Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Early Alert System?

The Early Alert System is a Blackboard tool you can use to inform your students of their progress in class early in the term. The progress report is sent electronically to students via a Horizon E-mail. The Early Alert System is available the 1st day through the 5th week of the term.

How does the Early Alert System work?

The Early Alert System uses Blackboard to create a class roster which includes a performance comment pull-down menu and a free flow text box. Information entered into Blackboard is embedded in an electronic message which is sent overnight to the student via Horizon. In addition to your comments, the E-mail message lists campus support programs and provides a link to their Web site.

A new screen (190) was created in SAIL for use by faculty and staff advisors. Within 24 hours the performance comments from the pull-down menu that you enter in Blackboard are moved to Screen 190.

Do I have to submit a report for every student in the class?

You are encouraged to send progress reports to students even when they are doing well. However, you can limit the progress report to a select group of students such as students who are in academic jeopardy.

Why isn’t the Early Alert System available after the fifth week of the term?

The intent of Early Alert is to provide students with ample time to seek and receive support or assistance if needed. The earlier students are notified during the course of a term that they are academically underperforming, the greater amount of time they will have to take corrective action or officially withdraw from the course. Research shows that institutions that are most successful with students who are at risk of failing are those that are proactive in identifying them and intrusive in their intervention.

Why should I use the Early Alert System?

The Early Alert System supports student success and is easy to use. The goals of the system are to improve the quality of student work in class, increase student retention and progress to degree, increase FTE, create a greater awareness and utilization of student support services, enhance advising by faculty and staff advisors, and increase interaction between students and faculty.

Who can use the Early Alert System?

All faculty can use the Early Alert System including those who teach graduate and Open University courses.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the Early Alert System?

For technical questions, please send a message to the Help Desk. For information related to training on the use of the system, you may contact Bernie Salvador in the Faculty Development Office.