AI Updates

Brigham Young University, in coordination with the Church Educational System (CES), is expanding access to CES ChatGPT Edu, the university's enterprise ChatGPT environment.
CES has an enterprise agreement with OpenAI that provides CES institutions with a secure, institutionally managed AI environment. At BYU, CES ChatGPT Edu is intended to support teaching, learning, research, and university work while providing appropriate privacy, security, access, and governance practices.
The rollout has taken place in phases so BYU can expand access while developing the training, support, communications, and governance needed for responsible use across campus.

September 2026
Faculty, Staff, and Student Employees
On September 22, CES and OpenAI began sending invitations to BYU faculty, staff, and student employees.
This first broad phase allowed BYU to expand access while continuing to strengthen onboarding, communications, training resources, support processes, and governance practices before extending the service to the broader student population.

October 30, 2026
Student Soft Rollout
BYU currently plans to begin its student soft rollout on October 30. At this time, eligible students will receive BYU-provided base access to CES ChatGPT Edu that does not use credits and at no cost to them, including access to Codex. We are finalizing eligibility and any additional authorization requirements for specific student groups, including students under 18.

BYU is committed to helping the campus community use artificial intelligence in ways that enhance learning, increase productivity, support research, and prepare students for an AI-enabled future. CES ChatGPT Edu gives faculty, staff, and students access to OpenAI tools through an institutionally managed environment.

Enterprise environment
CES ChatGPT Edu is managed through the Church Educational System rather than being an individually purchased consumer ChatGPT service. BYU communications describe it as a secure, institution-managed environment with controls for managing access.

Privacy and institutional protection
Under the CES agreement, OpenAI does not train its models on CES ChatGPT Edu data.
Users should still share only information they are authorized to use and follow applicable BYU and CES requirements for university data.