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Academic alerts

At various times during the semester, students who are not performing up to standards in a class may receive an academic alert from the course instructor. Academic alerts serve as an early warning for students facing academic difficulty.

 

Academic alerts are intended to galvanize a student’s academic support team, and this is why notifications about academic alerts are sent to the student, the faculty advisor, and Academic Advising. Students who receive academic alerts are strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor issuing the alert, their faculty advisor, and to contact Learning Support Services or Academic Advising. Often, a quick change in student action can have an immediate and positive impact on a student's ability to success in the course.  

 

Note: While academic alerts are issued during the semester, Academic Standing notification occurs at the end of the semester. Academic Standing is based on semester and cumulative GPAs, not Academic Alerts. For more information on Academic Standing, please see the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the University Catalog or reach out to advising@linfield.edu.

  • How Do I Know If I Have An Alert?

    Academic Alerts are sent through Etrieve. If a professor has submitted one for you, you will get an email notification of the alert, directing you to check your Etrieve inbox.  

    • Log in to your Etrieve account. 
    • Check your inbox to see the alert and your professor’s comments 

    On the Etrieve form, you will see what concerns have been highlighted and you may also see your instructor's comments. Please read the comments carefully in order to follow up on suggestions and next steps.

  • Why Did I Get an Alert?

    Students receive an alert when instructors are concerned about a student’s progress and have not been able to connect directly with the student. Academic alerts are not punitive, but hey are intended to give timely feedback so that a student can make adjustments to improve their performance.  

    The most common reasons for academic poor performance are:

    • Missing classes or not engaging in the course (or in Blackboard for Online courses)
    • Missing assignments
    • Lack of participation in class activities
    • Lack of academic preparation
    • Difficulty with taking tests

  • What Do I Do With An Academic Alert?

    Academic alerts are a call to action—they notify the recipient of a concern that the student can address. To effectively act on an academic alert, here are recommended steps: 

    1. Read through your alert carefully to understand the concern 
    2. Outreach to the professor for clarity and next steps 
    3. Consider your professor’s recommendations and consult resources for additional info. Some examples are:  
      • Your faculty advisor 
      • Academic Advising 
      • Learning Support Services (LSS) 
    4. Set up additional support for yourself. Some examples are: 
      • Applying learning accommodations through LSS, when applicable 
      • Regularly attending professor office hours 
      • Attending departmental tutoring sessions 
      • Adding/improving time management tools 

  • Who Else Sees The Alert?

    When an alert is submitted, the Office of Academic Advising receives it and forwards the Etrieve form to the student’s faculty advisor(s) for review. Faculty advisor(s) acknowledge the alert and may reach out to the student to discuss it. Students do not need to wait for faculty advisor outreach, however—both the faculty advisor and the student have the same information from the professor on how the student can improve their academic performance.  

    With a legitimate interest, certain Student Support Office staff may also be provided access to information on an Academic Alert. This could include members of the Care Team and Learning Support Services.

  • What Happens When I Receive Multiple Alerts?

    If you have received multiple academic alerts in one semester, the concern will be elevated to a care referral. Care referrals are managed by the Office of Student Care and Support. Lainie Sowell, Director of Care and Support, will follow up with each student who has received a care referral for multiple academic alerts. Students can also contact the Office of Student Care and Support at care@linfield.edu and by calling or texting 503-883-2352.