Navigating the Swamp: Enhancing Student Involvement at UF through AI-Driven Event Navigation

Abstract

For many students at the University of Florida, finding a sense of community can feel overwhelming.  Informal observations of student discussions on social media reveal a common theme: students often feel isolated not because opportunities are lacking, but because they are difficult to discover. While UF boasts over 1,000 student organizations as well as various other events, many are either outdated GatorConnect profiles or found on disconnected calendars. This information overload doesn’t just cause confusion; it creates a barrier to the very involvement that defines the college experience. Students often miss out on perfect opportunities simply because they are buried under inactive listings or spread across too many platforms.

This project introduces an AI chatbot designed to bridge that gap. Built using the Navigator Toolkit and powered by the OpenAI API, the system aggregates real-time data from GatorConnect, the UF Master Calendar, and UF Performing Arts. The chatbot filters and synthesizes event data to generate five personalized recommendations based on a student’s interests and availability.

The goal of this research is to replace the manual search with an interactive system. By transforming a vast database into personalized recommendations, this tool lowers the barrier to entry for student participation. Ultimately, this project demonstrates how AI can foster a more connected and engaged campus community, ensuring that every Gator can find their place at UF.