Beacon is one of the tools we can use to help students understand their strengths; connect them with...

Beacon Early Alert System:Fostering & Encouraging Student Success

Beacon is one of the tools we can use to help students understand their strengths; connect them with

advisors, mentors, and campus resources; and facilitate their development. The goal is to help students realize

academic success, stay in school, and graduate.

How does the system work?All students are connected to a “success

network” consisting of their instructors, advisors, Residence Life professional staff, and coaches.

Faculty are connected to students in their classes as well as with their advisees.

Coaches and some organizations’ advisors are also connected to students.

How does the system work?Anyone connected to a student has the ability to

create a notation about the student.

Notations may be in the form of an Update, an Alert, or an Encouragement.

Updates are for sharing information about a student; Alerts are items that require some action be taken.

Encouragements are self-explanatory.

How Do I Make a Notation?

Access Beacon through Blackboard or through the Beacon page on the FSU website.

Search for your student.

Select Update, Alert, or Encouragement.

Select the audience you want to receive the notation.

How Do I Receive and Reply to Notations?Whenever a notation is made, the selected recipients receive an email.

Through your Profile, you may elect to receive emailed notices as they are posted or in a daily digest form.

Clicking on the student’s hyperlinked name will take you into Beacon and to the student’s page where you can add a response.

Examples of Alerts:Adam has missed the last 4 classes, and has

not turned in a crucial assignment.

by Darrell RushtonAudience: Full Network (Professionals

and Peers), Visible to StudentI will reach out to Adam. I haven't seen him

in ORIE either, although I had a heart-to-heart with him last week about classes and performance in them. Thanks.

by Nicole Mattis

Examples of Alerts:I have been trying to reach Jon to schedule

an advising appointment so that we can get him registered for spring classes. He has not responded to emails, so if any of you see him, please send him my way.

I want to encourage him (again) to declare his major, also.

Jon has made an advising appointment with me. Thanks, Coach!

Examples of Updates:Jamal recently completed an evaluation form

for his DVMT class on which he was asked to list his intended major and the math course he plans on taking next semester.

He listed ART and DVMT 100.Art students can satisfy GEP math

requirements with MATH 104. DVMT 100 is NOT required for this path. 

Examples of Updates:Brianna had two midterms. She is staying in

both of the courses - not W.Math 104 - she has been meeting with Don

Maxwell for tutoring.Hist 100 - she is working to improve her

grade...

Response from Student:Hello Dr. Rhodes,    I'm not sure how I have poor attendance, I have been to every class except the one today and maybe one a few weeks ago when I was sick, however, I have been slacking on work in that class. I am trying to stay ahead in my other classes and my performance in this one is suffering. I made sure to turn in important assignments and I am now working on completing late assignments to turn in with grade deductions.

Complying with FERPALaw provides college students the right to

inspect official records directly related to them and…

An opportunity to challenge such records on the grounds they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate.

Students have the right to review all notations in Beacon.

Complying with FERPAThe law restricts, with certain specified

exceptions, release of personally identifiable data about students to third parties without the student’s written consent.

[S]tudent written consent is not required where the student records circulate within the University for disclosure to those University officials with an appropriate educational interest. Faculty members and administrators are covered by this provision.

FSU Faculty Handbook

Beacon Notations Should…Be informative, but not so detailed as to cross

the privacy line

Contain accurate information

Not be judgmental or prejudicial

Purport to diagnose a condition

Examples for DiscussionAlert:Susan is a student in my PSYC 213 (Psychology of Adjustment) class who has not attended class all semester. She responded to email indicating she had been unsure if she was going to stay in school and that is why she was not coming to class but that she would be there the next class. It has not happened. She has completed a few online assignments but not well and missed the 1st in-class exam this week. She needs to drop this course.

Examples for DiscussionUpdate:I met with George today because he is a freshman on academic probation. We discussed adopting some behaviors that will help him be more successful academically this semester, including time spent studying and preparing for classes. He completed an Academic Strategy in PAWS and set grade goals. I will check in with George again after midterm warnings are issued. If any of you see ways that George could improve in your classes, please let me know. Thanks.

Examples for DiscussionAlert:During this semester, [student’s name] missed 33 homework assignments, 7 quizzes, and 3 tests. She indicated in her email to me at 12:14 a.m. this morning that: “my health problems and mental issues regarding the sexual assault really messed me up. It’s affected multiple classes. That’s why I’ve been so busy the past few weeks with makeup work.”I am wondering if anyone knows anything about this sexual assault issue. I am assuming that if it is true, the Office of Student Educational Services and/or the Counseling Center would have contacted all of her teachers. I appreciate your advice and suggestions. Thank you.

Examples for Discussion

Update:Brandon stopped by today. His mother had a heart attack and was just released from the hospital causing him to miss Monday and Tuesday classes.

Examples for Discussion

Alert:Emily was absent from class again today. Other class members tell me that she drinks every night of the week. She needs to get her social life under control and start focusing on her education.

Examples for Discussion

Alert:I think John has a learning disability. He can’t sit still in class and disrupts class by asking questions that have nothing to do with the lesson.

Examples for Discussion

Alert:Jacob had a 51% on the second Math 118 test and has a 48% overall average.

TipsWhen possible, have a conversation with the

student about your concern before sending an alert.

Suggest what action you would like to see taken in response to your alert.

Be judicious when selecting the audience for your update or alert.

Indicate what course the student is taking.Peter has not been attending the lab for BIOL

149.

Effectiveness of BeaconDoes posting alerts

and updates through Beacon help students?

YES!More communication

between faculty/staff and students

Opportunities to reach out to struggling students

Can we do more?

YES!We need more

faculty and staff to use Beacon so that we are better able to identify students in difficulty and offer assistance in a timely manner.

How can we help?If you have any questions about using

Beacon…If you experience technical problems using

Beacon…If you would like to schedule training for you

or for your department…Please contact:

Harriet DouglasPASS Office – 150 Pullen

301-687-4598hdouglas@frostburg.edu