Tag: data ethics

Dartmouth Builds Its Own AI Chatbot for Student Well-Being

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A close-up of a digital display screen showing a friendly AI chatbot interface titled "DARTMOUTH COMPANION." The chatbot has an avatar of a friendly character wearing a green scarf with the Dartmouth shield. Text bubbles read "Hi there! I'm here to support you. How you feeling today?" with clickable options like "Stress," "Social Life," and "Academics." In the blurred background, several college students are visible in a modern, comfortable common area, working on laptops and chatting, suggesting a campus environment. The Dartmouth logo (pine tree) is visible at the bottom of the screen. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.
Dartmouth College takes a proactive step in student support by developing its own AI chatbot, “Dartmouth Companion.” This innovative tool aims to provide accessible assistance and resources for student well-being, addressing concerns from academics to social life. Image (and typos) generated by Nano Banana.

Source

Inside Higher Ed

Summary

Dartmouth College is developing Evergreen, a student-designed AI chatbot aimed at improving mental health and well-being on campus. Led by Professor Nicholas Jacobson, the project involves more than 130 undergraduates contributing research, dialogue, and content creation to make the chatbot conversational and evidence-based. Evergreen offers tailored guidance on health topics such as exercise, sleep, and time management, using opt-in data from wearables and campus systems. Unlike third-party wellness apps, it is student-built, privacy-focused, and designed to intervene early when students show signs of distress. A trial launch is planned for autumn 2026, with potential for wider adoption across universities.

Key Points

  • Evergreen is a Dartmouth-built AI chatbot designed to support student well-being.
  • Over 130 undergraduate researchers are developing its conversational features.
  • The app personalises feedback using student-approved data such as sleep and activity.
  • Safety features alert a self-identified support team if a user is in crisis.
  • The first controlled trial is set for 2026, with plans to share the model with other colleges.

Keywords

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URL

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/health-wellness/2025/10/14/dartmouth-builds-its-own-ai-chatbot-student-well

Summary generated by ChatGPT 5

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