The Academic Alert System: Fall 2007 Report Office of Undergraduate Studies September 12, 2007

Purpose of this Session What is the Academic Alert System? Purpose & Benefits What We Have Learned Through Assessment? The Academic Alert System Reporting Function Academic Alert & Student Success: Using new and existing campus resources to help students improve their academic performance. Continual Improvement of the System

Replaces the old “paper” version of the Early Warning System. What is Academic Alert? An on-line reporting and tracking system for student accountability in academic courses. Replaces the old “paper” version of the Early Warning System. First Implemented- Fall Semester 2005 Intended to improve student retention through increased early intervention. Harvest

Drawbacks of the Former Early Warning System More paper work Inefficient notification, (not timely) Slow communication of the actions students must take to improve in the course. No formal mechanism to confirm student response. Harvest Drawbacks of the Former Early Warning System Inefficient (not timely) notification of student academic progress to advisor and student. Slow communication of specific action student must take to meet the requirement of the course. No formal mechanism to confirm that student responded to recommendation for meeting course requirement.

Purpose of the New System To improve the overall academic success of students by: Improving communication between students, instructors and academic advisors; Reducing the time required for students to be informed of their academic status; and, Informing students of actions necessary to meet the academic requirements of the course. Harvest: To develop an on-line resource for students, instructors and academic advisors to communicate and verify critical issues related to the academic success of students enrolled in courses. To reduce the time required for students to be informed of their academic status in enrolled courses and strategic actions to follow in order to meet the academic requirement of the course.

What We Have Learned Through Assessment?

Utilization is Increasing In 2006-07, 1,417 academic alerts were issued to 1,053 different students on the campus. This increase is primarily due to an increased awareness of the resource by UMR instructors.

Who’s Using Academic Alert? In 2006-07, the majority of alerts were issued by the following departments: Mathematics & Statistics Physics Chemistry Computer Science English Fall 2006 Spring 2007

Root Causes

UMR Students on Academic Alert This informs us that the Academic Alert System is a valuable tool for communicating with probationary students, and students at risk for being placed on probation. **99% of all probationary students at UMR receive an academic alert.**

Instructor & Advisor Engagement Number of Instructors Using the Academic Alert System In 2006-07: 226 individual UMR instructors utilized the academic alert system in their courses; a 40% increase from the previous year. 313 individual academic advisors were engaged in helping students on academic alert. Number of Advisors Using the Academic Alert System Instructor & Advisor Engagement The Academic Alert System serves as an important mechanism for monitoring student/instructor and student/advisor engagement.

Academic Alert & Student Success 43% of all students who received alert received a final letter grade higher than their reported mid-term grade. 66% of these students received a C or better as a final grade in the course.

Closing the Academic Alert An importance component of measuring student success. Although the majority (72%) of alerts issued in 2006-07 were not formally closed-out, only a slightly higher percentage of students made improvements in the course when the alert was closed-out. 42% of students improved when the alert was left open. 45% of students improved when the alert was closed-out. % of Academic Alerts Open vs. Closed An academic alert is closed when the student meets with their instructor or advisor and provides verification that they took action to improve their academic performance

Academic Alert System Reporting Function The system provides general or customized reports: General Summary Academic Advisor Engagement Instructor/Department Report All Students with Alerts Closed Alert Student Level Root Cause All UMR instructors, advisors and Department Chairs have access to data in the Academic Alert System. Departments are encouraged to run reports: At Mid-term At the end of the semester

Accessing Reports http://academicalert.umr.edu Visit the Academic Alert System web site & click on “Detailed Reports”. http://academicalert.umr.edu

Select the type of report you wish to view, and click “Continue”.

Academic Alert & Student Success An academic recovery program to assist probationary and academically deficient students on the campus. The Academic Alert System, a valuable tool for: Informing students of the availability of this new resource to improve their academic performance. Helping UMR instructors and advisors require students to take advantage of this new resource.

Other Student Success Tools Notification of Scholastic Probation Form: Implemented in August 2007 Inform and manage students that have been placed on academic probation. Departments may use this form to strongly suggest actions that students should take to improve their academic status. Departments may use this form as a means for encouraging students to participate in the new On-Track academic success program.

Continual Improvement The Office of Undergraduate Studies administers and maintains the Academic Alert System (In collaboration with IT). The system includes a customized reporting function which is available for use by all UMR departments. Summary reports are regularly provided to the UMR Retention Committee and to the Provost’s office. System modifications are made annually.

Continual Improvement This year, the system was modified to: Help faculty comply with changing academic regulations, Allow for easier use and less frequent email reminders, and Enhance reporting functions for academic departments. Additional Opportunities for Improvement: Increase utilization of the system among the faculty. Enhance the reporting functions. Modify the e-mail messages to better inform students of their responsibilities. Modify the e-mail messages to help instructors and advisors work together to ensure more alerts are “closed-out”.

To access the Academic Alert System, visit: http://academicalert. umr

Questions?