Student Success

Center for Student Success

Starfish for Faculty


Creating Office Hours

Step by Step Instructions: 

Instructional Video: https://www.screencast.com/t/7XRQKXoKD4

 

Creating Notes in Starfish

The goal of Starfish is to document your interactions with students and share information with other colleagues who are working collaboratively to support student success. An important way to document student interactions in Starfish is through notes, both general notes and appointment notes. These assist you in remembering interactions and allow other authorized colleagues to be aware of interactions.

Adding a Note to a Student’s Record (FERPA guidelines)

 

Updating Profile

https://www.screencast.com/t/Bzlbo7Enny

 

How to Track Attendance

Faculty can utilize the attendance tracking feature in Starfish to keep electronic record of student attendance for easier referencing later.

How to track attendance (pdf)

How to run the Instructor Attendance Report (pdf)

 

Progress Survey

S.T.A.R. EARLY ALERT is an early warning and student tracking module that collects information and manages concerns about student performance in a central portal to facilitate communication and action across units in a student’s success network.

Starfish is an important tool for student success because it:

  • Provides an efficient way for faculty to update students on their academic performance.
  • Links students to academic resources.
  • Provides advisors with timely information.
  • "Nudges" students in academic difficulty to take action.
  • "Cheers" students who are excelling in a course.

STAR How to Complete a Faculty Progress Survey (hyperlink to tutorial pdf)

View YouTube tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyE6_RbpLgk&t=40s

Raise a Flag of Concern 

Flags Available:

NAME OF ALERT

Descriptor

MESSAGE STUDENT RECEIVES:

WHEN AVAILABLE:

Pandemic Intervention/Care and Concern

Raise this flag for non-academic concerns, such as economic stress, that may be affecting a student’s academic performance.  Student may benefit from student success support and resource referrals.

Dear XXX,

It can be easy to lose focus or fall behind in your academics.  Professor XXX is concerned about you and your progress in their class.  Someone from Student Success will reach out to you to see if there any programs available that might assist you.  Please rest assured that the process will be confidential, and that Student Success will not provide me with any details of their communications with you.

 

At any time, excluding Progress Surveys

Take Action Now

Raise this flag when you would like to consult with a student about possibly dropping the class because there is little-to-no chance they can pass.

Dear xxxx,

Professor XXX is extremely concerned about your ability to successfully pass class xxxx.  Please reach out to them to set up a meeting as soon as possible to discuss your options regarding this class.  If you are considering dropping the class, please remember that this can affect your Financial Aid status as well as progress on your degree plan.  Therefore, it is important to check in both with Financial Aid and your advisor before making such a decision.

 

Two weeks before final drop date

Room for Improvement

Raise this flag for students who are performing adequately, but could still improve.

Dear (Student’s name),

You are making adequate progress in (Course name) so far this semester.  You have the capability to improve in the course.  Here are some campus resources that may be helpful:

·         PAAC Tutoring Center (Jernigan 220)

·         University Writing Center (Jernigan 217)

And, of course, you can make an appointment to meet with Professor xxxx during office hours, if you would like.

 

At any time

In danger of failing:  performance

Raise this flag for students whose academic performance is so poor, that it places them in danger of failing.

 Hello (Student’s name), Professor XXX is worried about your progress in course xxxx.  Your performance in the course puts you in jeopardy of failing the class, but it is not too late to improve.  Please email the professor or come by during office hours to help get you back on track; they would like to spend some time with you to hear about what is causing you difficulty.  Please keep in mind that we have many resources on campus that are also available to assist you, including:

·         PAAC Tutoring Center (Jernigan 220)

·         JESSC Tutoring (Engineering 114)

·         University Writing Center (Jernigan 217)

·         U-Turn Program and personal counseling (Health and Wellness)

·         Career Services (hirejavelinas@tamuk.edu)

·         Social Work Referral Services  (TAMUK.socialworkhelp@tamuk.edu)

 

At any time

In danger of failing: attendance

Raise this flag for students with repeated absences that place the student in danger of failing the class.

