Faculty FAQs
• What time in the semester should I refer a student? - answer
• How do I know when to refer a student to Early Alert? - answer
• Can you tell me some specific behaviors to look for? - answer
• Do I have to tell the student I referred them? - answer
• How do I tell a student I am referring him/her? - answer
• What happens after I refer a student? - answer
What time in the semester should I refer a student to Early Alert?
Students may be referred to Early Alert at any time during the semester. It is critical to refer a student as soon as you identify that the student is in need of support and have discussed the referral with that student. When a student is referred early in the semester (usually the first 6 weeks), the Early Alert Coach will work to match the student with resources that will help them gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful in their coursework.
Students who are referred late will work closely with their Early Alert Coach to determine their next steps, identify long-term and short-term goals, and to develop a plan to make these goals reality. Students will also receive information and education on PCC policies as well as information on becoming a successful student, making the experience a teachable moment.
Every viable option will be considered for each student based on that student’s unique situation. Students who are referred early in the semester may have options that are not available to students who are referred later in the semester and vice versa.
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How do I know when to refer a student to Early Alert?
The first thing to do is to determine what that student’s needs are by speaking with the student. If you, the instructor, can identify the need and match it with the appropriate resource, you do not need to refer the student to Early Alert. For example, if a student needs help with learning the subject matter, but presents no other problems, it is best to refer the student directly to the Tutoring and Academic Success Center. If the student is struggling with the course material and has additional needs, you should refer the student to Early Alert. The chart below might be helpful in guiding you to determine which service to refer a student to:
Q: Does the student need immediate intervention?
A: Refer to Student Assistance Program (Ty Davis, 493-7371)
Q: Is student violent or threatening?
A: Refer to Campus Police (493-7777)
Q: Does the student have an identifiable need that we have a resource for? (Tutoring, Disability Services, etc)
A: Refer directly to the resource (For a list of resources available, click here)
Q: Does the student have multiple needs or needs one-on-one intervention?
A: Refer student to Early Alert. (Click here for form.)
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Can you tell me some specific behaviors to look out for?
There are many different signs that a student may be in academic distress. Here are some warning signs that a student may need your intervention. Many of these problems can be dealt with by referring the student to the proper service such as tutoring or Disability Services. (For a full listing of available services and resources, click here.) If you feel that the student will benefit by working with an Early Alert Coach or that the student has multiple areas that need to be addressed, please refer them to Early Alert.
Here is a listing of warning signs that the student needs you to talk with them:
- Excessive Absences
- Student needs tutoring
- Low test or quiz scores
- Not completing homework
- Lack of participation in classroom
- Does not bring books or notes
- Decline in work quality
- Knowledge of personal or family difficulty
- Disruptive in class
- Withdrawn from course
- Student work not at course level
- Student needs basic skills
- Student never attends class
- Concerned comments from other students
- Change in demeanor
- Change in appearance
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Do I have to tell the student I referred them?
As a faculty member, it is important that you have a conversation with the student to determine their needs so that you can make the referral that will best serve the needs of the student. During this conversation, it is imperative for you to tell the student that you are referring them to Early Alert. When referring students, it is important to make sure that you explain that this service is designed to help them and is not punitive. Talking frankly with students about this service will help them to understand the benefits of taking advantage of these supplemental services and it will also show that you care about them.
In addition, students who know that they have been referred by their instructor are more receptive when the Early Alert Coach contacts them to arrange a meeting. Please be sure to emphasize that being referred to Early Alert is a positive thing, designed to help them to achieve their educational goal at PCC.
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How do I tell a student I am referring him/her?
The student population at PCC is very diverse. Therefore, it is hard to tell you what will work best in every situation. Listed below are some ideas and rules of thumb that you might find helpful when approaching the topic of Early Alert or any service referral, with the student:
- Be nonjudgmental when talking to the student.
- Be specific in stating your concerns.
- Be positive! Early alert is a solution and is designed to help the student succeed.
- Show that you are committed and that you care if the student succeeds.
- Tell the student to check their email for a message from their Early Alert Coach.
- Follow up to make sure that the student has met with their Early Alert Coach.
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What happens after I refer a student?
Once the faculty fills out the online form and submits it, it is sent directly to the coordinator of Early Alert. The coordinator will then email you an acknowledgement of the alert. Please note that the form asks for your contact information. Making sure that you include this information is important in case the coordinator of Early Alert needs to contact you for additional details about the student. Remember, at this point you are the expert on what the student needs and additional information may be needed to best match the student with an Early Alert Coach.
The alert will be forwarded to an Early Alert Coach who will email the student. If the student does not respond to the email within a week, the Early Alert Coach will attempt to call the student using the contact information on file. If the student does not respond to the phone call, the referral is returned to the coordinator. The coordinator will then send the student a postcard and if no response is made within 2 weeks a letter will be mailed to the student’s home address.
Students who respond and set up an appointment to meet with an Early Alert Coach will spend the first meeting working to build rapport and identifying the issue. A second meeting will be scheduled where the student will create a goals and a plan to achieve these goals using instruments created solely for PCC’s Early Alert Program. Additional meetings and referrals to other resources will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Early Alert Coach and the student.
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