Hardware / Software
Generative AI Tools @ McCormick

For the 2026–27 academic year, McCormick is providing licensed generative AI (genAI) tools to eligible faculty and staff. These tools can support a range of work, from drafting and summarizing information to analyzing data, developing ideas, and streamlining routine tasks.

GenAI tools are intended to support your work, not replace your expertise and judgment. Users remain responsible for reviewing AI-generated content for accuracy and completeness and using AI in accordance with applicable University policies and requirements.

McCormick-Funded GenAI Tools

McCormick funds one genAI tool at no cost to eligible full-time administrative staff and full-time faculty.

Full-time administrative staff receive a Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium license, which expands upon the Copilot Chat capabilities already available at Northwestern.

Full-time faculty may select one of four McCormick-funded tools:

  • Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium
  • Claude Enterprise
  • ChatGPT Business

This page only pertains to McCormick-funded AI Tools; to review information about additional tools available to the Northwestern community, see Northwestern IT's page on Available AI Tools.

Request Additional AI Licenses

McCormick faculty may request the purchase of AI licenses for lab staff and students who do not receive a McCormick-funded license. Faculty may also request additional AI tool licenses for themselves beyond their one McCormick-funded tool.

These additional licenses must be paid for using a faculty-provided chart string. To submit a request, have the following information ready:

  • The AI tool requested

  • The names of the intended users

  • The chart string to charge

Submit a McCormick AI Tool Purchase Request

Privacy and Data Access Notice

When you open the McCormick AI Tool Purchase Request form for the first time, Microsoft may ask you to allow access to SharePoint data and your basic Microsoft 365 user profile. This is an expected security prompt.

These permissions allow the form to recognize your Northwestern account, look up names in the Northwestern directory when needed, and save the information entered in your AI tool request. Access remains subject to Northwestern’s Microsoft 365 security, privacy, and data-governance policies.

If you see this prompt, confirm that you are signed in with your Northwestern account and select Allow to continue.

Before You Choose or Use an AI Tool

Before choosing or using a genAI tool, consider both the type of Northwestern data you will be working with and whether AI use is permitted for the activity.

Northwestern classifies University data by sensitivity, and different AI tools and licensed environments are approved for different data levels. Additional restrictions may also apply based on sponsored research requirements, funding agency requirements, data use agreements, laws, University policies, or other requirements governing the information.

For example, some sponsored research—particularly certain Department of Defense-funded projects—restricts the use of Anthropic products such as Claude. Generative AI also may not be used for certain peer-review activities, including NIH and NSF peer review.

Review Northwestern's Tools and Use Guidance for current information about approved AI tools, permitted data, and other restrictions.

Explore the AI Tools

Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium 

Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium connects Copilot to your Northwestern work content, including emails, meetings, chats, and files, and integrates AI capabilities into Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Data and security: Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium is provided under Northwestern's enterprise agreement with Microsoft. See Northwestern's Tools and Use Guidance for current guidance on permitted data.

Log in: Log in to Microsoft 365 Copilot using your Northwestern account. If prompted for a Microsoft username, use NetID@ads.northwestern.edu. Make sure you are using your Northwestern work account rather than a personal Microsoft account.

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Claude Enterprise

Claude is Anthropic's generative AI assistant. It can support tasks such as drafting and editing, summarizing documents, coding, and data analysis.

Data and security: Claude Enterprise is provided under Northwestern's enterprise agreement with Anthropic. See Northwestern's Tools and Use Guidance for current guidance on permitted data. Some sponsored research requirements, particularly certain Department of Defense-funded projects, restrict the use of Anthropic products. Confirm applicable grant, funding, and data requirements before using Claude for sponsored research.

Log in: https://claude.ai/login

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ChatGPT Business

ChatGPT Business provides access to OpenAI's generative AI models and tools for activities such as writing, analysis, research, coding, and working with files.

Data and security: McCormick's ChatGPT Business workspace is not covered by a Northwestern enterprise agreement. Northwestern currently permits Level 1 data and some uses of Level 2 data with ChatGPT Business; Level 3 data is not permitted. Review Northwestern's Tools and Use Guidance before using University data with ChatGPT Business.

OpenAI does not use data from ChatGPT Business workspaces to train its models.

Log in: https://chatgpt.com/ 

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Questions and Support

For questions about eligibility, access, or McCormick-funded AI tools, contact mccit@northwestern.edu.