Chatbots in Higher Ed: Optimizing Website Interactions for Prospective Students

By: Jennifer Ravey Mar 15, 2024

Conversations about AI in higher education have mostly focused on student use of AI, but most leave out institutions’ own reliance on the technology – using chatbots on websites. These AI-powered virtual assistants are being implemented on college and university websites to provide instant support and information to students, faculty, and staff, and Higher Ed Dive reported that 94% of students at institutions using chatbots said “utilizing one was valuable or extremely valuable.” Additionally, our latest Online College Students Report 2024, found that over one third (38%) of undergraduate respondents and nearly half (48%) of graduate respondents reported using the website chat features. And a vast majority (90%) of those who did utilize school’s chatbots, found them helpful.

Further, chatbots work for prospective students, current students, faculty, and even alumni. While chatbots offer numerous benefits, they also come with risks and challenges that institutions need to address. This blog post explores the benefits risks, and best practices of using chatbots in higher education.

Benefits of Using Chatbots in Higher Education:

  1. 24/7 Availability: Chatbots provide round-the-clock support, ensuring that students can access information and assistance anytime, anywhere.
  2. Instant Responses: Chatbots deliver immediate responses to inquiries, reducing waiting times and improving the user experience.
  3. Scalability: Chatbots can handle multiple inquiries simultaneously, enabling institutions to scale their support without the need for additional staff.
  4. Cost-Effectiveness: Implementing chatbots can be more cost-effective than hiring and training additional staff to handle student inquiries.
  5. Personalization: Chatbots can provide personalized responses based on user input, offering tailored assistance and information to each student.
  6. Improved Engagement: Interactive chatbots engage students in meaningful conversations, increasing their interest and involvement with the institution.
  7. Data Collection: Chatbots can collect valuable data on student preferences, behavior, and FAQs, enabling institutions to optimize their service and offerings.
  8. Consideration: Chatbots can influence consideration by providing prospective students information about programs, admissions, and campus life, ultimately increasing enrollment.
  9. Enhanced Student Support: Chatbots can offer support across various areas such as admissions, financial aid, academic advising, and student support services, improving the overall student experience.

Risks of Using Chatbots in Higher Education:

  1. Accuracy and Reliability: Chatbots may not always provide accurate or reliable information, leading to misunderstandings or inadequate responses.
  2. Privacy Concerns: Collecting and storing student data through chatbots raises privacy concerns, especially if the information is not adequately protected.
  3. Lack of Personalization: Chatbots may lack the human touch and empathy needed in certain interactions, potentially leading to dissatisfaction among students.
  4. Technical Issues: Chatbots are reliant on technology, and technical issues such as system downtime or errors can disrupt the user experience.
  5. Over-reliance on Automation: Institutions may become overly reliant on chatbots, leading to a lack of human connection and personalized support.
  6. Difficulty Handling Complex Inquiries: Chatbots may struggle to handle complex inquiries or situations that require human intervention, leading to frustration by users.
  7. Training and Maintenance: Chatbots require proper training of staff and ongoing maintenance to ensure effectiveness and accuracy.

Best Practices for Implementing Chatbots in Higher Education:

  1. Define Clear Objectives: Clearly define the goals and objectives of implementing the chatbot to ensure it meets the needs of users.
  2. Understand User Needs: Conduct research to understand the needs and preferences of students, faculty, and staff.
  3. Design User-Friendly Interface: Design a user-friendly chatbot interface that is easy to navigate.
  4. Provide Options for Human Support: Offer options for users to escalate to human support if needed.
  5. Personalize Responses: Program the chatbot to provide personalized responses based on user input.
  6. Ensure Accuracy and Reliability: Regularly update the chatbot’s knowledge base to provide accurate information.
  7. Maintain Privacy and Security: Implement measures to protect user privacy and data security.
  8. Provide Training and Support: Train staff responsible for managing the chatbot and provide ongoing support.
  9. Monitor Performance and Feedback: Monitor the chatbot’s performance and gather feedback from users.
  10. Integrate with Existing Systems: Integrate the chatbot with existing systems and platforms.

Chatbots have the potential to transform the higher education landscape by providing instant support and information to students, faculty, and staff. However, institutions need to carefully consider the benefits, risks, and best practices associated with implementing chatbots to ensure a seamless user experience and maximize the benefits they offer. By following best practices and addressing potential risks, higher education institutions can harness the power of chatbots to enhance the student experience and improve operational efficiency.