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ChatGPT Edu

ChatGPT Edu is the University of Colorado’s enterprise version of ChatGPT, providing a secure environment for students, faculty and staff to use generative AI for teaching, research and administrative productivity. The CU System partnered with OpenAI to provide this service across all four campuses.

ChatGPT Edu provides enhanced privacy protections compared with public versions of ChatGPT and helps ensure university data is handled in accordance with CU data governance standards.

Overview

ChatGPT Edu gives CU Boulder users access to generative AI capabilities through an institutionally supported environment.

The service supports a variety of tasks including:

  • Writing and editing assistance
  • Brainstorming and idea generation
  • Coding and technical problem solving
  • Data analysis and summarization
  • Research support
  • Administrative workflow productivity

ChatGPT Edu is provided as an additional AI resource for the campus community and does not replace other approved AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot.  

Features

  • Secure CU-managed ChatGPT environment
  • Ability to create and share custom GPT assistants
  • Collaboration tools such as Projects and shared GPTs
  • Institutional privacy protections
  • Integration with campus identity and access controls

Data submitted through ChatGPT Edu is not used to train OpenAI’s public models, providing stronger privacy protection for university work.  

Eligible for ChatGPT

Faculty & Academic Affiliations

  • Regular Faculty
  • Clinical Faculty
  • Research Faculty
  • Research Affiliates
  • Visiting Faculty
  • Lecturer
  • Assistant Instructor
  • Fellows
  • Scholars In Residence
  • Temporary Instructional Faculty
  • Artists In Residence
  • Instructional Associate
  • Postdoc Fellow Stipend
  • Emeritus
  • Adjoint (Academic)
  • Instructor/Fellow

Staff

  • University Staff
  • Classified Staff

Working Retirees

  • Working Retiree – Staff
  • Working Retiree – Faculty
  • Working Retiree – Research Faculty

POI / Security Access Types

  • Security Access & Pre-Employment POIs
  • POI Pre-Employment
  • POI Security Access

Student Workers

  • Non-CU student staff; available starting Aug. 14, 2026

Students

  • Enrolled Students (see exclusions below); available starting Aug. 14, 2026

Not Eligible for ChatGPT

  • Retiree
  • All POI types not listed as eligible
  • Secondary Accounts
  • Alumni
  • Admitted students
  • Confirmed students
  • Boulder 3 students
  • Continuing Education credit students
  • Continuing Education non-credit students
  • Auditors

Currently available features

The following list of base access features are currently available in the CU Boulder ChatGPT Edu workspace. Please note that advanced features will be added through the summer and fall 2026 semester.

  • Access to the latest ChatGPT "Instant" and "Thinking Mini" models
  • 3 Image gens per day
  • 5 Deep Research queries per day
  • Document Uploads (with high daily limits)
  • Creation of custom GPTs (with capability for individual sharing)
  • Messages (with high limits)
  • Memory and context

Cost

Base access to ChatGPT Edu is provided at no cost for eligible CU Boulder faculty, staff and students.  

Additional advanced features or high-volume capabilities may be introduced later and could involve additional costs depending on service offerings. 

How to get it

Step 1: Complete Required Training

All users must complete the required AI training course before accessing ChatGPT Edu.

This training introduces:

  • Responsible use of generative AI
  • Privacy and data protection considerations
  • Limitations of AI-generated content
  • University policies governing AI use

CU Boulder also provides an optional AI Literacy Foundations course for users interested in learning more about generative AI.

Step 2: Access ChatGPT Edu

Once training is completed:

Data Privacy & Security

ChatGPT Edu provides additional privacy protections compared with public AI services.

Key safeguards include:

  • Institutional authentication required
  • CU-managed service environment
  • User data not used to train public models
  • Compliance with CU policies and data governance standards  

Users must continue to follow university policies related to:

Data classification

  • FERPA
  • Responsible use of technology
  • Academic integrity
  • What CU can see

Responsible Use

Use of ChatGPT Edu must follow existing CU policies and guidance.

Important considerations include:

  • Faculty determine whether and how AI tools may be used in their courses
  • AI-generated content should be reviewed and verified
  • Sensitive or restricted data should only be used in accordance with CU data policies  

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