Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Educational Opportunities and Student Services in Higher Education

Authors

Mandy Barrett, Southwest Virginia Community CollegeFollow
Lisa Branson, Northern Virginia Community CollegeFollow
Sheryl Carter, New River Community CollegeFollow
Frank DeLeon, Northern Virginia Community CollegeFollow
Justin Ellis, Reynolds Community CollegeFollow
Cirrus Gundlach, Paul D. Camp Community CollegeFollow
Dale Lee, Mountain Empire Community CollegeFollow

Author Bio(s)

Mandy Barrett is Coordinator of Recruitment and Student Engagement at Southwest Virginia Community College. Lisa Branson is a Financial Aid Manager at Northern Virginia Community College. Sheryl Carter is an Accounts Payable Specialist at New River Community College. Frank DeLeon is a Coordinator of Student Success at Northern Virginia Community College. Justin Ellis is Counselor for Student Life at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Cirrus Gundlach is a Coordinator of Library Services at Paul D. Camp Community College. Dale Lee is a Student Leadership and Disability Counselor at Mountain Empire Community College.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is becoming the basis for business. Most businesses use it to improve the customer experience. The education community is just beginning to find ways to successfully implement AI for staff and students. Artificial Intelligence should be leveraged to create a better student experience. For example, Elon University uses AI to assist students with tracking previously taken courses and helps them apply the information to their course-planning (Gardner, 2018). Georgia State University uses Pounce, a chatbot built by AdmitHub, reducing summer melt by over 20% by reaching out to students via text when they have not completed tasks by certain dates (Page & Gehlbach, 2018). The use of this technology can range from help with admissions applications and FAFSA completion, class scheduling, and campus tours. Using AI within higher education will give faculty and staff the ability to be more effective and efficient when communicating with students.

Recommended Citation

Barrett, M., Branson, L., Carter, S., DeLeon, F., Ellis, J., Gundlach, C., & Lee, D. (2019). Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Educational Opportunities and Student Services in Higher Education. Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges, 22 (1). Retrieved from https://commons.vccs.edu/inquiry/vol22/iss1/11