Enhancing Student Engagement: The Power of Generative AI at UA-PTC
To address the diverse needs of its student population—comprised significantly of nontraditional learners like working adults, caregivers, and first-generation college attendees—the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) sought innovative solutions to improve access to vital campus information. Teaming up with Modo Labs, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner, UA-PTC launched MyAgent, a generative artificial intelligence tool designed to offer real-time, verified answers to students’ inquiries directly through the college’s app. This initiative has dramatically transformed user engagement, leading to a remarkable 253% year-over-year increase in interaction with admissions content.
Identifying A Need for Improved Access
As the largest two-year college in central Arkansas, UA-PTC serves over 6,700 students across more than 80 degree and certificate programs. Many of these students juggle jobs, family responsibilities, and other commitments, making it imperative to simplify their access to important resources. Recognizing this challenge, UA-PTC had already been collaborating with Modo Labs to enhance its digital experiences when they were introduced to the concept of generative AI.
During a virtual demo hosted by Modo, UA-PTC staff viewed a prototype that harnessed generative AI to streamline information retrieval. It was an epiphany moment—the potential to substantially ease the learning experience for many nontraditional students became clear. Andy Umans, general manager of higher education at Modo Labs, noted that the college was enthusiastic about deploying a solution that could eliminate the intimidation associated with navigating complex information.
Accelerating Development with AWS Support
To transition from concept to reality, Modo turned to AWS, specifically its Product Acceleration Team. This specialized group is instrumental in helping organizations rapidly build innovative products leveraging AWS technologies.
Max Denmat, head of partnerships and innovation at Modo, emphasized how vital AWS support was during this phase. “They provided crucial insights into our architecture,” he said, allowing Modo to swiftly overcome challenges related to performance, scalability, and security.
The introduction of Amazon Bedrock, a service that simplifies generative AI development, became a game-changer. Harsh Paleja, Modo’s vice president of product management, stated that it facilitated a quick deployment that addressed real user challenges, confirming the validity of their solution.
Rapid Deployment: From Prototype to Campus-Wide Use
Thanks to the collaboration with AWS, MyAgent was fully operational in just eight weeks. Launched campus-wide in March 2025, it utilizes a robust AWS infrastructure that includes tools like AWS Lambda for backend processing and Amazon S3 for hosting. Security measures were also a priority; Modo designed MyAgent to interact with verified institutional content only, with protocols in place for answering sensitive inquiries responsibly.
Testing with a small group of student users over two weeks allowed Modo to gather valuable feedback, ensuring that the interface was seamless and user-friendly. The strategic placement of MyAgent within the app proved effective in driving rapid user adoption on launch.
Transforming Student Services with MyAgent
Since its introduction, MyAgent has quickly positioned itself as an essential resource within the UA-PTC community. It has become the app’s most-used feature, accounting for 21.8% of all activities, and achieving a staggering 94.5% user adoption rate among students and faculty alike.
In addition to enhancing daily support, MyAgent has significantly contributed to attracting new students. Visits to the app’s “Future Student” section have surged by 140%, while enrollment-related content has seen a 253% hike in unique visitor counts. Remarkably, even student workers have tapped into MyAgent to provide quick assistance at front desks, reinforcing the tool’s value across the campus community.
Dr. Summer DeProw, Chancellor of UA-PTC, expressed enthusiasm over MyAgent’s impact, stating, “At UA-PTC, we are committed to improving student success through innovation, and this AI assistant is enabling students to get answers to their questions instantly, any time of day.”
Scaling Support with Modo Labs and AWS
The breakthrough represented by MyAgent showcases the potential of generative AI to facilitate learning experiences. As UA-PTC has discovered, making campus resources easily accessible is crucial to enhancing student success.
For institutions considering similar approaches, Modo’s advice is to start small, focusing on real questions and evolving from there. Accuracies and comfort levels can build a solid foundation upon which additional features can be developed.
Whether through MyAgent or other innovative solutions, the transformative power of generative AI is reshaping how colleges and universities deliver essential information, paving the way for a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
For those keen on exploring how Modo Labs can enhance the educational experience or learning about AWS’s role in supporting EdTech, the future promises exciting developments in the realm of higher education technology.