Use Bowdoin Bot For Technology and Workday Answers, and More!

Questions

  • What is Bowdoin Bot and what can it help me with?
  • How do I open Bowdoin Bot?
  • How do I ask Bowdoin Bot a technology question?
  • Can Bowdoin Bot answer Workday questions?
  • What should I do if Bowdoin Bot can't find an answer?
  • Does Bowdoin Bot use information from the Bowdoin Knowledge Base?
  • Do I need to be signed in to use Bowdoin Bot?

Environment

Bowdoin Bot is available to all current Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students. The bot is accessible from any page in the Knowledge Base. It is most useful for straightforward technology and Workday questions — for complex or account-specific issues, contacting the Service Desk directly will get you faster and more tailored help.

Resolution

  1. Look for the polar bear avatar in the lower-right corner of any Knowledge Base page and click it to open the chat window.

  2. You can use Bowdoin Bot without signing in, but signing in may give you access to more personalized information based on your role at Bowdoin.

  3. Type your question directly into the chat window. For best results, write a clear, concise sentence or question. Bowdoin Bot is not a keyword search tool — a short, complete question works better than a list of keywords.

  4. Bowdoin Bot uses generative AI to find and summarize a response based on Bowdoin's Knowledge Base articles. Review the response, and ask follow-up questions if you need more detail or a different angle.

  5. If Bowdoin Bot cannot find an answer in the Knowledge Base, it may offer a response based on general Internet information. These responses are clearly marked so you know they are not from Bowdoin-specific sources.

  6. If Bowdoin Bot cannot provide a useful answer, try rephrasing your question or contact the Service Desk for more complex issues.

Tip: Bowdoin Bot works best for common, clearly defined questions — things like "how do I connect to eduroam" or "how do I reset my PaperCut password." For account-specific problems, billing disputes, or issues that require IT staff to look up your records, calling or visiting the Tech Hub will get you a faster resolution.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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