G-7: STUDENT EARLY PROGRESS REPORT

Senate Policy:  47-70, Online Student Progress Report

The student Early Progress Report (EPR) system was designed to assist in communicating academic performance early in the semester to students and academic advisers. The system includes a collection stage and a communication stage with opportunities for additional data mining that will lend support to customization, tutoring, and/or intervention within the learning environment. The online system is mounted on the eLion platform and strives to achieve early intervention for at-risk students while encouraging them to use existing resources to promote beneficial, evidence-based interventions.

Procedure:

The primary function of the system is to alert first-year students of the danger of unsatisfactory academic performance and to point out resources that can help these students succeed academically. Students receive notification between the third and the sixth week of the semester. Notification is based on reports provided by faculty teaching first-year students. Students receiving reports are encouraged to meet with their course instructor and then with their academic adviser. Reports are delivered early enough to allow solution of student problems such as absenteeism, missed assignments, and low test scores. The eLion platform provides links to Penn State resources including learning centers, tutoring services and peer counseling services. Assessment and monitoring capabilities are also built into the EPR system. Two types of real-time operational monitoring reports are generated, by instructor and by student. These are used at the unit level (colleges, departments, programs, campuses) each semester.

The procedure is initiated during the third week of the semester using the eLion reporting system. The process links a student to the instructor and to the academic adviser, each one having an important role to play in the process. The first step involves sending requests to all faculty who teach first-year students. Roles and responsibilities are outlined as follows:

Faculty:

Role: Provide feedback to students on their performance as early in the semester as possible.

Steps:

1. Instructors with students from the designated population receive a notification e-mail in the first two weeks of the semester.
2. Instructors log on to eLion, select "Early Progress Report" from the left menu and follow the instructions to indicate which students are not performing in a satisfactory manner. Note: Instructors require a Secure ID to complete this step.
3. A reminder e-mail is sent close to the end of the participation period reminding instructors that they need to complete the report. Instructors must complete the report through eLion since there is no other way to collect the information.

Students:

Role: Review Early Progress Report and take any necessary actions based on the information it provides.

Steps:

1. Students receive an e-mail when an instructor indicates he or she is not performing well.
2. Students log on to eLion, select "Early Progress Report" from the left menu and receive all the reports submitted by instructors.
3. Students should review the information, access resources referenced in the report, and meet with the instructor or his or her adviser as necessary.

Advisers:

Role: Review reports on advisees and help them seek the resources they need to be successful.

Steps:

1. Advisers receive an e-mail when an instructor indicates that one of his or her advisees is not performing well.
2. Advisers log on to eLion, select "Early Progress Report" from the left menu, select a student from their advisee list or by entering the student's PSU ID or user id, and review the reports.

Senate Policy:  47-70, Online Student Progress Report

Approved: ACUE (5-6-10)

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information. Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university.