As midterm approaches, it is important that students are aware of their academic standing in their courses. Luckily, beginning this year, students will be given the opportunity to view their course grades one week prior to midterm. Approved in December of last year, the Early Alert Grade Program requires that professors teaching core classes record in Banner an early grade alert for all of the students enrolled in those classes one week prior to midterm.
"There had been discussion of a need for early grade notification for several years. Relihan took the issue to the University Senate last spring and the initiative was approved by the Senate with the goal of implementation this semester," said Kathryn Flynn, director of the Academic Counseling and Advising Center.
Although every student enrolled in a core class will receive an early alert grade, only students earning "D," "F," or "FA" grades will be identified through the Early Alert Grade Program. Students will then be sorted into five groups to determine the intervention and resources needed.
The five groups of the Early Alert Grade Program include continuing Auburn students in good standing with a grade less than a C, first semester students with a grade less than C, continuing students with more than grade less than C, continuing students on academic warning with any grades less than C and first semester students with multiple grades less than C.
This process will permit students to seek tutoring or take other action based on which group they are in, before the midterm drop deadline. Students who earn "D." "F," or "FA" early alert grades will receive an email from Judith Sanders, the coordinator of the Retention Program. Students will then be given information dependent on their current academic status and whether or not they are a first semester student.
"Most students will be guided toward existing academic resources, such as Study Partners, Supplemental Instruction, the Miller Writing Center, or other specialized university offices for assistance with academic difficulty," Sanders said.
Other students who are experiencing academic difficulty will be offered academic workshops by the Office of Academic Support and the Retention Coordinator.
"Workshops will review the many academic resources available at Auburn. They offer students an opportunity to consider the causes of their academic difficulty and to explore possible solutions," Sanders said.
The Early Alert Grade Program has had faculty involvement from the beginning as the University Senate, made up of five faculty members representing core areas on the advisory committee, approved the initiative. Although some faculty members may not be pleased about the additional requirement, others acknowledge that students need feedback early in the term.
"Overall, Faculty want students to learn and do well in their classes. Faculty members typically want students to talk with them early in the term, rather than later when it is too late to make adjustments and raise a grade," Sanders said.
Although the program is in its first year, a wait and see period, Flynn believes the program will increase the GPA's of students who take the initiative and take advantage of university resources.
"We are hopeful that an increase in GPA does occur. Of course, this will be dependent upon a number of things, especially that students who are notified they are at risk based on their early alert grades take advantage of the resources offered to them," Flynn said.
Beginning Oct.4,one week prior to the Oct. 10 midterm, students will have the opportunity to view their early alert grades.
In order to access their Early Alert Grades, students should log in to tigeri and click on student records.
Students should then click Midterm Grades.
Although the grades are referred to as Early Alert grades, they are currently referred to as midterm grades in Banner.
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