What is Early Alert?
Early alert is a student success and retention program that allows professors to identify students in their courses who may need additional assistance, so that a student success staff person may follow-up with the student to provide support and resources in a timely manner.
Early Alert is primarily for academic concerns. If you are concerned about the safety, health, or well-being of a student, please make a referral to the Care Team.
How may professors submit an alert?
- Complete this online form.
- Email Zoe Byrd at zmbyrd@email.sc.edu. In the email, please include the student's name, student ID, reason for alert, class name, and recommendation (contact Professor, tutoring, withdraw from class, counseling, etc.).
Why should professors submit an alert?
It is important to connect with students early and often (ideally within the first six weeks of a semester) to ensure they have the support and resources they need to be successful. A student’s performance at the beginning of the class often indicates what their performance may be in the rest of the course without additional support or resources. Alerts also help identify when a student is facing challenges in multiple courses or challenges outside of school.
Professors, consider submitting an alert if you observe any of the following with a student:
- Excessive non-attendance
- Limited participation
- Excessive tardiness
- Not prepared
- Not completing work
- High levels of stress and/or anxiety
- Poor attitude/behavior
- Low total grade average
- Low quiz/test grades
This list is not exhaustive.
When should professors submit an alert?
Professors may submit alerts during any point in the semester. During the first six weeks of class is an ideal time to submit an alert, but we know that students may face challenges at any point in the semester. Another critical time to submit alerts is before the withdrawal deadlines. If a student withdraws before the withdrawal deadline, they receive a “W” grade for the course, which does not affect their GPA.
What happens when an alert is submitted?
- The alert information is documented.
- Outreach (email and text) is performed.
- The professor is notified of the student’s response.
What outcomes can be expected from an alert?
- The student does not respond to outreach/no contact is made with the student.
- The student responds to the alert and appropriate information, referrals, and resources
are shared.
- The student may choose to remain in the class.
- The student may choose to withdraw from the class.