Key Points:
- The California Community Colleges AI pilot launches Cali, a bilingual digital assistant, to help rural students complete financial aid applications accurately and on time.
- The AI tool automates routine support, letting staff focus on complex needs while gathering insights on student challenges.
- The program aims to boost aid completion, first-term persistence, and long-term success for students in rural areas.
The California Community Colleges Digital Center for Innovation, Transformation, and Equity, together with education technology firm Mainstay, has announced a new California Community Colleges AI pilot aimed at helping rural students in California navigate the financial aid process as they prepare for college. The initiative focuses on simplifying access to aid information and guidance by using an artificial intelligence based digital coach that supports students throughout key application steps.
The pilot introduces a bilingual digital assistant named Cali, which is designed to be available at all hours to guide students through financial aid requirements. The program is being rolled out at three community colleges that serve rural regions of the state: Butte College, College of the Redwoods, and Lassen College. The effort is intended to address common challenges students face when completing financial aid forms and connecting with campus support services.
AI Guided Support For Financial Aid Completion
Cali is designed to assist students with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act Application accurately and on time. Through the California Community Colleges AI pilot, the digital coach provides step by step guidance, answers routine questions, and helps students avoid common errors that can delay aid approval. In addition to application support, Cali directs students to on campus resources, including basic needs assistance, and encourages them to seek help when needed.
The pilot is aligned with spring 2026 registration and is built on Mainstay engagement platform, which uses conversational design informed by education research. By offering consistent guidance, the initiative aims to reduce verification issues and improve completion rates for financial aid applications. These outcomes are closely linked to enrollment and persistence, particularly for students who may be the first in their families to attend college.
College leaders involved in the program note that rural institutions often face staffing and resource constraints that make personalized outreach difficult. By automating responses to common questions, the California Community Colleges AI pilot allows staff to focus on more complex student needs and one to one support. This approach is intended to strengthen both efficiency and student confidence during the transition into higher education.
Building Capacity And Understanding Student Needs
Beyond direct student support, the pilot also focuses on helping colleges better understand student needs at scale. Cali collects insights from student interactions, allowing institutions to identify patterns, barriers, and areas where additional support may be required. These insights can help colleges adjust services and improve outreach strategies to better serve their communities.
The participating colleges were selected based on their role in serving rural populations and their interest in exploring new approaches to student support. The California Community Colleges AI pilot will examine how digital guidance influences financial aid completion, first term persistence, and help seeking behavior. These measures are viewed as important indicators of student belonging and long term success.
Leaders from the California Community Colleges system emphasized that the project is focused on expanding access while making better use of existing resources. By supporting students earlier in the process, colleges aim to reduce uncertainty and improve readiness before classes begin. The initiative also reflects a broader effort to use technology in ways that complement human support rather than replace it.
The pilot is funded by the College Futures Foundation in partnership with the California Student Aid Commission. Findings from the California Community Colleges AI pilot are expected to inform future efforts to close gaps in college access across the state, particularly for students in rural areas.
As colleges continue to explore digital tools to support students, this pilot offers a focused example of how artificial intelligence can be used to guide, listen, and respond to learners during a critical stage of their educational journey