EARLY ALERT REFERRAL SYSTEM

EARLY ALERT REFERRAL

SYSTEM

Itawamba Community CollegeBronson 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 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”

“…at last the ladder, which had been built slowly, slowly, one hope at a time, reached up to theclouds.

And the dreamer began to climb.”