ChatGPT Education

ChatGPT Edu, available to the Columbia University community, offers enterprise-grade security and data privacy (conversations and data are not used to train OpenAI models), along with access to OpenAI's latest models including GPT-5.4 and GPT-5.4 Thinking. Features include advanced data analysis, file uploads and document summarization, web browsing, image generation and editing, custom GPTs, and Codex-powered workspace agents that can automate multi-step workflows.

Data Privacy

ChatGPT Education is approved for use with Sensitive Data as defined in the  Columbia University Data Classification Policy. For users at CUIMC, please refer to the AI and Generative Technology Use at CUIMC page for additional information regarding AI tools approved for use with Sensitive Data.

Learn More

To deepen your understanding of ChatGPT and enhance your skills through comprehensive training designed for all levels—from beginner to advanced—explore joining OpenAI Academy. OpenAI Academy offers expertly curated modules, hands-on activities, and exclusive resources and events directly from OpenAI, empowering you to leverage ChatGPT effectively and confidently.

Updates

View the latest Model and Feature Updates here.

  • Data protection with enhanced security measures, ensuring privacy through robust encryption within a secure, walled garden environment.
  • Highest standards of compliance, the platform is GDPR-ready and HIPAA-compliant (BAA in place) to safeguard sensitive information at all times.
  • OpenAI does not use or train on conversations or any uploaded data. 
  • ChatGPT Education meets SOC 2 standards, and all dialogues are safeguarded with encryption both during transmission (using TLS 1.2 or higher) and when stored (using AES 256).
  • ChatGPT Education runs on the industry's most mature AI model, designed for peak performance and reliability.
  • The service scales seamlessly with high-speed access using the scalable and reliable infrastructure, designed to support growth.
  • Easy to use simple, user-friendly interface, designed for an intuitive experience.
  • Access to Dall-e, and powerful data analytics for informed decision-making.
  • Multiple files in different format can be uploaded.
  • Create GPT bots.

Related Information

OpenAI ChatGPT Education
Learn More about ChatGPT Education

Pricing

  • $300 annually per user UNI via chart string. 

 

Office Hours

Office hours will be taking a break for the summer. Office hours will resume in September of 2026.

 

AI Consultation

We provide consultations to understand your needs and ensure our AI services align with your requirements. To discuss how our AI services can support your specific use cases and workflows, please request a consultation at [email protected].

Please do not use this email for general questions pertaining to our AI Services. For those questions, please email us at [email protected].

Training Videos

Guidelines for Using ChatGPT Education at Columbia University

ChatGPT Education is an advanced generative AI tool available for faculty and staff, at Columbia University. To ensure responsible and effective use of this technology, these guidelines provide best practices and ethical considerations. Please also refer to Columbia's comprehensive Generative AI Guidelines for more detailed policies regarding the use of AI across the university.

1. General Usage Guidelines

• Use ChatGPT Education responsibly and ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical considerations in your work.
• Avoid relying on AI-generated content for final outputs or submissions without proper verification.
• Ensure that you follow all university data protection, privacy, and intellectual property policies.

2. Data and Privacy

Guidelines for Handling Sensitive Data

Columbia University’s ChatGPT Education platform now operates under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with OpenAI, ensuring HIPAA compliance. This allows authorized users to input and process sensitive data, including Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI), and Research Health Information (RHI), within the platform.

  • Adhere to the ‘Minimum Necessary’ Principle: Only include the minimum amount of sensitive data required for your task.
  • De-identify Data When Possible: Remove direct identifiers such as names, medical record numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers before inputting data into ChatGPT Education.
  • Compliance with Columbia’s Data Classification Policy: Ensure all data usage aligns with Columbia University’s Data Classification Policy.

For CUIMC Users

  • When using ChatGPT Education as part of a system build, please submit a request to the CUIMC IT PMO to ensure appropriate evaluations are conducted.
  • CUIMC members cannot use their [email protected] email to login for ChatGPT Education. You must use your [email protected] email address.
  • Updates for ChatGPT Education accounts are only sent to [email protected] email addresses. If you do not receive emails to this domain, please consider requesting Dual Affiliation. Click here to request Dual Affiliation.

Data Protection Measures

  • Encryption: All conversations in ChatGPT Education are encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher and at rest using AES 256 encryption.
  • Data Usage: OpenAI does not use or train on conversations or uploaded data within this platform.

3. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

• ChatGPT Education should not be used to bypass academic integrity standards.
• Students and faculty must avoid using ChatGPT to produce original work that could be misrepresented as their own.
• Cite AI-generated content when applicable and ensure transparency in AI-assisted work.

4. Ethical Use and Limitations of AI

• Be mindful of the ethical implications of AI-generated content.
• Understand the limitations of AI tools; AI outputs may contain inaccuracies, biases, or unintended consequences.
• Engage critically with AI responses and corroborate information with trusted sources.

FAQs

All conversations in ChatGPT Education are encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher and at rest using AES 256 encryption. OpenAI or any third party will not have access to conversations or data uploaded to Education.

Yes, ChatGPT Education supports advanced math functionality in conversations and within Advanced Data Analytics.

Please provide us with your chart string and Columbia UNI to request access.

Here are OpenAI’s Terms of use and Privacy policy. Your chats are securely stored and never deleted.

OpenAI or any other third-party will not use data submitted by end users via ChatGPT Education to train or improve OpenAI’s models. No other user can access your prompt and completion data unless by legal request for eDiscovery purposes, whereby OpenAI will contact our administrators.

The maximum length of a message you can submit to ChatGPT Education is ~ 8,192K tokens context window or 6,000 words.

Yes, CUIT does offer the OpenAI API, which falls under the same umbrella as ChatGPT. It offers the same security and privacy as ChatGPT Education which includes HIPAA compliance.