Tips for Using UAlberta Chatbots
Introduction
This article will answer the top questions on how to get the best experience using a UAlberta Vera chatbot.
Applicability
Vera Chatbots are currently available on the following websites:
UAlberta is planning on expanding its use of chatbots to other departments.
Details
Table of Contents
How do UAlberta chatbots work?
How do I use the chatbots?
How should I ask questions for the best results?
Is the chatbot a person?
How do I speak to a live agent?
Can Vera answer personal questions about my education?
Can Vera answer questions about my support requests?
Why is the chatbot called Vera?
How do UAlberta chatbots work?
UAlberta chatbots work by scraping website content to develop answers to your questions.
A bot is then used to respond to your questions with curated answers from our websites.
Currently, the chatbot is only on select UAlberta websites. Right now, the chatbot only has information about the websites that are chatbot-enabled. This means that the chatbot will not be able to provide answers to faculty-specific questions.
How do I use the chatbots?
Visit a chatbot-enabled website and click on the bubble found in the bottom right corner of the website. A pop-up window will appear where you can begin typing your question or choose from the quick support buttons.
How should I ask questions for the best results?
What to Do
- Short, specific sentences.
- Be as clear and concise as possible.
- Use keywords.
- Examples of how to ask a question:
- What is the registration deadline for Fall 2021?
- How can I accept my offer of admission?
- Where do I get my OneCard?
- How do I apply for a study permit?
- How do I reset my CCID password?
What to Avoid
- Entering only one word. Example: “Deadline,” confuses the chatbot, and it does not know which deadline you are referring to.
- Asking more than one question at once.
- Avoid long sentences. For example, instead of asking “What are the language requirements for Fall 2022 for Science”, you can simply type “language requirements.”
- Asking the chatbot for personal information. Because the chatbot is not human, it cannot respond to personal information, such as your grades, test scores or educational background.
Is the chatbot a person?
Vera is a chatbot, which is an artificially intelligent software application.
Live assistants are available on some of the chatbot-enabled websites during business hours.
How do I speak to a live assistant?
Live assistants are available on some of the chatbot-enabled websites during business hours.
We suggest you ask the Vera chatbot first to see if it is able to answer your question, and should it not be able to, you will be escalated to a live assistant during business hours. You can ask something similar to “Speak to a live assistant” or “Speak to a live agent” to be transferred during business hours.
Please note, that not all departments use this feature.
See below for the hours for live chat-enabled chatbots:
Can Vera answer personal questions about my education?
e.g. admission acceptance or eligibility to apply?
No. For any personal questions about your student experience, it is recommended that you speak to an advisor for support. You can make an appointment with an advisor by visiting the Contact Us page on your faculty's website.
Can Vera answer questions about my support requests?
e.g. IT tickets
Not yet, but we are working on integrations with single sign-on to allow you to ask questions about your support requests and IST tickets.
Why is the chatbot called Vera?
Vera was named after the University motto: Quaecumque Vera (whatsoever things are true).