U Offers Advanced AI Features Through ChatGPT Edu, and Training to Make the Most of the Tool
ChatGPT Edu—which is available to the University of Utah community, including all students—now provides expanded access to advanced AI features in a secure, university-managed environment to support teaching, learning, research and administrative work. The U also offers ongoing training opportunities to help users make the most of the tool.
University community members can request access to ChatGPT through the University IT’s Service Catalog. View step-by-step instructions below.
The university is temporarily offering expanded access to a wider range of ChatGPT Edu advanced features—read what's included. University leaders will review usage data over the next few months to better understand community needs. These insights will guide the development of a long‑term, cost-effective service model that may include limits, but maintains as many capabilities as possible.
Chief AI Officer Manish Parashar said that while access to state‑of‑the‑art tools like ChatGPT Edu can benefit the entire academic community, it’s especially important for students. “We want our graduates to enter the workforce fluent in AI and step into careers that demand these skills,” he said.
Students will get the most out of AI platforms when they use the university-managed versions, Parashar added. “ChatGPT Edu gives you powerful, secure AI tools designed for learning—something free, consumer versions simply cannot provide,” he said. “When you log in with your university account, you get protected data, better features, and smarter support to help you do your best work at the U.”
Diya Mandot, a computer science student who co-organized last year’s inaugural Student AI Symposium, said the launch of ChatGPT Edu as an official university resource signals that the U is taking a thoughtful, proactive approach to AI—not just reacting to it, but teaching students how to use it responsibly and effectively. “For students, that’s huge,” she said.
Mandot also helps run the AI Tinker Lab, a weekly drop-in space for students to explore AI through hands-on experimentation, creativity and community. It's held every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Kahlert Village’s Adobe Creative Commons.
For her peers who are hesitant to try ChatGPT Edu, Mandot suggests treating it as a collaborator, not an answer machine. “It’s been especially helpful for breaking down complex concepts, sanity-checking my understanding, brainstorming project approaches, and refining technical explanations,” she said. “It often acts like a fast, always-available thought partner that helps me move from ‘stuck’ to ‘clear’ much more quickly.”
Marketing professor Himanshu Mishra, an early advocate for bringing ChatGPT to the U, said university-wide access to the tool lowered barriers to integrating generative AI into curriculum. Some students, for example, had already paid for their own ChatGPT subscriptions, while others couldn’t afford it. With the launch of ChatGPT Edu, he said, everyone can use the same tool in a secure way.
Himanshu underscored the importance of curriculum integration: ChatGPT and similar tools are already used by 30% to 50% of the U.S. workforce, he said.
“For students, using it while you are still in school is a good opportunity to learn
how to use it responsibly,” Himanshu added. “For faculty, adopting large language
models in a thoughtful way can make the curriculum more relevant. It can also support
teaching students how to use these tools with critical thinking, instead of treating
the output as an answer key.”
Accessing ChatGPT Edu
- Request access via University IT’s Service Catalog
- Within 24 hours, you will receive an invitation email from OpenAI
- Please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see it
- Accept the invitation and create your account using your uNID@umail.utah.edu email address:
(Example: u1234567@umail.utah.edu) - Click log in and select “University of Utah ChatGPT Edu”
- Log in using University of Utah SSO:
- Enter your uNID and password
- Complete Duo two-factor authentication
- After successful authentication, you will be redirected back to ChatGPT and can begin using the service
- Once your account is set up, access ChatGPT Edu any time at https://chatgpt.com
To help you get started, the following training opportunities are available:
- ChatGPT Edu 101 Training: Watch the foundational university-wide session co‑hosted with OpenAI, covering core features, responsible use and practical ways to integrate ChatGPT Edu into teaching, research and daily workflows.
- ChatGPT Edu 102 Training (Friday, February 20, at noon): An intermediate, hands-on training session cohosted with OpenAI that explores practical, university-wide use cases for ChatGPT Edu. The session will cover advanced features, research and teaching workflows, data handling and privacy considerations, and best practices for effective and responsible use.
- Getting Started with ChatGPT Edu (Fridays at 11 a.m.): Learn how to access ChatGPT Edu, navigate the interface, write effective prompts and explore practical use cases like creating slide decks, lesson plans and analyzing data—plus guidance on appropriate data use.
- AI Office Hours (every other Friday at noon): Drop in to brainstorm use cases, discuss best practices, get guidance, find collaborators and share ideas for new tools.
- AI Tinker Lab (Wednesdays at 1 p.m.): A weekly drop‑in space for students to explore AI through hands-on experimentation, creativity, and community.
Visit the AI Office's ChatGPT Edu webpage to learn more about the tool, such as what’s included and guidelines for responsible use. Please do not enter sensitive or restricted information (such as protected health information or student records) into ChatGPT Edu—review the university’s data policy and AI guidance for more information.