Transcript Slide 1
EARLY ALERT REFERRAL SYSTEM Itawamba Community College Bronson Wilburn-Prochaska, Ph.D. 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 problems Inadequate class preparation Poor test results Poor writing skills Underdeveloped time management Underdeveloped 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 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Increased Enrollment Leads to Increased Number of Students “At-Risk” Academic Probation 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Fall 2003 Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 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 student 2-Tupelo Campus day student OR 3-Tupelo Campus night student Now, our students are “hybrid” students because they typically cannot be categorized by…………….. 1-Campus 2-Time OR 3-Delivery method Reasons Our “At Risk” Students Indicate They Become Disengaged in Educational Pursuits Underprepared Academically Socially Emotionally Lack Direction Connection Interest Motivation/Initiative Overwhelmed Coursework Freedom/Flexibility of college Family Obligations Social expectations/activities Mandatory course placement Advising Peer Tutoring Peer Mentoring Counseling Student Organizations & Activities Early Alert Referral System STARS Technical Support (Blackboard & GO2ICC) Financial Aid/Scholarships Flexible course scheduling & delivery Career Services Etc. Early Alert Referral System 2007-2008 • • • Fall 2007 340 Referrals 61% were contacted by Student Services personnel Most common reasons for referral: Excessive absences Struggling with material Inadequate preparation Missing homework/exams Poor exam results/writing skills/time management/study skills Personal issues affecting student • • • Spring 2008 147 Referrals 75% were contacted by Student Services personnel Most common reasons for referral: Excessive absences Struggling with material Inadequate preparation Missing homework/exams Poor exam results Fall • • 2008 116 Referrals Most common reasons for referral: Excessive absences Struggling with material Missing homework/exams Poor exam results/writing skills/time management/study skills Personal 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” “…at last the ladder, which had been built slowly, slowly, one hope at a time, reached up to the clouds. And the dreamer began to climb.”