The conclusion of the socially distant Fall 2020 semester sparked the beginning of a well-earned break for the hard-working students and faculty of Winthrop University. Yet, for many Winthrop students, the strangeness of the previous year followed even into winter break as students were unexpectedly messaged by an inquisitive chatbot calling itself “Big Stuff.”
“Hey [First Name], this is Big Stuff the Eagle on behalf of Winthrop,” said the chatbot through an automated text message. “Congrats on completing the semester. In an effort to better support you, I will check in on you over the next few
weeks, share important info, and helpful resources … Enjoy your break, you deserve it.”
The message provided Vice Provost for Student Success Jamie Cooper’s email address for questions relating to the chatbot’s use, as well as an option to opt-out of receiving the messages by responding with the phrase “#PAUSE.” The bot’s message also stated that each month students who interact with the bot could win a chance to receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Throughout the break, students received various messages from the chatbot ranging from survey questions regarding the Fall 2020 semester and students’ individual wellbeing to informative reminders on academic deadlines to even requests for music suggestions to compile into a comprehensive Winthrop playlist on the music streaming application Spotify, which currently contains over 28 hours of assorted music.
“Hi [First Name]! We’re excited to welcome you all back for the spring semester. Reminder that classes start this Monday, January 11th and that all classes this week are Virtual. Be sure to check your Winthrop email and log into Blackboard for info,” said Big Stuff the Chatbot.
Cooper stated that the chatbot had been a project that had been in the works throughout the fall semester, and is intended to provide a vehicle for university interaction with students during the break.
“Winthrop has partnered with EdSights for use of their chatbot product to help us communicate with students and to connect students to campus resources,” Cooper said. “The chatbot launched on Friday, December 11th. We worked through fall to get the chatbot set up and had the goal of launching by winter break, to help keep students connected to Winthrop and to be a resource if they had questions during break.”
“We have had good engagement from students thus far. The student responses gathered by the chatbot help us better understand the areas where students have questions and need more support, so we can use that information to improve our services to students.”
Meredith Frick, a freshman and undecided major, said that she has interacted with the bot a couple of times throughout the break.
“I believe that it is an interesting concept and provides a good way to spread helpful information to the students,” Frick said.
According to Cooper, the EdSights chatbot will continue to be used throughout the Spring 2021 semester and summer break.
Photo by Olivia Esselman
