What is the Early Alert Program?
Program designed to identify students who may be at risk of academic difficulty or
failure.
Proactive means of reaching students having problems in various areas
of their lives.
Available to faculty & staff throughout the semester.
Online form so faculty and staff have access to submit student information to program 24/7.
Focuses on students experiencing…
Attendance problemsInadequate class preparation Poor test results Poor writing skillsUnderdeveloped time managementUnderdeveloped study skills Personal issues affecting student’s academic success
Campus resources (tutoring, career selection, etc.)Adjusting to college life
Why an Early Alert Program? (Or, how did we get here from there?)
-Since 2000, enrollment has doubled
-Increased enrollment leads to increased number of students considered “at risk” or on academic probation
-Students of today are pulled in many directions and have more responsibilities than in previous years (decades)
-Easiest student to recruit is the one you already have
-Felt we had a responsibility to provide services to our students
Student Enrollment has Increased
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000
Fall2000
Fall2001
Fall2002
Fall2003
Fall2004
Fall2005
Fall2006
Fall2007
Fall2008
Increased Enrollment Leads to Increased Number of Students
“At-Risk”
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Fall 2003 Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007
Academic Probation
Then vs. Now(Over the years, our students have
changed) Then, our students could be placed in a nice little
box and categorized as……..................………........1-Fulton Campus day student2-Tupelo Campus day student OR3-Tupelo Campus night student
Now, our students are “hybrid” students because they typically cannot be categorized by……………..1-Campus2-Time OR3-Delivery method
Reasons Our “At Risk” Students Indicate They Become Disengaged in
Educational Pursuits
LackDirectionConnectionInterestMotivation/Initiative
UnderpreparedAcademicallySociallyEmotionally
Mandatory course placementAdvisingPeer TutoringPeer MentoringCounselingStudent Organizations & ActivitiesEarly Alert Referral SystemSTARSTechnical Support (Blackboard & GO2ICC)Financial Aid/ScholarshipsFlexible course scheduling & deliveryCareer ServicesEtc.
OverwhelmedCourseworkFreedom/Flexibility of collegeFamily ObligationsSocial expectations/activities
Early Alert Referral System2007-2008
Fall 2007• 340 Referrals• 61% were contacted by
Student Services personnel• Most common reasons for
referral:Excessive absencesStruggling with
materialInadequate preparationMissing
homework/examsPoor exam
results/writing skills/time management/study
skillsPersonal issues
affecting student
Spring 2008• 147 Referrals• 75% were contacted by
Student Services personnel• Most common reasons for
referral:Excessive absencesStruggling with materialInadequate preparationMissing homework/examsPoor exam results
Fall 2008• 116 Referrals• Most common reasons for referral:
Excessive absencesStruggling with materialMissing homework/examsPoor exam results/writing skills/time management/study skillsPersonal issues affecting student
Conditions for Optimal Student Retention
Students are more likely to persist and graduate in settings that:
• expect them to succeed• provide clear and consistent information about institutional
requirements and effective advising• provide academic, social and personal support• involve them as valued members of the institution• foster learning…the ultimate key to student retention
Vincent Tinto
What we do to in our Early Alert Program after receiving
the alert… Print students academic transcript that includes
current class schedule Assign counselor to case and email this information to
referring party Email student-express concern and indicate that
someone from department will be contacting them soon
Counselor contacts student to discuss issue (via telephone or in office meeting)
Student may be referred to other campus resources if needed (tutoring, disability services, advisor, etc.)
Additional meetings may be scheduled-discretion of the counselor and student
Reactions from students & staff……“I appreciate someone checking with me to
see if I need anything, it makes me feel important”
“just knowing that I have someone I can go to makes me feel like you care”
“the Early Alert program has helped with attendance in my science classes”