VCU's early alert intervention program to receive national award for academic advising

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. – The Early Alert Intervention Program (EAP), an academic advising program in the College of Humanities & Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been selected as an Outstanding Institutional Advising Program winner as part of the 2003 National Academic Advising Association’s (NACADA) national awards program.

“This is a significant accomplishment in the field of academic advising,” said S. Jon Steingass, Ph.D., VCU’s director of undergraduate academic advising. “Our efforts show that the early alert notification system, coupled with a personalized academic advising intervention, enhances academic achievement and student persistence.”

EAP works like this. Each October, the university collects early semester grades from instructors of 100-level and 200-level courses. Students with grades of D or F receive an early alert notice from advisors, and are encouraged to schedule an intervention session. During the session, advisors address a student’s academic difficulties and recommend general study strategies as well as specific study tips from instructors.

According to an assessment conducted for fall 2002 by Seth Sykes, Ph.D., academic advisor in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, final course grades in the classes for which students received an early alert notice significantly improved. In addition, the program decreased the number of students who were placed on academic warning in the following semester.

VCU’s Office of Academic Advising introduced EAP as a university-wide early alert system in 2001. VCU’s program is one of three to be honored for making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. Joining VCU in the honors are Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and Howard Community College in Columbia, Md.

VCU will be presented with the award in October, during the annual NACADA National Conference in Dallas.

NACADA was chartered as a non-profit organization in 1979 to promote quality academic advising and professional development of its membership to ensure the educational development of students. The organization is made up of over 6,700 members including faculty, professional advisors, administrators, counselors and others in academic and student affairs. Each year since 1983, NACADA in cooperation with American College Testing (ACT) has honored individuals and groups for their efforts.