Artificial Intelligence Streamlines Higher Ed Admissions

In addition to helping students start an application, the chatbot can check their application status, tell them what their missing documents are, register them for an event, schedule an appointment and even congratulate them on their acceptance.

AI assistants were introduced in 2024, allowing SEMO to provide more specialized AI assistance that curated responses based on what category of student was applying: domestic or international, undergraduate or graduate.

In 2025, the university has continued to add to its AI capabilities by introducing AI agents to its admissions process.

“Instead of being reactionary, responding to student outreach, these AI agents are proactive and goal-based,” Hahn says. “We onboard and train them just as we would a human team member. They are given a deadline to complete a goal, such as converting someone from ‘just interested’ to registering for an event or even applying. And the agents can engage students through email, SMS, webchat — even phone calls and voice assistance.”

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SEMO Addresses AI Security and Safety

One of the primary drivers for bringing AI into SEMO’s admissions process was the high turnover the university was seeing in its admissions counselor positions, a common challenge facing admissions teams. Losing a human admissions counselor would leave large gaps in the university’s outreach efforts. The AI agents provide a way to deliver consistent communication, outreach and support to students.

“There’s just such a breadth and depth of knowledge needed in that position,” Hahn says. “With the onboarding of a human teammate it can take weeks — if not months or years — for them truly to grasp all of that knowledge competently, whereas with generative AI and the knowledge base you build, it can pull answers in seconds.”

SEMO’s comfort with embracing AI stems from a strong relationship with its CRM provider, which has guaranteed a strong focus on guardrails and safety when adding AI features to its platform. Student interactions with AI require an email verification so personal data isn’t inadvertently shared with anyone else.