New web applications streamlines faculty support efforts
If a student finds themselves struggling in a course, there are several places they can turn to on campus for tutoring, academic success coaching and writing help.
The sooner a student gets that help, the better. Which is why UMass Lowell launched Academic Success Alerts last fall — a new, centralized web application that faculty can use to promptly flag students who are slipping because of poor attendance, coursework or exams.
“This has exponentially improved our ability to connect with students right at the point at which the faculty member has raised the flag,” says Dean of Academic Services Kerry Donohoe. “It connects students to academic support and resources when they need them most.”
A collaborative creation of UML’s Web Services, Information Technology and Academic Services teams, the “homegrown” Academic Success Alerts web application replaces Starfish Early Alerts, a third-party platform that the university had used since 2012.
Unlike Starfish, which was available for around 50 first-year courses and “gateway” courses deemed critical for students to progress toward their degrees, the new alerts system is available for all UML courses — and doesn’t cost the university $30,000 a year.
Integrated with Salesforce, UML’s customer relationship management software, the alerts system is synced to each class roster. When a faculty member wants to enter an alert, all they have to do is click on the student’s name and create a case. That case is immediately sent to a Professional Advisor, who then reaches out to the student and connects them with the appropriate support service from the Centers for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS).
Biological Sciences Assoc. Teaching Prof. Shaina Roy is impressed with the new system, which she uses for her Principles of Biology I course.
“It’s very easy to go in, click on the student who is struggling and have some different options in the drop-down menu — things like attendance concern or academic concern,” she says. “There’s also a space for a note, so I like to give the advisor any additional information, like if the student hasn’t responded to email.”
Roy, who used Starfish for her courses since joining UML in 2014, says Academic Success Alerts are an important tool in helping students who are new to the college experience.
“We have a lot of resources on campus, and I’m not qualified to be all of those resources,” she says. “It’s nice having folks from across campus who can reach out to the students and maybe dig a little deeper into what the problem is, to then help them be successful.”
Besides an “Anytime Academic Referral Alert” that can be used throughout the semester, the system includes a “Never Attended Alert” during the first two weeks and a “Midterm Alert.” There is also an “Early Alert” and “Final Alert” available for courses that were previously covered by Starfish.
Designed to ultimately improve student retention and graduation rates, the new Academic Success Alerts system comes online in a year when most students are readjusting to in-person learning.
“Many students started their first year with us remotely during the pandemic,” Donohoe says, “so getting that additional academic support is important.”