Over a semester-long case study at Kutztown University, Advisor.AI supported first-year students with clear, structured guidance designed to complement advising services. Students used the platform to explore academic options, connect coursework to career pathways, and arrive at advising conversations with greater clarity and shared context.
By introducing early structure and visibility into options, Advisor.AI helped reduce uncertainty and supported students in taking meaningful next steps sooner. The result was stronger engagement and growing confidence during the critical first-year experience.
For career advisors and faculty, the platform reinforced the advising relationship. Streamlined workflows, shared student insights, and transparent recommendations reduced time spent gathering background information—allowing teams to focus more fully on listening, coaching, and guiding students forward.
In 2023, Advisor.AI partnered with Kutztown University, a public four-year institution serving more than 8,000 students, to strengthen first-year advising and career exploration experiences.
The study included 124 first-year students and five academic and career advisors, examining how early clarity, structured pathways, and shared insights could elevate advising conversations and accelerate student momentum.
When students are given clear, accessible ways to explore academic and career pathways—while advisors remain central to interpretation and decision-making—students engage earlier, move forward with confidence, and make more effective use of advising support and campus resources.
1. Guided Self-Reflection: First-year and undeclared students completed a brief assessment focused on academic interests, career goals, and personal motivations. The experience helped students articulate what mattered to them before meeting with an advisor.
2. Structured Exploration Support: Students explored Kutztown-specific majors, minors, and certificates, with clear connections to potential career paths—reducing guesswork and accelerating decision making.
3. Advisor Feedback Workflows: Students were encouraged to share insights directly with their advising team, creating shared context and enabling more focused, productive conversations.
4. Advisor Visibility & Momentum Tracking: Advisors accessed a centralized dashboard to view student engagement, task completion, and areas of uncertainty—allowing timely, intentional outreach in classroom.
By giving students a clear, self-directed way to explore academic and career options before meeting with an advisor, Advisor AI helped students arrive more prepared and more confident. Student confidence in the value and direction of their degree increased by 8 points, reaching 14, signaling stronger belief in long-term outcomes and next steps.
Industry research shows that holistic, well-timed advising support can double student persistence and career mobility—and early gains in confidence are a critical leading indicator of that success. (Source: AASCU)
Prior to implementation, only ~70% of students completed required advising tasks—highlighting a common gap in early engagement. After Advisor AI was introduced, task completion rose to over 90%.
Students cited the platform’s clarity, ease of use, and personalized guidance as key reasons they were more willing.
"This was a wonderful program to use with my two College Freshmen classes in guiding them with a tool for early course selections and choice of major. It was 'user friendly' in its initial set up and students were able to be guided into course selection, areas of concentration and potential majors; and were given the opportunity at the end to discuss live w/ an advisor."
— Douglas Turrell, Professor, College of Business, Kutztown University
Within the first four weeks, the platform helped support 400+ advising requests without increasing advisor workload.
Students used the platform to explore majors, coursework, and certificates—arriving at advising conversations with shared context and clearer priorities. Advisors benefited from a centralized view of student insights, reducing time spent collecting information and allowing more focus on guidance and next steps.
Within two weeks, it was identified that 50% of student inquiries centered on internship planning and course sequencing within business programs—giving advisors early visibility into emerging needs and student needs.
Advisor AI has significantly transformed the experience for both advisors and students. Its intuitive design and comprehensive features facilitate effortless tracking of student progress, leading to more efficient and meaningful interactions. This, in turn, enhances the advisor-student relationship.
— Dr. Soojin Kim, Professor, Department Chair, Kutztown University
Kutztown University and Advisor.AI share this work as a reference point for institutions committed to elevating the craft of advising—using thoughtful, people-centered technology to support clarity, confidence, and momentum at scale.