Early Alerts
Evaluation Plan and measures: Early Alerts track the students who attend tutoring versus those who decline services to see if they successfully pass the class in which the alert was issued. Tracking communication efforts with EA students.
KPIs: Increase the number of students that attend tutoring and successfully pass the class in which the alert was issued.
Baseline measure (for each KPI): Early Alert is currently at 61%
Goal or targets (for each KPI): Increase students’ success of those attending tutoring and successfully passing the class the alert was issued on by 10%.
Time period/duration: Early Alerts will run the full academic year (fall, spring, and summer).
Accomplishments:
- The Early Alerts system has been operational, identifying students who need academic support through tutoring.
- Tracking of students who attend tutoring versus those who decline services has begun, with initial data being gathered on whether those attending tutoring are more likely to pass the course in which the alert was issued.
- Initial baseline data shows there is a slight increase for students who attend tutoring after receiving an Early Alert, helping to indicate the effectiveness of the tutoring services provided.
Adjustments:
- Efforts are underway to refine communication strategies with students who receive Early Alerts. More targeted follow-up with students who initially decline tutoring services might be necessary to increase attendance and improve success rates.
- There is an ongoing need to optimize the scheduling and availability of tutoring sessions to ensure they align with student needs and class schedules. Implementing Tutor.com online platform has shown a change in students attending tutoring. Adjusting outreach strategies to emphasize the importance of tutoring could help increase participation.
Analyzing success by course and instructor might reveal areas for improvement in the tutoring approach or suggest a need for additional resources.
Steps for Improvement:
Hiring Early Alert Assistants
- Hiring part-time assistants will help with implementing a more effective system for Early Alerts, better tracking of student's success, and improving communication
Increase Engagement with Non-Responders:
- Develop more proactive outreach strategies for students who decline tutoring services, such as personalized communication or motivational incentives, to encourage them to utilize available support.
Monitor and Analyze Data:
- Continuously track the success of students attending tutoring and compare that to those who don’t identify trends and areas of improvement.
- Evaluate the success rate by course, department, and tutor to ensure that tutoring services (Tutor.com) are tailored to meet specific student needs.
Strengthen Communication Efforts:
- Improve communication with instructors to better identify and refer students who might benefit from tutoring.
- Increase visibility and awareness of the Early Alert program to make students more likely to respond to alerts.
Set Up Mid-Year Checkpoint:
Conduct a mid-year evaluation of progress to assess whether the 10% increase in success rates is on track and adjust strategies as necessary.
Challenges:
Student Engagement:
- One of the main challenges will be increasing student engagement in tutoring services. Many students may not view tutoring as a priority or might have logistical barriers (e.g., scheduling conflicts) that prevent them from attending regularly.
Data Tracking and Accuracy:
- Tracking and accurately correlating Early Alerts, tutoring attendance, and course outcomes requires robust data systems. There may be technical or administrative challenges in ensuring the data is complete and accurate.
Student Motivation:
- Even with alerts and tutoring services in place, some students may lack the motivation or self-efficacy to take advantage of academic support.
Support Needed:
System-Level Support for Data Integration:
- The implementation of a comprehensive data-tracking system across departments (i.e., tutoring services, advising, and course outcomes) would help streamline tracking and improve reporting accuracy.
Collaboration with Peer Institutions:
- Collaborating with other institutions to share best practices for Early Alert systems and tutoring programs could provide valuable insights and ideas for increasing student engagement and success.
Funding or Resource Allocation:
- Additional funding for tutoring services or incentives for students to engage with academic support may be necessary to meet success goals. External funding could support the expansion of tutoring staff or technological tools to enhance student support.
Training and Development:
- Access to external training resources for tutors, instructors, and advisors to improve early intervention strategies and ensure more effective communication with students at risk of failing.
By addressing these challenges and implementing the outlined steps, the Early Alerts program can aim to meet its goal of increasing student success by 10% within the academic year.
