Academic Advising Powered with Agentic AI

What is it about?

Academic advising is important for helping students succeed, but sometimes there aren't enough advisors available to help everyone. New technology, like AI chatbots, can improve how students get advice in colleges by offering personalized support. This research introduces ARGObot, a smart system that helps students understand university rules and policies by using information from the student handbook. ARGObot makes it easier for new students to navigate important academic information and provides tailored advice to help them succeed. It features a smart assistant powered by a Large Language Model (LLM) that uses different tools to improve its support: a system that finds reliable university information, email functions that allow real people to step in when needed, and a search function that helps it gather more current information. This way, ARGObot can give accurate and relevant answers to students' questions.

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Why is it important?

Academic advising is vital for student success as it provides guidance and the necessary support to navigate academic challenges. Effective advising can positively impact retention, degree completion rates, and overall student engagement. With the rise of difficulties such as limited advisor availability, students can struggle to access the help they need. Integrating generative AI, especially AI-powered chatbots, can significantly enhance advising efforts by delivering personalized assistance. These technologies enable students to access information and resources crucial for crafting degree plans that align with their educational objectives.

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