Meet Bucky – Your AI Virtual Assistant at American River College
Get Answers Anytime, Anywhere
Bucky is a smart support tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that’s designed to help students succeed. Built to understand the context of your question – not just keywords – Bucky offers clear, personalized responses based on what you actually need.
Since its launch, Bucky has:
- Answered thousands of student questions about enrollment, financial aid, deadlines, and more – instantly.
- Saved students time by providing 24/7 access to accurate information, even outside of office hours.
- Reduced stress and confusion, especially for new students navigating college systems for the first time.
- Helped more students complete enrollment steps, access support services, and stay on track to meet their goals.
- Decreased wait times for live help by resolving common questions quickly and freeing up staff for more complex needs.
- Continually gotten smarter with help from a real person behind the scenes, reviewing chat interactions and refining the responses to be as clear and helpful as possible.
- Contributed to a 97% success rate answering a combined 244,255 questions across all four Los Rios colleges! (2024–2025)
How to Use Bucky
Visit any ARC webpage and look for Bucky’s chat box in the lower-right corner. Click it open and ask away! Remember – Bucky is not a search engine, but will respond conversationally.
Tips for Getting the Best Answers
- Use full questions: Phrase your questions completely for better accuracy. Think about how you would talk to a friend. (e.g. “When is the registration deadline?”)
- Be clear and specific: Ask clear and concise questions for the best responses. (for example, “How do I apply for financial aid?” instead of “Help with money”)
- Use the suggested link tab: Often, Bucky will suggest helpful links or resources based on your question. Check them out!
- Try rephrasing if needed: If Bucky doesn’t understand, try rephrasing your question or asking in a different way.
- Ask one question at a time: Keep your questions simple and ask one thing at a time for better accuracy.
- Know what the bot can and can’t do: Bucky cannot provide personal information (like your financial aid status). You may need to log into eServices or contact a department directly.
- Follow up with a human if needed: If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, ask Bucky to send you to our live chat team for more assistance.
Multilingual and Accessible
Bucky supports multiple languages, so feel free to ask questions in English, Spanish, or other supported languages. The chatbot is also designed to be accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
Always Learning and Improving
The more you interact with Bucky, the smarter it becomes. We continuously update and improve Bucky’s responses to serve you better. Leave feedback to ensure we don’t miss a thing!
Need Additional Help?
If Bucky can’t find the answer, it may suggest contacting a specific department or provide you with helpful links. For further assistance, type “live chat” into the prompt to be directed to the Los Rios Call Center.
Start chatting with Bucky today and get the help you need – anytime, anywhere!