Many reasons exist why students might struggle academically in your course. They might start strong but experience a drop in performance as the semester goes on, or have a rocky start that leaves them feeling behind from the get go. If your own outreach as an instructor reaches a limit, or more intervention and support is needed to help the student succeed, the Academic Alert team is here to help. The Academic Alert referral service provides faculty with an outlet for requesting support for undergraduate students who are struggling academically.
The reasons for submitting an Academic Alert vary. In general, you should submit an Academic Alert when a student is showing signs of academic difficulty. Some examples include:
- Missing one or more classes within the first two weeks of the semester.
- Missing classes regularly throughout the course of the semester.
- Poor performance on homework, quizzes, exams or presentations.
- Low engagement or participation.
- Poor quality of writing.
- Gaps in academic skills such as struggling with time management, reading or note taking.
As to when to submit an Academic Alert, it is never too early! The team receives referrals as early as ten days into the semester, even earlier for 7- or 10-week courses. Early interventions are key to support the student and prevent them from falling further behind, getting frustrated and discouraged, and potentially giving up. Additionally, it is not uncommon for academic struggles to be part of larger issues, sometimes life-altering. Some guiding outreach times are:
- Week 1-2: Early semester interventionÂ
- Week 3-6: Support before midterms
- Week 7-8: Outreach prior to withdrawal deadline
After you submit an Academic Alert, an Academic Development and Recovery advisor will reach out to the student within two days and follow up with the faculty member submitting the report with an update on the progress of the outreach.
For more questions and information about the academic alert process, reach out to the Advising and Academic Support Center located on the first floor in the SMASH building via phone at (208) 426-4049 or Email (AcademicRecovery@boisestate.edu).