How to Implement an Early Alert & Intervention Program to Improve

Student Success & Retention

Edmund Tsang Paul EngelmannInterim Dean Assistant Dean

College of Engineering and Applied SciencesWestern Michigan University

Early Alert & Intervention

• Two main suggestions on continuing the discussions and support to sustain Early Alert & Intervention

Early Alert & Intervention

• Identify your target student population

Early Alert & Intervention

• Target populations First-time, first-year students Returning sophomores First-time transfer students

Early Alert & Intervention

• WMU is a “Moderately Selective” institution as defined by CSRDE

First Semester Math 2009 (%) 2010 (%) 2011 (%) 2012 (%) 2013 (%)

Calculus II or higher 7.9 7.5 3.4 4.3 5.0

Calculus I 34.3 40.7 38.0 37.1 35.1

Precalculus 27.9 25.2 34.0 31.7 33.4

Algebra II 22.0 19.1 16.8 24.2 20.8

Algebra I 7.6 6.8 8.4 *** ***

No Math Data 0.3 0.7 0 2.4 2.6

*** Admitted to Exploratory Advising

Early Alert & Intervention

• Select the marker/trigger for intervention

Early Alert & Intervention

• Marker/Trigger for Intervention Previous term GPA Underperform in STEM courses in previous term

Early Alert & Intervention

• Identify the unit at your institution who can provide the data on marker/trigger

Early Alert & Intervention

• Office of Institutional Research

Early Alert & Intervention

• How would you build your Early Alert System to identify potential at-risk students?

Early Alert & Intervention

• Early Alert System Cognos report, searchable by:

Student classification STEM course gradesEarly Work/Mid-Term grade if instructors report them

Early Alert & Intervention

• Implement an Intervention Program

Early Alert & Intervention

• Intervention Program A meeting with either STEP PI/GA to Diagnose academic difficulty

Early Alert & Intervention

• Customized recommendation for academic habit and strategy change

Time management Use of Student Success Center Study partner/study group The Learning Cycle Academic/career advising Non-academic factors

Early Alert & Intervention

• Create the assessment/documentation system Evaluate effect of intervention

Early Alert & Intervention

• Assessment/Documentation Pre/post intervention course grades Student comments Checklist placed in student advising folder

Next Steps

• Identify your target population• Identify your proposed trigger• Contact Anetra Grice to post your progress

anetra.grice@wmich.edu