Florida Tech’s ‘Panthera’ Chatbot Yields High Student Engagement
SMS Chatbot Received Over 12,200 Texts in First Three Months
MELBOURNE, FLA. — A Florida Tech chatbot launched in December that proactively checks in with students, connects them to resources and answers their questions about the university has been a welcome and popular addition to campus, initial results indicate.
Panthera, a “behaviorally smart” SMS chatbot that understands and interprets queries in natural language to allow for more organic conversations, has received more than 12,200 texts from students since its launch, according to a three-month snapshot from provider EdSights.
The chatbot sends out text messages powered by artificial intelligence to encourage a student-centered higher education system. Panthera will text students every week or two to gauge how they are doing with academics, health and wellbeing, finance or persistence.
The report found that 93% of students have opted into the service. Additionally, 61% of students were actively engaging with Panthera. Many asked about academics and university services, with questions like “When is the library open?”, “When are exams?” and “How do I get a parking permit?”
Some conversations, however, held some more depth. Panthera is helping Florida Tech build a communication channel to listen to and support students where needed.
In its first three months, Panthera sent 11 proactive retention check-ins to students. The report noted 978 auto-completed interventions where students were connected to resources with no “staff lift.” The program flagged 31 students struggling with an issue that could make it hard for them to stay in school. And 71 students described their mental health and well-being as “poor,” prompting Panthera to send options for support.
“We know there is a benefit. It may just be reinforcing that Florida Tech is a community of care and belonging or it may allow the student to be directly connected with a resource that resolves their concern, reduces their stress, and supports their persistence to graduation,” said David McMahan, vice president for student affairs. “We are still evaluating after our recent launch right before finals in the fall, but we are positive about what we have seen so far.”
