Managing change may be part of the job description for any higher ed administrator, but it's seldom easy. And nowhere is this more evident than with the core of any college or university: its academic programs. In fact, the process can be something of a minefield, with faculty feeling threatened and the media poised to […]
The challenge: Reduce summer melt for incoming freshmen at Georgia State University. The method: Use an artificially intelligent chatbot to help students complete pre-enrollment tasks, such as submitting transcripts and taking care of immunization requirements. The results: Summer melt for 2016-17 was 21 percent less than in the prior year. The hero: Pounce the text-based […]
From admissions, financial aid and residence life to registration, student activities and food service, here's how student service areas can use chatbots to keep students informed. (Click to enlarge infographic.) LINK TO MAIN ARTICLE: Rise of the machines on college campuses Ray Bendici is deputy editor of UB.
Vendor question: What is the most important thing for higher ed institutions to consider when implementing AI into their student services? "An institution should have clear objectives and goals. No one single message can change behavior, but it's the culmination of many messages over time that does. We can't wave a magic wand with AI […]
Colleges and universities are in crisis mode. The digital age continues to transform disciplines—dissolving some, and merging and reconfiguring others. Yet a highly trained and college-educated workforce, one grounded in the ethics of how to best harness new technologies to benefit humanity, is needed more than ever to tackle issues such as cyberwarfare and artificial […]
How students are engaging with chatbots at: Winston-Salem State University (N.C.) "One of the odd things about an AI chatbot is that students will be very honest with it," says Joel Lee, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management. "They may even, at times, tell the AI things that they won't tell their counselor, or ask […]
Aside from offering a variety of high-quality food, what is the most important thing colleges can do to encourage students to eat on campus? "It is important to offer meal plans that provide flexibility across campus with a variety of high quality grab-and-go, retail and brand options. Mobile ordering platforms allow [students] to order ahead […]
Across the country, news feeds have been filled with accounts of individuals calling out those who have harmed others. Consider the callouts of Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Al Franken and academicians from well-known universities. Simultaneously, educators at colleges nationwide are striving to empower their students to use their voices to self-advocate. The combination of these […]
In your experience, how are higher ed institutions doing in their efforts to teach students to be responsible about their finances while in school and in future stages of life? Is there a particular area you believe needs to be covered more? "Higher education institutions provide extensive assistance to both prospective and current students relating […]
