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Early Intervention Frequently Asked Questions
Also see EI FAQ for students.
Why was the UC Early Intervention system (EI) developed?
The EI was a recommendation of president Steger's Recruitment and Retention task force in 2002.
Who runs the EI?
An Early Intervention Advisory Committee which is convened by the UC Registrar's office is comprised of an EI liaison from each UC college and student services personnel. This group meets quarterly to discuss system and referral processes, and to review assessment data.
What will happen when an instructor generates an Early Intervention request for a student?
Within 48 hours, an academic advisor or other college representative will contact each student to offer assistance in addressing the problems indicated by the course instructor on the EI web form (i.e. low attendance, course performance). As a result of an initial conversation with the student, additional resources and referrals could be provided such as tutoring, instructor office hours, study skills & time management advising, personal counseling, academic counseling, course drop/withdrawal, etc.
Who will be aware that a request has been generated by the instructor?
The academic advisor (college office) is always notified. The student can be copied as an instructor option (the default setting has the student check box selected). Athletic Academic Services will be notified if the student is an athlete. The UC Learning Assistance Center will be notified if Tutoring is recommended. For students receiving disability related course accomodations, Disability Services can be notified as an instructor option.
When should I report a student who is having some difficulty?
The Early Intervention request option on the Registrar's online Classlist is available prior to the start of each term through the 57th calendar day (8th week) of the quarter. However, it is recommended that action be taken as early as possible to maximize the intervention opportunities available to the student to improve their situation.
Which courses are included?
Course numbers through 699 except Engineering (20) courses are included.
Which students are included?
A request can be generated by an instructor in an applicable course (see above) for any student, regardless of the student's home college.
Am I violating any privacy issues if I report the student?
No, the EI has been designed to offer assistance to students that need help to be successful in their studies. The college liaisons involved with the EI are very aware of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations and will treat the information garnered in a professional and confidential manner. More information on FERPA can be found on the Registrar's home page.
Will the instructor be informed of what happens?
Upon successfully submitting the EI request the instructor will see a success message via the web page and the request will then appear under the Details link next to a student name on the online classlist roster. As an option, the instructor can receive an email update by selecting "please provide feedback" on the EI form.
As the course instructor, can’t I help my students myself, without using the EI system?
Without question, YES. The EI system is designed as a supplement to attempts by the instructor to contact the student individually and provide direct assistance or referral (see the Early Intervention Referral Guide). When referring a student through the EI system, instructors are requested to indicate in the Comments box any attempts they’ve already made to contact and assist the student.
Where do I find student contact information?
The three main ways to contact a student:
- Student Directory (for mailing address, email address, phone)
- Blackboard (go to Communications > Email).
- Microsoft Outlook Address Book. Under Show Names from menu select U.C. Bearcat Online (BOL) and search for student last name with a BOL prefix (ex. BOL-lastname).
What guidelines should I use in referring students to student services?
The Early Intervention Referral Guide has been developed to help faculty and staff who are referring students to the Learning Assistance Center, Counseling Center, One Stop Student Service Center, and Disability Services Office on the Uptown Campus. Resources for current students at Raymond Walters College, including Study Skills and Disability Services, can be found here http://www.uc.edu/registrar/advising/EI_RW_resources.html. Clermont College Learning Center resources are found here: http://ucclermont.edu/tlc/
I teach or supervise a large lecture; what is the best way to use the EI system in this case?
The system is flexible enough to use even in larger classes. For example, the system can be used even if regular class attendance is not taken. While it might appear that using EI is nearly impossible, the use of a support mechanism like EI might in fact be more critical because of the reduced opportunity for instructor-student individualized contact. As a suggestion, a midterm grade or test could be identified as an indicator of the likelihood for success in the course. Once per quarter at midterm, an EI report could be sent for the students not making progress according to this indicator.
Does Blackboard have similar functionality?
Yes, with release 7.0 Blackboard now includes a feature called Early Warning which can be used to provide progress alerts to students recorded in the Bb grade center relating to online activity, grades, and deadlines.
How can I be proactive by communicating to students clear course expectations?
In some ways, the EI system is reactive, attempting to fix a student’s problem, one that might have been avoided. Communicating student roles and responsibilities on the syllabus is one way to be proactive. Here are some resources:
Resolution on course syllabi (UC Faculty Senate)
An introduction to writing a syllabus (UT-Dallas)
Syllabus Development (Houghton Mifflin)
How can I be proactive in helping my students take responsibility for monitoring their own progress in my course?
Blackboard provides a Gradebook feature which allows students to see up-to-the-minute progress in the course. Similarly, a simple worksheet can be created which lists graded assignments, tests and quizzes and weightings, and the grade given for each assignment.
Who should instructors contact with additional questions?
Contact your college EI dean's office liaison below or Ned Donnelly Associate Director Office of the Registrar (513) 556-5890 mailto:ned.donnelly@uc.edu?subject=Early Intervention.
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