Copilot – Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the information I create or enter when using Copilot?

The user retains all ownership of any inputs to Microsoft Copilot and is granted ownership over any outputs that Copilot creates.

What types of university information are appropriate to use with Copilot?

When logged in with your SU credentials, you can use Copilot with all classifications of university data that align with Syracuse’s data handling policies.

How long does Copilot retain my data or chat history?

Copilot conversations are ultimately stored in a user’s M365 mailbox in a hidden folder. The data will remain recoverable & searchable by administrators for up to 30 days after a user deletes the conversation in Copilot, unless the mailbox has different retention policies applied.

Does Syracuse University have access to my Copilot activity or data?

Like all university technology systems, data within Syracuse University’s Microsoft 365 (M365) environment may be accessed by authorized IT staff when necessary to support, maintain, secure, troubleshoot, or back up those systems.

At Syracuse, this access is strictly governed by the Information Technology Resources Acceptable Use policy and the Information Security Framework. It is exercised in accordance with departmental guidelines and best practices.

Does Copilot train on my data?

Microsoft does not use your content, prompts, or Copilot interactions from Syracuse University accounts to train its AI models. All activity within SU’s Microsoft 365 environment stays within the university’s secure tenant and follows Microsoft’s enterprise privacy commitments.

Copilot offers personalization and memory settings that enable users and administrators to control how contextual data and prior interactions are utilized to enhance the experience.

Can Copilot be used in a private or temporary mode?

Copilot includes a feature called Temporary Chat, which lets you start a new conversation that isn’t saved to your chat history. Once the window is closed or refreshed, the entire conversation is no longer visible, but the conversation is still bound by any retention policies that are applied to the user in M365.

What do the Copilot buttons in Microsoft apps actually do?

While the buttons are visible across many apps, their function doesn’t extend beyond each program’s workspace. They don’t connect to or access additional work data outside your current file, document, or chat. Essentially, these buttons are shortcuts to the same Copilot experience built into each app rather than separate tools.