The BearBuddy chatbot can answer most general questions on its own. But when you ask about something specific to your account (your class schedule, financial aid status, grades, and so on), the chatbot has to rely on two other systems working behind the scenes.
The login system (Microsoft)
Before BearBuddy can share anything personal, it needs to confirm you are really you. That confirmation happens through BSU's Microsoft sign-in. If Microsoft login is having trouble, BearBuddy cannot verify your identity, so it cannot show you anything tied to your account.
The records system (Banner, connected through Ellucian Ethos)
Once you are signed in, BearBuddy reaches into Banner, the system that stores your student or employee records, to look up your specific information. It does this through a connector called Ellucian Ethos. If Banner or Ethos is down for maintenance or experiencing an outage, BearBuddy has no way to pull your details.
What this means for you
If either system is unavailable, BearBuddy will tell you it cannot answer account-related questions at the moment. General questions about BSU (deadlines, office locations, policies, how-to information) will still work as usual.
What to do
Try again after a short wait. If the issue continues, contact the IT Service Center at itsupport@bridgew.edu.