Why is VIU introducing Studiosity? 

The goal is to expand access to academic support—including outside of weekday/daytime hours for students studying remotely or part-time. It's one way to help improve retention, student success, and equity in academic support. 

Is Studiosity an AI tool? 

Yes and no. Writing Feedback+ and Study Assist are AI-generated, however, live help is also offered through real-time chat and audio calls with qualified tutors. Writing Feedback+ does not generate content for students, nor does it make any edits or corrections, but rather, constructive feedback alongside the text is provided in an instructional format.

Who can use Studiosity? 

All currently enrolled students can use Studiosity for free as part of the university’s academic support services. It is accessed through a widget on the VIULearn homepage. 

How many sessions of Connect Live can I have? 

Connect Live, in which you can chat with a live human tutor in math, science or English, can be accessed up to 10 times per semester.

Can I use Studiosity if my professor prohibits the use of AI in assignments? 

If you're unsure whether you're allowed to use Studiosity or any AI-related tool, it's important to first consult your course syllabus or speak directly with your professor. Unlike generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Studiosity's Writing Feedback+ service does not produce content or make direct edits to your work. Instead, it offers constructive feedback alongside your text in an instructional format, helping you to independently strengthen your academic writing skills. It is designed to adhere to VIU’s Academic Integrity policy.

Will Studiosity replace on-campus support staff or services? 

No. Studiosity is a supplement, not a replacement. On-campus supports like the Writing Centre remain essential.  

Who are the tutors?  

The tutors, known as Subject Specialists, hold graduate degrees in their area of study and are located around the world.  

What kind of writing support is offered? 

The service allows students to upload a piece of their writing and then receive AI-generated feedback on critical thinking, language use, structure, spelling and grammar, and use of sources. Feedback is shown in a sidebar not within the text itself. Students must then make their own revisions thus requiring them to actively engage with their writing throughout the revision process. 

How is the Studiosity AI-model trained? 

The Writing Feedback+ AI service is a ‘closed system’ meaning that training of the GenAI-based service only occurs via the Studiosity Quality Assurance team, not student inputs, which are used for ‘inference’ only for the purpose of each interaction. Inference is the process where the AI model uses “learned” knowledge to generate feedback for the students, but it does not use student input for further training.  

How does Studiosity ensure quality and academic integrity? 

Studiosity maintains rigorous training and quality control. Feedback focuses on guiding students to improve—not correcting work or providing answers. Study Assist was engineered by Studiosity’s in-house machine learning experts and quality assurance team to ensure they are delivering an ethical academic chat assistant that draws on a trusted and recognized collection of Open Educational Resources.  

Is submitted work kept private? 

Yes. Studiosity follows strict privacy and academic integrity standards. Submissions and sessions are secure and confidential. For further details, Studiosity's VIU privacy statement can be accessed via the student login portal or directly here. In addition, Studiosity's general privacy statement is available within the portal or directly here. 

Was there a pilot? 

Yes. The Academic and Career Preparation (ACP) program began a pilot with Studiosity in October 2022, which initially ran through June 2023 and was extended through the 2023–24 academic year. The service resumed in February 2025 and was expanded to include students in the Health Care Assistant program, as well as the Practical Nursing program. In fall 2025, the pilot is being extended to the entire student community and will run for the next year.  

The pilot so far has shown strong positive outcomes—students have reported high satisfaction, improved confidence, and enhanced academic success, while faculty have observed greater classroom engagement and have experienced reduced stress themselves, attributing this to the additional support available for students who were struggling academically. ACP faculty have advocated for the service to be continued long term. 

Where can I learn more about AI literacy?

Check out the AI Literacy Tutorial module in VIULearn under the Discover tab. It is available to both students and employees and can be integrated into course content. This interactive, asynchronous tutorial, created collaboratively by librarians and employees across campus, is intended to support students and the broader VIU community in developing critical AI literacy skills. This tutorial provides students with an understanding of how to evaluate and engage with AI-generated content responsibly. The tutorial is in its first iteration, with ongoing lessons to be released as they are completed. 

Have more questions? 

Check out Studiosity's list of FAQs or get in touch with us by email at libraryfeedback@viu.ca.