The Academic Alert System: What Does it Tell Us

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The Academic Alert System What Does it Tell Us?

• Dr. Harvest Collier
• Office of Undergraduate Studies
• April 9, 2009

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Academic Alert System

• The Academic Alert System is a web-based
  application that supports communication among
  instructors, advisors, and students.
• Since 2005, the Academic Alert System has helped
  to
• Improve communication among Missouri ST
  students, instructors and advisors
• Reduce the time required for students to be
  informed of their academic status
• Inform students of actions necessary by them in
  order to meet the academic requirements in the
  courses they are taking.

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http//academicalert.mst.edu/
User Log-In
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Example Email
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Example Academic Alert
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• The Academic Alert System includes a customized
  reporting function which is available for use by
  all Missouri ST departments.
• These reports provide valuable information about
  student academic success.

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2007-08 Student Level Report
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Recent Improvements

• Added On-Track Academic Success Program to the
  list of recommended actions.

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Example Comments

• There is a downward trend in your homework
  performance, including a week with no submission.
  Please note that there is an additional office
  hour time, Wednesdays at 7pm, starting this
  week.
• You currently have a failing grade in the
  course. I suggest you prepare very well for the
  first exam. Please see me if you have questions
  or need additional help.

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Example Comments

• You need to make an appointment to discuss how
  to get out of difficulty in this course. You
  also need to attend the LEAD sessions every
  Monday evening. Joining the email discussion
  group established for my (class) can help you
  clear up misunderstandings, because you can be
  helped by me or by a classmate.
• Your great improvement on Exam 3 is noted.
  Please continue to improve on your homework.

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Academic Alert System Reports

• The Academic Alert System provides valuable
  information that helps us
• Identify at-risk students
• Inform students of beneficial academic resources
• Develop new resources that improve student
  academic success and student retention

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Department Utilization
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Academic Alert Student Academic Success

• In 2007-08
• The majority of students who received an academic
  alert made improvements in the course.(The
  majority of students had a D or F before midterm
  and a C or better as a final grade.)

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Improved Academic Performance

• Instructor Example-
• History Political Science Department

75 of all students who received an academic
alert (and reviewed it), made improvements in
the course.
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Improved Academic Performance

• Instructor Example-
• Metallurgical Engineering Department

59 of all students who received an academic
alert (and reviewed it), made improvements in
the course.
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Improved Academic Performance

• Instructor Example-
• Mathematics Statistics Department

• 22 students received an academic alert
• 68 (15 of 22) of these students made a C or
  better in the course.

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Planned Improvements

• Collaborate with Institutional Research
  Assessment to Gather New Information
• Retrieved data by student level
• List the courses using Academic Alert
• Evaluate student grades (W/D, F)
• Determine the impact of Academic Alert on student
  grades in the course

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Planned Improvements

• 5. Look at Academic Alert data relative to
• Student Characteristics/Demographics
• Academic Status (probationary/deficient)
• Participation in Student Organizations, On-Track
  and Freshmen Engineering
• 6. Evaluate student academic success
• In order to gather this information, mid- term
  grades must be reported.

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Questions?