AI @ SHSU - Tripod: SHSU's Always-On AI Chatbot
Tripod: SHSU’s Always-On AI Chatbot
At Sam Houston State University, innovation in student support is more than a goal—it’s a commitment. One of the most visible examples of this is Tripod, the university’s AI-powered chatbot built on the Gecko Engage platform. Available 24/7 on the SHSU website, Tripod is designed to answer questions from prospective and current students, and thanks to its generative AI capabilities, it can assist other stakeholders as well.
What Tripod Does Best
Tripod is trained on the most common questions students ask—from admissions and financial aid to registration and campus life. But it doesn’t stop there. Because it’s powered by generative AI, Tripod can pull from the entire SHSU website to provide accurate, context-aware answers to a wide range of questions. Whether it’s a parent asking about housing or a faculty member looking for policy updates, Tripod is ready to help.
Real Impact, Real Numbers
Over the past year, Tripod has handled:
- 12,027 new conversations
- 33,354 total messages exchanged
- 5,973 conversations fully resolved by AI alone
One of the most powerful benefits of Tripod is its ability to support students outside of traditional office hours. Nearly 48% of all conversations—that’s 5,785 chats—occurred after hours, ensuring students get help when they need it, not just when offices are open.
Why It Matters
Tripod isn’t just a chatbot—it’s a scalable solution to a growing challenge in higher education: how to provide timely, personalized support to a diverse and busy student body. By resolving nearly half of all inquiries without human intervention, Tripod frees up staff to focus on more complex issues while ensuring students get fast, reliable answers.
Learn More About Chatbots and AI in Higher Ed
If you’re curious about how chatbots like Tripod work—or how you might use AI tools in your own role—check out these resources: