related workshops and trainings. Visit our Workshops page to see upcoming events. We also offer a number of AI-related workshops and trainings. Check out our Workshops page to see what upcoming events we're offering!

Student Support

CTET provides support for faculty, not students. If a student reports an issue, please review it with them and, once documented, report it to us so we can help identify the cause.  For direct support, students should contact SSU's IT Help desk, available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.