A new artificial intelligence platform called "Cali" is now helping keep up to 20,000 students on track at three rural northern California community colleges.

The California Student Aid Commission is funding the pilot program serving Butte College, College of the Redwoods and Lassen College.

Kevin Kelly, interim executive director of the California Community Colleges Digital Center for Innovation, Transformation and Equity, said the program can help people file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California DREAM Act Application.

"We're focused heavily on helping maximize financial aid and often students need a little help," Kelly explained. "It will nudge them proactively to say, 'Hey, you finished the financial aid form and you received your aid, but you haven't registered for classes yet. Let's get you started.'"

Cali was developed by a company called Mainstay. It supports the systemwide Vision 2030 goal to increase equity in student support and is especially helpful for students who have a long commute to campus or have competing obligations like employment or child care, as well as those who speak English as a second language. Cali supports communication in 140 languages and engages with students through text messages, social media, voice and web chat.

Kelly acknowledged Cali cannot replace traditional counselors but it can take some tasks off their plate.

"Having an AI-based platform that can act as a coach and answer questions in a quick timeline frees up those staff members to answer the more complex questions, like planning out your academic program for the semester," Kelly noted.

So far, only about 5% of students have opted out of receiving messages from Cali. The state hopes to expand the Cali pilot to more schools, including campuses in more urban areas.

Source: Public News Service