ClassNavigator (AI Tool for ClassFinder)

ClassNavigator is an experimental AI tool currently in beta testing, designed to help users at the University of St. Thomas find class information. 

What it is:  

ClassNavigator is an AI-powered tool designed to help students find and understand course information from the UST catalog and ClassFinder data. Students can ask questions about specific courses, degree program requirements, and course attributes such as Core curriculum designations — for both undergraduate and graduate programs — and receive answers drawn directly from the current catalog. It uses a large language model (LLM) to interpret user queries, search for relevant information, and parse the returned information to generate answers to the original question. ClassNavigator can also reference the broader University of St. Thomas website to provide additional context when it’s helpful, such as department information or additional program details.  

ClassNavigator is currently in beta testing. This means that it’s an initial version, available for testing to identify and fix issues and gather feedback.  

ClassNavigator has access to publicly available information about classes. Most of this information is refreshed daily at 6:00 AM, while enrollment and waitlist details for current and upcoming classes are updated every 10 minutes. It does not have access to personalized information about users. However, this is planned for future versions of the tool, and your feedback directly informs upcoming plans and priorities. Please share feedback using the thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating mechanism on ClassNavigator responses, and/or share more detailed feedback using this form.   

What it is not: 

ClassNavigator is not an interaction with a person associated with the University of St. Thomas. It cannot connect you to a St. Thomas staff person or directly open a request for assistance. 

Like any AI system, ClassNavigator has limitations. It has access to publicly available class information, but lacks comprehensive knowledge about other University systems. It may not always return results that represent approved language, and the information provided may not always be accurate. We encourage you to provide feedback on your experience, especially on any unexpected results so that we can work to improve the tool. 

Users should exercise caution and verify important information provided by ClassNavigator. While ClassNavigator can serve as a convenient first stop for catalog exploration, for anything affecting an official academic record students should always confirm with their academic advisor or the Registrar's office.

Intended Audience: 

ClassNavigator results are for active students and current faculty and staff at the University of St. Thomas. 

By using ClassNavigator, you agree to its terms of use (below). 

Terms of Use 

ClassNavigator is an AI chatbot designed and operated by the University of St. Thomas to help users find general information about classes at the University. 

Limitations

ClassNavigator is powered by artificial intelligence. It is not a human and may not always understand context or nuances. ClassNavigator is provided “as-is” and the information it provides may not always be up-to-date or accurate. Users should verify critical information through official university channels. ClassNavigator is programmed to handle general inquiries about classes. For specialized or complex issues, users are encouraged to contact the appropriate university department or office directly. ClassNavigator is not intended, and should not be used, to seek or provide professional guidance or advice, including legal, medical or financial advice. 

Confidentiality 

Do not share sensitive or confidential information with ClassNavigator. St. Thomas does not take responsibility for any breaches of privacy or data security that may occur from sharing such information.

Information Collected/How Information May be Used: The questions you ask ClassNavigator will be collected by St. Thomas and may be used internally to improve ClassNavigator and the user experience. 

Usage Agreement 

By using ClassNavigator, you agree to the following terms: 

  • You understand the limitations and scope of ClassNavigator’s functionality, and agree to use ClassNavigator only in a manner consistent with the above terms. 

  • You agree to the collection and use of your data, as described above, and understand your use is also subject to St. Thomas’s Online Privacy Policy (if accessing via St. Thomas’s public webpage or mobile apps). 

  • You will not share sensitive or confidential information with ClassNavigator, including information that may not lawfully be shared in such a manner. 

  • You acknowledge that St. Thomas is not liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information provided by ClassNavigator. 

  • You will use ClassNavigator responsibly, respectfully and in accordance with all applicable law and university policies. 

  • St. Thomas reserves the right to modify or discontinue ClassNavigator at any time without notice.