What is Early Alert?
The Early Alert Form is a tool designed to allow instructors to identify ELI students who are having difficulty in class and who may need extra help to improve their academic performance. The goal of the Early Alert Program is to help ELI students succeed at NOVA.

Why was the program developed?
NOVA is committed to student success and retention. Some students, however, have complex challenges that require additional support. The Early Alert Program is designed to assist faculty members in helping students connect with support resources and services.

What is my role?
As a member of the NOVA team, you have the best and earliest perspective on a student’s ability to successfully complete the coursework. Your role is to identify these students and connect them to the Success Coaches via the Early Alert Form.

What kinds of things would I refer a student for?
There are many different signs that a student may be in academic distress. Many of these problems can be dealt with by referring the student to the proper service such as tutoring or Disability Services.

If you feel that the student will benefit from working with a Success Coach or that the student has multiple areas that need to be addressed, please refer them to Early Alert.

Warning signs that the student may need help:

• Excessive absences
• Low test or quiz scores
• Not completing homework
• Lack of participation in the classroom
• Decline in work quality
• Knowledge of personal or family difficulty
• Withdrawn from the course
• Student’s work is not at course level
• Student lacks basic skills
• Other students are concerned
• Change in demeanor
• Missing deadlines
• Emailing with excuses frequently
• Appears troubled or confused
• Seems withdrawn or avoidant
• Lacks motivation/concentration
• Demonstrates bizarre behavior

Do I have to tell a student I referred them?
As a faculty member, it is important that you have a discussion with the student to determine their needs so that you can make the referral that will best serve the needs of the student. During the conversation, make sure 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 importance of taking advantage of these supplemental services.  It will also demonstrate your care and concern.

Students who know that they have been referred by their instructor are more receptive when the Success Coach contacts them. Please be sure to emphasize that being referred to Early Alert is a positive thing, designed to help them achieve their education goals at NOVA.

How do I tell a student I am referring them to Early Alert?
The student population at NOVA is very diverse. Therefore, it is hard to tell what will work best in every situation. Listed below are some ideas that you might find helpful when approaching the topic of Early Alert or any service referral with the student:

• Be nonjudgmental
• Be specific in stating your concerns
• Be positive! Early Alert is a solution and is designed to help students succeed
• Show that you are committed and that you care if a student succeeds
• Tell the student to check their email for a message from their Early Alert Success Coach

When should I make a referral?
As the name of this program indicates--EARLY: the sooner, the better. The earlier a struggling student is identified, the earlier a Success Coach can intervene and provide support. We encourage you to refer students by the Inactive Students Drop date for your course, but you may also refer students later if you believe it would help.

Will I be violating privacy laws by making a referral?
No, all referrals will be treated in an ethical manner in and compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidelines. Be professional and respectful in your comments about the areas of challenge the student is facing and be mindful not to label students.

What happens after I refer a student?
Once you fill out the online Early Alert Form and submit it, it is sent directly to the ELI Success Coaching Team.  Providing your contact information is important because a Success Coach will contact you to confirm the receipt of your referral as well as seek out any additional details that may be useful. Additional information may be needed in order for the Success Coach to make the most appropriate recommendations for resources and services.

The Early Alert referral will be assigned to a Success Coach who will contact the student.  The assigned Success Coach will attempt to reach the student to introduce themselves, address the area(s) where the student needs assistance, and then guide the student to the appropriate resources.   A Success Coach will attempt to contact a referred student in multiple ways if the student does not reply to the initial email.  After a Coach has attempted to contact a referred student twice at their NOVA email, the Coach will then reach out to the student once via the student’s personal email address (if one is known), and if needed, by phone.

If successful contact is made, the Success Coach will work with the student to identify resources and services that will address the challenges the student is experiencing.

Student Support Resources
Below is a list of just some the NOVA resources Success Coaches use when assisting students in need

Advising & Counseling

Academic Advising
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/services-to-students/advising--counseling/index.html

Career Services
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/career-services/index.html

Disability Services
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/disability-services/index.html

Transfer Services
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/transfer/index.html

Veterans Affairs
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/military/index.html

Emotional & Physical Well-being
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/novacares/index.html
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/student-life/athletics--fitness/index.html

Financial Aid (Grants, Scholarships, Loans)
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/paying-for-college/financial-assistance/index.html

Learning Labs (Testing, Multimedia, Reading/Writing Centers, Math Labs)
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/services-to-students/learning-labs/index.html

Library Services (Ask a Librarian, Remote Access, and Best of the Web)
http://www.nvcc.edu/library/

Student Life (Activities, Organizations, Athletics, Safety, NOVACares)
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/student-life/index.html

Technology Resources (IT Help Desk, Computer Labs, Online Tutorials)
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/technology/index.html

Tutoring

On-line
Smarthinking (for students enrolled in ELI courses)
http://eli.nvcc.edu/smarthinking.htm

On campus
http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/services-to-students/tutoring/index.html