Dartmouth Provost Resigns Over Undisclosed Artificial Intelligence Use

Dartmouth College Provost Santiago Schnell resigned on Wednesday following a faculty investigation into his undisclosed use of artificial intelligence in academic and public writing. President Sian Leah Beilock announced the departure in a campus email, stating that Schnell made the decision to leave out of respect for his colleagues and the institution.

The controversy began in August when reports surfaced, later detailed in a Washington Post report, questioning the extent of artificial intelligence in Schnell published opinion pieces and research manuscripts. In response, Beilock convened an independent advisory committee to review the matter. The committee analyzed communication logs from the university enterprise version of Claude, an artificial intelligence tool developed by Anthropic.

The committee, led by former provost and computer science professor David Kotz, included members from the computer science, English, and linguistics departments. This diverse group ensured a thorough evaluation of both the technical and academic implications of the situation. They specifically avoided using automated artificial intelligence detection software, which experts frequently criticize for producing unreliable results. Instead, the panel relied on direct evidence from enterprise system logs and email communications.

According to the official ChemSystemsChem author guidelines, any substantial use of large language models for editing, coding, or figure generation mandates clear attribution in the final publication. Schnell failed to provide this necessary attribution, leading the committee to conclude that his actions fell short of the ethical standards expected at the institution.

Dartmouth has long positioned itself at the forefront of technological innovation in higher education. The institution recently launched comprehensive artificial intelligence guidelines to ensure responsible adoption across campus. President Beilock emphasized that senior leaders must model the transparency and human judgment expected from students and scholars.

The committee noted that Schnell did not fully cooperate with the investigation. He provided his university laptop for inspection but declined to share logs from personal artificial intelligence accounts used for his academic work.

The resignation does not signal a retreat from technological advancement at the college. Dartmouth continues to host major forums discussing the future of human judgment in an automated world. The institution remains committed to fostering a culture of integrity, honesty, and respect in all scholarly pursuits.

Matthew Delmont, a respected history professor and associate dean of faculty, will assume the role of interim provost through June 2028. His appointment provides stability during this transitional period. The college administration has reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining rigorous academic honesty while continuing to explore innovative educational technologies.