Lone Star College System’s student advising chatbot recognized nationally for innovation

HOUSTON, TX -- Lone Star College System has been recognized in the 2026 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition, a national publication that explores the most influential trends shaping the future of higher education over the next decade.

LSCS was featured for its innovative use of artificial intelligence to enhance student advising through Ellis C., an AI-powered chatbot embedded within the college’s student portal.

Ellis C. provides students with 24/7 admissions and advising assistance in over 100 languages, helping them find the right resources to take the next steps in their academic careers. The chatbot’s name is a creative nod to the “LSC” acronym, reinforcing its role as a digital extension of the college system’s student support services. The platform launched in 2025.

“Since launch, the chatbot has supported more than 70,000 conversations with a reported 96% accuracy rate, helping save thousands of advisor hours while improving access, consistency and the overall student experience at scale,” said Bridgett N. Johnson, Ed.D., LSCS executive vice chancellor, Operations. “The Ellis C. initiative demonstrates how institutions can strategically use artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency while strengthening the student experience.”

The EDUCAUSE Horizon Report examines how emerging technologies, enrollment pressures, policy shifts and sustainability concerns are transforming instructional practice and institutional strategy across higher education institutions worldwide.

The write-up, “From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Scaling AI-Enabled Advising to Reclaim Time, Strengthen Relationships, and Transform the Student Experience,” highlights how LSCS leveraged AI to improve student support while allowing advisors to focus more deeply on meaningful student relationships and success. Ellis C. complements, rather than replaces, the human relationships that are crucial to student success by providing quick answers to common questions day or night.

Future enhancements under exploration include more personalized responses tailored to student needs, expanding knowledge coverage across student services, new capabilities that help guide students through common processes and generative responses based on natural language questions.

For more information, visit LoneStar.edu/Chatbot-Advising.