You just received an Early Alert notification…now what?
What is an Early Alert?
An early alert notification is not an “I’m going to fail this class” notification. This is just a way to check in with students, professors, and academic coaches to understand where a student is in a class and provide resources if needed. This is a tool to get students back on track and stay on track to finish the class with high marks.
What does an Early Alert Look Like?
An Early Alert comes in the form of an email to a student’s account from connect. Here, you will find information including:
- Course name in which you received the alert
- Number of class absences
- Current recorded grade
- Comments
- Professor who gave the alert
You are also able to see an Early Alert on your connect under the “Reports” tab. Three types of alerts can be issued: Poor Performance, Missing Assignments, or Missing Class.
What are the next steps I should take?
The whole team in the Niblock Student Center is here to help you navigate through your Early Alerts and get you back on track to success in all of your classes. The first step is to schedule an appointment with a Belk College of Business Peer Advisor through connect. We are here to help connect you to different resources across campus no matter what situation you are in. Belk College of Business Peer Advisors can also give a first-hand perspective on being a student and navigating through situations in your college experience.
Next, email the professor or set up a time to go into office hours. Professors are here to help you succeed and cannot do so unless they are aware of the problem and the support you may need as a student. If you need help reaching out to a professor for the first time, or want more tips, check out the blog on How to Talk to Professors.
What specific questions should you ask your professor related to this Early Alert?
If you are unsure why this Early Alert was received, start by asking the professor for clarity and double-check their records with your own to ensure all information is correct and up to date. Next, I would ask to set up a one-on-one appointment or meet during office hours to go over any work that may have been a lower grade or missed. This will help you understand the expectations and concepts going forward into the course. Some questions I would recommend asking your professor include:
- Which items should I concentrate on more for your exams – the notes/textbook or both? What are the best ways to prepare for your exams moving forward?
- I have looked at the assignment (or class notes) and circled some areas where I am still confused. Can we go over this together?
- Could you give me an example of a common test question? Are there practice test questions in the textbook?
- Would you mind looking over my paper and recommend changes that you feel I can make to improve this work?
My biggest piece of advice when talking to professors is to BE PROACTIVE. Get to know your professor early on, try to get advice for the next assignment well before its due date, and have a conversation with your professor outside of class even to just thank them for their hard work moving the classes online/in-person. Communication is key to keeping your professors up to date on absences, missing assignments, or any other situations that may present themselves in class. Professors want to work with you, they just need to know the situation to do exactly that.
I missed a lot of classes and have now received an Early Alert.
If you have missed a lot of your classes due to certain circumstances, reach out to your professor and notify them of your situation. You can also go through the SASS (Student Assistance and Support Services) to verify absences and receive support for your situation.
I still feel really behind in my class, is there anywhere I can go to get extra help?
Yes! UNC Charlotte offers some great options to see tutors with any questions on your classes and providing support to learn the material in a new way. The UCAE (University Center for Academic Excellence) offers both tutoring resources and workshops to develop your studying skills. You can drop in for quick questions about classes, or visit their appointment queue to receive one-on-one or group tutoring.
The Math Learning Center is also available to students who may be struggling with college algebra, calculus, statistics, or any other math classes. This is another great place to go to get your questions answered. Check out their website to find out more information.
The Writing Resource Center is a great place to go for any help with papers of any kind. They will help students with any stage of the writing process both academically and personally/professionally. For more information, visit their website.
This has been a challenging school year for every student and we are proud of the progress you have made so far. If you need help getting back on track with any classes, feel free to schedule an appointment with a Belk College of Business Peer Advisor through connect and we are happy to help connect you to professors, tutoring opportunities, and any other resources across campus!
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