Elevating student success through proactive outreach

Caryn Langstaff, Director of Wellness, Accessibility & Student Success at SLC, presented at the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) Conference in June, alongside Niagara College and Anthology Beacon. 

In the session, How Two Campuses are Elevating Student Success through Proactive Outreach, Caryn shared how SLC is proactively identifying students who would benefit from additional outreach using non-cognitive assessments and early alerts using the Anthology Beacon Early Alert System.

Caryn shared details about the College’s process and the impact both efforts have had on student success at SLC, including intervention outcomes and its impact on retention.

The Anthology (Campus Labs) Beacon Early Alert System was fully implemented by the Student Success team in October 2019 and has practices that have expanded to continue to impact student success ever since. The Beacon system, through the Student Strengths Inventory (SSI) and Academic Alerts, supports Student Success Facilitators (SSFs) and faculty in early identification of issues impacting student academic performance resulting in academic risk.

Within the Beacon System, students are identified early, through SSI results and faculty Alerts, and SSFs are then able to provide early interventions to support positive academic outcomes and positively influence success and retention. Interprofessional collaboration is a key enabler to success, and Student Success Facilitators are here to support both students and academic team members.

The Beacon Early Alert System’s At-Risk Alert Process allows faculty to notify Student Success Facilitators (SSFs) about student issues that may be impacting student academic performance. Partnership with academic teams and understanding of the platform, referral process and practices maximize our opportunity to identify students early, support and intervene, and positivity impact student success and retention. The SSFs are able to take action immediately on incoming alerts to implement a Success Plan and supporting interventions.

Additional benefits to from the platform and related practices include:

• Evidenced-based early alert system, identifying appropriate students early on for personalized intervention, navigation and support
• Positive impacts on student success and retention
• Standardized interventions and documentation
• Centralized case management system, ensuring equitable supports and timely student access to services
• Outcome based measurement of effective and efficient practices
• Mechanism to track academic trends
• Increased profile/awareness of Student Success Facilitators and supports for students

Intervention Outcomes:

• 95% of all Beacon identified at-risk students referred to Tutoring Services
• Beacon Target Group – 24% (vs 12% Comparator Group – Total Student Cohort Accessing Tutoring Services) accessed Peer Tutoring Services
• Beacon Target Group – 32% accessed both Tutoring and Academic Support Centre (vs Comparator Group – Total Student Cohort Accessing Both Services 8%)
• Beacon Target Group with Success Plans Completed – greater response and access of Peer Tutoring Services – 46%

Impact on Retention:

• Average 84.875% Retention Rate over time for entire SLC student population
• Hypothesis: Without Intervention, we would expect a lower retention rate for academically at-risk students
• With intervention, we would hope to improve retention rates to align with general population average
• Actual retention rate for Beacon Target Group – 87.3%

If you have any questions, please contact Caryn Langstaff, Director of Wellness, Accessibility & Student Success at clangstaff@sl.on.ca.