VPCC Rolls Out Chatbot

Chatbots, a way to conduct online conversations through texting, are being introduced at all 23 institutions that make up Virginia’s Community Colleges. The chatbot for Virginia Peninsula Community College, called “Ask Alli,” was rolled out March 13.

In the bottom right-hand corner of every page of the VPCC website, there’s a gator logo. Clicking on it allows someone to ask questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It’s just supposed to ease some of the pressure off our information center and getting calls, and help people try to find information,” said Michelle Manfred, the College’s coordinator for donor engagement and prospect research who has been working on the rollout.

In November, Manfred and VPCC students started creating a database of questions and answers.

“There are 300-plus questions that have already been loaded into what we call our ‘knowledge base,’” Manfred said. “So, we’ve got responses to those questions.”

 The chatbot, Manfred said, is somewhat finicky. It only recognizes complete questions, not single words, so if you type in just “admissions,” you won’t receive a response.

“No, it’s not going to be perfect,” Manfred said. “Over time, it’s supposed to learn how to respond better.”

Since it’s a VCCS initiative, the organization started with basic questions, and is allowing each school to customize it.

“It’s going to be a continuous work-in-progress,” Manfred said.

To request Chatbot changes, go to https://forms.gle/Tq3djWSDDo2Y8ANH8.   

For more information, email informationcenter@vpcc.edu, and copy College registrar Mary Kanani (kananim@vpcc.edu) on all form requests.