What SCOUT Can Do:
SCOUT brings together AI capabilities with knowledge that is uniquely UC Merced. Today, that means helping you find information, understand university processes, create content, and make connections across campus resources. As SCOUT grows, new integrations will make it possible to do even more without having to know which system holds the answer.
- Find Answers Across UC Merced.
Looking for a form? Trying to understand a policy? Not sure who owns a process? SCOUT can bring together information from across university resources and help you find an answer without requiring you to know where to look first.
- Build Your Accessibility Skills
SCOUT’s Accessibility beta can help answer questions about digital accessibility, explain WCAG requirements and UC policy, and guide you through common review and remediation techniques. Think of it as a knowledgeable starting point, but not a substitute for accessibility testing or expert review.
- Create & Work with Content
Like other generative AI assistants, SCOUT can help draft communications, summarize information, brainstorm ideas, revise writing, create outlines, and more. Where SCOUT becomes particularly useful is when that work benefits from UC Merced context.
- "Can SCOUT…?" Just ask SCOUT!
Not sure whether SCOUT can help with something? Ask. Describe what you’re trying to accomplish, and SCOUT can explain its capabilities, suggest an approach, or let you know when something is outside its reach. SCOUT is still evolving, so this page will remain the best reference for currently supported capabilities and integrations.
Wondering what SCOUT can access, how your conversations are handled, or how we protect university information? Visit Trust & Privacy
What SCOUT can do today?
Start here. SCOUT combines general AI capabilities with UC Merced knowledge to help find information, understand processes, create content, and move work forward.
| Service | What It Unlocks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Directory | Find people, departments, roles, and contact information from across UC Merced. | Available |
| Campus Expertise | Discover staff & faculty expertise, research, programs, and other work represented across UC Merced websites. | Available |
| Content Creation | Draft, summarize, brainstorm, revise, and create content—with UC Merced context available when it matters. | Available |
| Multiple AI Models | Choose from several AI models when a different model may be better suited to the task at hand. | Available |
| OIT Service Catalog | Find the right technology service, understand what’s available, and get pointed toward the appropriate request or support path. | Available |
| UC Merced Knowledge | Find policies, procedures, forms, services, and other information from across UC Merced websites without knowing where to look first. | Available |
| UC Systemwide Knowledge | Connect campus questions with policies, programs, and guidance published by the UC Office of the President. | Available |
| Web Search (Agent) | Look beyond SCOUT’s university knowledge when a question benefits from current information on the broader web. | Available |
Beta Capabilities
This is where we experiment. Beta capabilities let us test specialized knowledge and new integrations before bringing what works into SCOUT more broadly.
| Service | What It Unlocks | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Digital Accessibility |
Get specialized guidance on accessibility requirements, common barriers, remediation techniques, and building more accessible digital content. |
Beta |
|
Financial Information |
Connect to Oracle and ask questions about the financial information available to you. SCOUT uses your existing university access, so you only see information you’re already authorized to view. |
Beta |
SCOUTing Ahead
We’re building toward a SCOUT that can do more than help you find better answers. Future integrations will allow SCOUT to securely connect with the university systems we already use; opening the door to more personalized information and eventually helping complete tasks directly.
| Service | What It Unlocks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Box |
Find and work with information from documents and files you already have permission to access. |
Exploring |
| Banner |
Bring enrollment and other authorized student information into the conversation to provide more personalized context. |
Exploring |
| CatCourses |
Bring course information and engagement into SCOUT to help make sense of teaching and learning activities. |
Exploring |
| EMS |
Find campus spaces and simplify the process of locating and booking the right room. |
Exploring |
| ServiceNow |
Access tickets and service requests directly in SCOUT without having to move between systems. |
Exploring |
| Outlook |
Bring relevant information from your email and calendar into the conversation when you need it. |
Exploring |
| Zoom |
Find and work with information from meeting notes, whiteboards, and other Zoom resources. |
Exploring |
Live - These features are available to use within SCOUT.
Beta - These features are available to use as separate agents within SCOUT to test and improve their capabilities before being fully integrated into SCOUT.
Exploring - Capabilities being evaluated for integration.
Planned - Capabilities that have been evaluated and approved for development.
