In the Spotlight: New AI Agent Tool for Advisors

Welcome to Viking News’ In the Spotlight, a new Q&A series highlighting how Del Mar College departments, programs, and offices are using technology and innovation to enhance services, strengthen partnerships, and improve student success.

Each post “spotlights” a different author sharing – in their own words – how these advancements shape their work and benefit our Viking community. 

Center Rep: Herminio Blas Ibanez

Tutor Support Services Coordinator
Student Success Center

Q: How are advancements in technology and platforms changing how your area delivers services or instruction?

A: [The Student Success Center is] moving from “click through five systems” to “get one clear, trusted answer.” Our co-developed faculty/advisor facing AI assistant puts vetted policies, placement rules and how-to steps at instructors’ and advisors’ fingertips. IT and College Relations provide a secure integration and data governance [as well as] help translate policy into an accessible, student-friendly language. At the Student Success Center, we then model and share these tools so frontline teams spend less time hunting links and more time with students. Technology shortens the path to clarity; people use the saved time to teach, coach and connect. 


Q: What is the most impactful innovation you’ve implemented, and what problem did it solve?A:

A:  It’s a faculty/advisor AI companion that centralizes official information and answers plain-language questions. IT and College Relations ensured a single source of truth (SSO, permissions, auditing) so that answers are accurate and secure as well as shaped responses that are readable, accessible and on-brand. Now a faculty member asks, “What qualifies this student for MATH 1314?” and gets a concise, citable answer with next steps. It reduces friction and frees time for high-value human interaction.


Q: How has this innovation improved student success?

A: It’s still too early to tell, but we hope [the AI assistant] will make things easier for advisors and students to make the time spent helping the student even more meaningful.


Q: How has technology helped you build or strengthen partnerships with employers, schools, or other organizations, and how do these connections support the region’s workforce and economic growth?

A: [This technology] has allowed us to build stronger connections with other departments at the college. With A&P (Anatomy & Physiology), the center has a Virtual Reality model for the anatomy models, allowing us to help more students [by providing] access to that information. With Computer Science we teamed up to foster innovation and creativity with a Gam Jam project, which can translate into workplace skills in the future.


Q: Looking ahead, what advancements do you foresee impacting your area, and what new skills will DMC graduates need?

A: Technology and AI literacy [because they’re tools] that have the potential to lift our students up if they learn how to make the most of them and bolster their creativity and curiosity.


Q: If talking to a prospective student, what are the top benefits or opportunities you’d highlight about your program or service?

A:   Student Success Center staff are always looking to see what new ways we can help the students become successful and more complete learners. We will continue to embrace tech and resources to make sure we meet the students where they are. 

Additional information:

Program Location: Venters Business Bldg., Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Web link: www.delmar.edu/offices/ssc/index.html
Phone: 361-698-2259  
Email: ssc@delmar.edu