How do I refer a student?
There are four options for instructors to submit a referral:
- Quick online form (good for < 5 submissions)
- Available at this link
- Available on http://report.fsu.edu > “Report an Academic Concern”
- Enable the Early Alert Tool in your Canvas Course Site
- Auto-referral setting within the Early Alert Tool (best for grade-based submissions throughout the semester)
- Instructors contact Dr. Samantha Tackett (stackett@fsu.edu) for access
When should I refer students?
Instructors can refer students anytime about the following concerns:
- Class attendance or participation
- Financial concerns
- Missing or late assignments
- Needs general study skills assistance
- Poor assignment or test grade
- At risk to fail course (please explain)
In addition, there are 3 critical periods in the semester when instructors may want to consider referring their students:
- Weeks 2-4: Early attendance check
By the end of week 3, students have settled into courses after drop/add and are starting to establish habits. This is a good time to check class attendance and to remind them about the positive outcomes for those who attend lectures. - Weeks 5-6 or First Test: Responding to first major feedback
In a 16-week semester, information from weeks 5-6 can inform how students approach midterm assignments. In extreme cases, this information can help students decide if they want to drop the course before the 7th week drop deadline. - Weeks 10-11 or Second Test: Responding to second major feedback
In a 16-week semester, information from weeks 10-11 can inform how students close the semester out. In extreme cases, this information can help students decide if they want to drop the course before the 12th week drop deadline.
What do I need to let students know?
Students respond best when faculty reach out directly about concerns before referring them to PRE. However, we are here to support any referral you make, and we have a strong record of reaching students who are unresponsive.
- Syllabus statement
- Request a classroom presentation
- Helpful language to use when talking about the referral - “I want you to have access to as much support as possible, so I am referring you to the PRE program. Dr. Samantha Tackett (stackett@fsu.edu) and staff at ACE, will reach out to you and offer help.”
Please note that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) explicitly allows university officials the right to share data with other university officials, without the student’s permission, when there is legitimate educational interest, e.g., performing their official job functions. The PRE program was developed with the support of the Office of the Provost and Executive President for Academic Affairs to provide support to students pursuing their educational goals. For more information about FERPA from a faculty/staff perspective, see this web page.
Students have a right to refuse contact from PRE program staff. We inform students of their agency in the syllabus statement, classroom presentations, and correspondence with students. In addition, only program staff who have signed the FSU Confidentiality Agreement and received training and monitored access to student records will review PRE data from instructors.