ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that uses natural language processing to generate human-like responses, brainstorm ideas, summarize documents and assist with creative projects. GPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer," a computer program designed to understand and create human-like text.
At Stan State, you can use ChatGPT Edu to:
- Spark new ideas for research and assignments
- Receive writing assistance and feedback
- Summarize articles, lectures and class notes
- Explore creative applications across disciplines
ChatGPT Edu offers an even more powerful and secure experience compared to the free public version, including:
- Enhanced privacy — conversations stay private and are never used to train external AI models
- Support for more than 50 languages
- Unlimited messaging and faster responses, including the latest models
- Access across iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS
- Advanced tools for data analysis, document summarization and web browsing
- The ability to build and share Custom GPTs within the Stan State community
Access Information
ChatGPT Education is available to Stan State faculty, staff and students through July 2026 as part of the CSU-wide licensing agreement. Access is provided at no cost to eligible users.
Eligible faculty, staff and students will receive an invitation through their Stan State email. Access is managed automatically through campus identity systems. Users with existing paid ChatGPT accounts will receive additional instructions for data migration and workspace setup.
Eligibility
Included: Current faculty, staff and students
Not Included: Emeriti, auxiliary employees, alumni and guests
Access Timeline
May 1, 2025: Access for faculty and staff
June 1, 2025: Access for students
Data Protection
Similar to Microsoft Copilot, all University data is protected for campus users under the CSU contract.
Conversations and data stay within the Stan State workspace and are not used to train external AI models.
Additional Training and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Edu agreement is tailored for the California State University (CSU) system, providing advanced AI capabilities for all Stan State employees and students. ChatGPT Edu offers enhanced privacy, data protection, and enterprise security features like single sign-on (SSO), while allowing the creation and sharing of Custom GPTs within the campus community.
A Custom GPT is a personalized version of ChatGPT that can:
- Follow specific instructions
- Access uploaded files
- Utilize tools like code execution and web browsing
Custom GPTs are designed for specialized tasks or workflows and do not require programming knowledge to create.
Users have access to several models, including:
- GPT-4o
- GPT-4o Mini
- o3
Under the CSU systemwide contract:
- OpenAI does NOT use customer content (audio, video, text, etc.) to train AI models.
- All intellectual property and data rights remain exclusively with the CSU.
- Data and prompts do NOT leave the Stan State EDU workspace.
No. Stan State and the CSU only collect aggregate usage statistics (e.g., number of users or queries). Individual conversations, records, or identities are NOT monitored or reported separately.
Only if you explicitly invite them within the Stan State workspace. Sharing outside the workspace or across CSU campuses is not currently allowed.
Licenses are available for:
- Current faculty and staff
- Current students
Licenses are not available for:
- Alumni
- Auxiliary staff
- Continuing education faculty, staff or students
- Other external or campus-affiliated community members
Chat history is retained for 30 days and can be restored if the account is re-enabled within that period. Any associated Custom GPTs become unassigned and must be manually reassigned. Shape
- Stan State will begin sending ChatGPT Edu workspace invitations to eligible faculty and staff starting May 1, 2025.
- Students will gain access beginning June 1, 2025, after the end of the spring semester.
- Faculty, staff and students with existing paid ChatGPT accounts will receive additional instructions regarding data migration and workspace setup.
Invitations are managed automatically through campus identity systems — users are invited only if eligible.
You must not delete your existing account.
During migration to the Stan State workspace, you will have two options:
- Merge your existing chat history and Custom GPTs into the campus workspace.
- Export and delete your history and move to a new personal email address (manual process required).
The message will look like this:
Important: Deleting your account before migration is IRREVERSIBLE and will prevent future access to the Stan State EDU workspace.
- Your Plus or Pro subscription will be automatically cancelled upon migration to the Stan State workspace.
- You will receive a partial refund for any unused portion of your subscription.
Yes.
Other workspaces and ChatGPT Team plans are separate from the Stan State EDU workspace.
If you are part of other workspaces using your Stan State email, you can continue accessing them independently.
There is no direct migration path.
You must manually recreate your Custom GPT while you have access to both the Team workspace and the Stan State EDU workspace.
Only if your personal account was originally created using your Stan State email address.
If your personal account uses a personal email address (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo), you will need to manually recreate any Custom GPTs within the EDU workspace.
There is no cost to individuals or departments.
The CSU Chancellor’s Office has funded the ChatGPT Edu licenses for all eligible faculty, staff, researchers and students across the system.
Updated: April 29, 2025