Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) has launched a new Web-based service called “Ask-Us” to provide fast answers to anyone with questions about the college.

The new service can be accessed 24/7 on every page of ARCC’s Website (www.AnokaRamsey.edu) by clicking on the oval “Ask-Us” icon. Powering this new service is cutting-edge software that creates a self-serve knowledge database that grows and changes whenever users access it.

Currently, the service’s database offers answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on 35 topics – everything from course registration procedures, to student health insurance, to graduation requirements, and much more. The information can be accessed through a topic list or a keyword search.

If users do not find the information they’re looking for, they can submit questions, which are guaranteed an e-mail response within one business day. Through this feature, the service’s database of information will continue to grow, powered by users’ questions. In addition, the software will be responsive to users’ questions, so the FAQs clicked on most often will rise to the top of each topic’s list. Users can also create and log into personal accounts, allowing them easy access to previously viewed topics, as well as future updates about queried topics.

“This new service improves our ability to support the needs of students and prospective students,” says ARCC Counselor John Hennen. “It offers quick, efficient, accurate answers to many student questions, thereby freeing up the advising and counseling staff to meet face-to-face with students.”

ARCC is the first community college and only the second institution within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system to offer this new service. Across the nation, approximately 100 colleges and universities and 1,400 commercial firms have adopted the software system, which was created by RightNow Technologies.

The Ask-Us service represents phase one of ARCC’s expansion of its online services. Phase two will include online advising of students in real time, through an instant messaging service.

ARCC offers many other Web-based student services, including online courses, new student orientation, financial aid application and award review, course registration, tuition payment, tutoring, transcript review, degree credit review, transferability of courses, and a student e-mail system.