Hi, I’m MARI (meh·ree), the new chatbot virtual assistant for the College of Marin Admission, Enrollment, Financial Assistance, Counseling, and Cashiering Services. I provide support for your general questions related to the above departments any time, any day. I am currently in beta, so please be patient with me as I try to answer your questions. The more students who chat with me, the more knowledgeable I become. Below is a video and a few tips to get the best out of your interaction and how to utilize me more effectively.
How to Effectively Use the Chatbot
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ASK THEM
Keep it simple
I do best when asked one question at a time. Complex, lengthy, or several questions at once make it harder to support you.
Use question format
I support you best when you speak to me in question format. For example, “I am a high school student and cannot figure out how to apply”, is better said as “How do I apply to COM?”
Use my Suggestions Button
My suggestions can be really helpful and may phrase your question in a way that I better understand it.
For example: When you ask a more complex question like “Are there payment plans if I do not qualify for financial aid?”, I may offer you a better way to ask the question, and that can get you to a response, i.e., “Do you offer a payment plan?”
Be specific…but limit identifying details
I can answer many general questions and some questions related to your account or record. You must be a COM Student with a MyCOM user ID and login information for answers related to your account or record. I learn by identifying keywords and can provide relevant information and links. The links I direct you to save time for you and me, as you can find many common questions on our website.
Be sure you are asking questions about the offices I support
College of Marin is a large institution, and I know you will have many questions about our departments, programs, and services. I support COM's Admissions, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Counseling, and Cashiering offices. If you need assistance for departments I currently do not support, I recommend visiting their website or contacting the department directly.
I speak four languages
Click the globe icon at the top of my window if you need English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Simplified Chinese.
I am not a human
While I am very intelligent and can support a lot of your general questions, I use artificial intelligence and work best when you follow the tips I have shared. Though I am not human, I do have a name, MARI (meh·ree) and prefer the pronouns (They/Them), this is how I will be referred to in conversation with staff on campus.
Need a human? Use my contact form option
You can say “Contact a department” and select the department you want. You will then get a series of prompts asking for your name, email, COM Student ID (M00 number - if you don’t have one, that’s okay,) and the opportunity to add a more detailed inquiry. You will know your form has been successfully submitted when I say, “Your information has been submitted." You can close this window, and someone will get back to you soon, or you can continue to ask me questions.