Meet Benny the Bot! Bennington’s new ChatBot
Who is Benny?
Benny the Bot—the College’s newest communication tool—is an artificial-intelligence texting chatbot that helps answer your questions about life at Bennington, 24/7!
Benny quickly connects you to support services and information on topics including:
- Academics
- Financial Matters
- Student Life & Activities
- Health & Wellbeing
- And so much more!
Don’t feel like texting first? You will receive occasional texts from Benny to keep you informed and connected when it matters most, including registration deadlines and other crucial information, as well as occasional check-ins and advice.
How can I sign up for Benny?
You're already registered! Everyone should receive a welcome text at the beginning of each semester; add Benny to your contacts and feel free to ask Bennington-related questions any time!
FAQ
What questions can Benny answer?
Benny is expertly trained to answer over 360 questions across 12 school categories.
This includes academics, activities, housing, wellness, and more. Benny’s curation and design quickly connects you to the information you need, answering questions directly and offering links to specific Bennington pages when appropriate. Though Benny is a bot, Benny’s knowledge base was filled by staff who work at Bennington, so Benny’s answers have been developed by real people who know our campus.
However, there are limitations to Benny's knowledge. Since Benny is a chatbot, there may be times it may not understand and will ask you to rephrase. Benny is learning and will continue to be updated as the semester progresses.
What questions is Benny less equipped to answer?
Benny is not for emergency situations.
Anything regarding an emergency should be directed to campus safety/emergency personnel.
How does Benny stay up-to-date?
Benny can be updated 24/7.
Any change made to Benny’s brain by the Bennington Team will be reflected in real time.
Will Benny protect my personal information?
Benny is FERPA compliant.
Data you share with Benny is protected through industry best practices. Feel free to securely share your feelings and the challenges you’re facing through this safe, simple, and supportive resource. If necessary, Benny can put you in touch with the right support services.
To ensure you get the care you need, Bennington has granted a limited group of administrators access to Benny’s data. This group is already responsible for student support and outreach, and will use Benny to best support you as part of their regular work. Benny will remind you of this in your first welcome message.
Will I be charged for this?
Check your carrier’s charges for SMS messages.
The messages sent by the chatbot are industry-standard SMS text messages.
Does it matter what phone I have?
If you have SMS texting, Benny works.
No apps, sign-in, or downloads necessary. Benny communicates entirely over SMS.
What if I don’t want to use Benny?
You can pause or opt-out.
Benny’s welcome text will have information on how to do this. You can opt back in just as easily.
How do I opt back in if I get a new phone number?
The Bennington Team can update your information in the system.
Student information in the chatbot system is updated daily-overnight. So any changes will take effect immediately!
How do I contact someone about Benny?
Tell Benny you want to talk to a real person.
Benny will always connect you with the right resource for your needs.