Hello (Student’s name), Professor XXX is worried about your progress in course xxxx.  Your repeated absences in the course put you in jeopardy of failing the class, but it is not too late to improve.  Please email the professor or come by during office hours to help get you back on track; they would like to spend some time with you to hear about why you are struggling to be an active member in the course.  Please keep in mind that we have many resources on campus that are also available to assist you, including:

·         U-Turn Program and personal counseling (Health and Wellness)

·         Social Work Referral Services  (TAMUK.socialworkhelp@tamuk.edu)

·         Success Peer Mentors  (StudentSuccessSupport@tamuk.edu)

 

At any time

In danger of failing: missing assignments

Raise this flag for students who have failed to complete enough assignments (including quizzes and exams), that they are in danger of failing the class.

 Hello (Student’s name), Professor XXX is worried about your progress in course xxxx.  You having missing assignments in the course that put you in jeopardy of failing the class, but it is not too late to improve.  Please email the professor or come by during office hours to help get you back on track; they would like to spend some time with you to hear about what is causing you difficulty in completing assignments, including tests and quizzes.  Please keep in mind that we have many resources on campus that are also available to assist you, including:

·         PAAC Tutoring Center (Jernigan 220)

·         JESSC Tutoring (Engineering 114)

·         University Writing Center (Jernigan 217)

·         U-Turn Program and personal counseling (Health and Wellness)

·         Social Work Referral Services  (TAMUK.socialworkhelp@tamuk.edu)

 

At any time

Attendance Concern

Raise this flag for students who have been absent and/or late frequently enough to cause some concern.

Hello (student’s name), Professor XXX noticed that you have missed some class sessions in class xxxx.  Please remember that attending class is a key component for success in this class.  If you are having an issue that will lead to continued absences, please reach out to the professor by email or visit them during office hours.  Your success is important to the professor.  Please be aware that these campus resources are also available to help you:

·         U-Turn Program and personal counseling (Health and Wellness)

·         Social Work Referral Services  (TAMUK.socialworkhelp@tamuk.edu)

·         Success Peer Mentors  (StudentSuccessSupport@tamuk.edu)

At any time

Missing Assignments

Raise this flag for students who have missing assignments.

Hello (student’s name), Professor XXX noticed that you have failed to complete some assignments in class xxxx.  Please remember that completing all work is a key component for success in this class.  If you are having an issue that is making it difficult to complete all of your work, please reach out to the professor by email or visit them during office hours.  Your success is important to the professor.  Please be aware that these campus resources are also available to help you:

·         PAAC Tutoring Center (Jernigan 220)

·         JESSC Tutoring (Engineering 114)

·         University Writing Center (Jernigan 217)

·         U-Turn Program and personal counseling (Health and Wellness)

·         Social Work Referral Services  (TAMUK.socialworkhelp@tamuk.edu)

 

At any time

Low Quiz/Test Score

Raise this flag for students who have low grades in quizzes and/or tests and may cause grade concern.

Dear Student’s Name,

Based on your course grades, you've been flagged for Low Quiz/Test Scores in Course Name. It is not too late to improve your overall grade in this class! We believe that you can be successful in your academic studies. Our institution has many resources that can aid your effort to improve academic performance and assist with personal concerns. Please reply to this email to contact your instructor, or consider contacting your advisor for resources and suggestions for improvement.

 

At any time

Keep Up the Good Work “Kudos”

Raise this kudo for students who are performing well.

Congratulations (student’s name)!  You are doing well in class xxxx.  Professor XXX wants to encourage you to keep up the good work.  Please feel free to email them or come by during office hours if you begin to struggle later in the semester, or if there are areas in the class where you feel you need improvement.  They are here to help you.

 

At any time

All flags offer faculty an option to type comments.

Pandemic Flag: Social Work interns will reach out to student; if no response, the academic advisor will assist in reaching out.

All Flags: All flags automatically trigger a notification email to the student.  In addition, advisors are informed of flags raised on their students and will immediately attempt reach outs to the student in at last two communication formats. 

 

 Instructions (outside Progress Survey):

  1. Navigate to the Students tab
  2. Hover over the student(s) name
  3. Click on flag
  4. On the form displayed, select the flag to be raised
  5. Complete any remaining required fields (which includes comments to be typed)
  6. Select Save

 

Connecting with Students

https://www.screencast.com/t/7tZf6i9AzD2

 

Searching for a Student

 

Meeting Management