More than 33,570 Interactions and Growing
Ask Stomper, a 2020 IT Solutions-driven initiative offering Minnesota State Mankato students a one-stop, online, helpline is gaining momentum in 2021 as a campus-wide tool for enhancing student services.
“We’re trying to unify with Ask Stomper how we help students and help our employees succeed in helping students. That’s the goal, right.”
MARK JOHNSON, Vice President of Technology
Mark Johnson, the University’s vice president for technology, said a December 2021 goal for full campus utilization of Ask Stomper is moving forward. Within the past month, areas of campus connecting to Ask Stomper has grown from 20 to 42 offices.
Johnson said Ask Stomper, a web-based chatline that incorporates artificial intelligence in providing a broad range of answers to student concerns, evolved last year as an offshoot to Flex Sync.
Following the March 2020 shutdown of campus following Spring Break, IT Solutions scrambled to create Flex Sync as a hybrid Covid-driven class experience that combines in-class and online offerings.
“And what we had to do at the same time was we had to think about how we provided services – so not just classes – but services to students,” Johnson said during a zoom presentation with campus communicators. “That’s where really the history of Ask Stomper started.”
Filling a void with 24/7 means for enhancing the college student service experience is the driving vision of Ask Stomper.
“Overall, Ask Stomper chat bot has had over 33,577 interactions,” Johnson said. “By the way, the inquiries that the students had, 40 percent of ’em took place after 5 or before 8. Is that meaningful? Yeah, because normally these offices that provide these services aren’t open during these times.”
Since its roll-out, Ask Stomper had more than 33,570 interactions. The automated Ask Stomper service offers secure, improved student interaction that frees up staff time and allows staff to feel more enabled.
“We’re trying to unify with Ask Stomper how we help students and help our employees succeed in helping students. That’s the goal, right.” Johnson said.
Listen to Johnson’s comments as efforts continue to expand Ask Stomper services across campus.
