5 technologies that will help colleges meet digital-age students’ expectations

Most students entering college have grown up with digital technology. It touches nearly every aspect of their lives, and they view it as a critical requirement for a quality education. So, it should come as little surprise that students expect advanced technology at the center of nearly every key administrative and educational process.

Indeed, 87 percent of U.S. students consider the technology savviness of colleges to be important when applying for admission, according to a recent Ellucian-Wakefield Research survey, and 97 percent say technologies supporting their education outside the classroom are just as important.

Not only that, modern students have been conditioned as digital consumers to expect a certain level of personalized service from their favorite schools. They want to see that their school has invested time in figuring out their needs, has assembled ideas or programs to address them, and is sending tailored communications that feel as if the institution really knows them.…Read More

Why chatbots are not the future of student engagement

The higher ed space is evolving as more schools look to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in a variety of ways to stay innovative. From discussions of AI replacing educators to helping students enroll, universities are looking to use this technology to improve student engagement and retention both in the classroom and on campus. Many higher ed institutions use AI through chatbots, allowing an automated form of communication between staff and incoming or even current students. These chatbots help inform students by answering common questions about tasks like enrollment and financial aid. While there are positive returns on implementing this type of technology, chatbots are not the future of student engagement in higher ed because they lack several crucial aspects.

These aspects cause chatbots to fall behind when compared to one-on-one communication between students and higher ed advisors or educators. Below are two notable reasons why chatbots are not the future of student engagement, along with what a more engaging solution looks like.

(Next page: The pros and cons of chatbots)…Read More