Starfish Training Youngstown State University

Agenda

• Overview of Starfish

• Starfish at Youngstown State University

• Goals

• Expectations

• Demonstration

• Hands-on training

• Questions throughout

Slide 2

The Starfish Story

The Starfish Story A A man was walking along a deserted

beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance. As he drew nearer, he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.

As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time, he was throwing them back into the water. A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the

The man asked the boy what he was doing. The boy replied, “I am saving these washed up starfish.” “But,” said the man, “You can’t possibly make a difference or save them all.” The boy smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish. As he threw it back into the sea, he replied, “It made a difference to that one.”The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied," I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. “

What is Starfish?

Starfish is: A Student Success Company

They believe: The campus community engaged with a student will lead to that student’s success.

They help academic institutions. Identify. Which students are at risk now?

Guide. Where do I go to get/offer help?

Connect. When can I get help?

Optimize. How are services performing?

Slide 6

“I made a difference for

that one.”

Starfish Solutions

• Student concerns are manually flagged when observed, and automatic surveys are sent out week 2 and week 5.

• Automatic flags are raised based on Blackboard online grade book data.

• Recommendations are communicated to the student.

• Appropriate staff are informed of flags raised and cleared.

• Notes and cleared flags close the loop with faculty when progress is made.

Slide 7

Starfish at Youngstown State University

A collaborative effort between the staff, faculty and advisors at YSU to ensure student success and persistence.

Goals:

Increase participation in early warning process.

Create a central online location to store student flags, notes and interventions.

Help keep advisors and coordinators informed of at-risk students.

Increase retention rates.

Increase graduation rates.

EARLY WARNING: THEN and NOW • Multiple requests from

multiple sources

• Various paper or on-line forms

• Several items to complete for each student

• Little feedback about student referral

• No knowledge of who is addressing student concern

• One request week 2 and week 5 from one source

• One electronic form

• One box to click on a roster-type form

• Typically one-day turn around from referral source

• Student university connections can be viewed

Flags for Fall 2012

Flag Name Description

Poor Attendance No Attendance

Indicates any student who is not attending class on a regular basis, or has not attended class at all.

Low Grades

Indicates a student who has not been successful in tests, or class assignments.

Tutorial Referral

Indicates a student would benefit from a tutor.

Needs CSP Outreach

Indicates a student would benefit from a CSP intervention.

Kudos Indicates a student is demonstrating good academic progress.

Specific Expectations

Slide 11

Instructors

• Raise flags when appropriate.

• Submit flag survey when emailed.

• Clear flags as appropriate

General CSP

Coordinators

• Receive email notifications from Starfish

• Record follow up actions in Starfish:

• Add notes

• E-mail students and faculty

• Clear flags

Academic Advisors

• Receive email notifications from Starfish

• Monitor advisees, add notes, make referrals

Peer Mentors

• View flags on their assigned students

• E-mail and call flagged students

• Add notes and e-mail instructors

• Notify supervisor if flag should be cleared

Example Survey Reminder to Instructor

Dear Instructor, As you know, we are piloting a new software solution from Starfish Retention Solutions that will help us make the process of reporting on the academic progress of our freshmen business students as easy and efficient as possible. Starfish works in conjunction with our existing CMS. Please click the link below and login to the CMS. You will be directed to your outstanding flag surveys in Starfish. Once you reach the flag survey grid, simply check the box next to the particular student's name where you have a concern. The flag options include Excessive Absences, Low Grade Concern, Poor Participation and General Concern. Then click Submit. If you don't have any concerns, just click Submit. The appropriate academic advisor will be notified of your flags and take any appropriate actions. You have 2 surveys which need to be completed. Outstanding Surveys: Course #1 Course #2 View Surveys in Starfish! This is a quick and easy way for you to tell us how the freshmen business students enrolled in your courses are doing. Your responses will help us know which students to reach out to and offer help. Thank you, Starfish Team

Flag Surveys

• Faculty will receive an email reminding them to complete a flag survey for their courses.

• They simply check the appropriate boxes and click Submit to raise flags.

Flagged Students Receive:

• An automatic email from the YSU Starfish Team relating that the university cares about their success.

• A personalized email and phone call from their Peer Mentor if they are a first-year student.

• A personal email from their intervention specialist if they are mandated to meet with a professional staff member in the CSP.

• A postcard from their Peer Mentor or intervention specialist if the flag is for academic performance. Slide 14

Demonstration

Student Experience and Success Stories

Slide 15

Hands-On Training

Faculty and Staff

Training agenda

• Find your students list.

• View a student folder.

• Raise/Clear a flag.

• Configure your profile.

• Contact information

• Email notifications

Slide 17

Find Your Students List

1. Click Students in the top frame navigation.

2. Search for a student by…

1. Typing the student’s name into the Search field

2. Choosing your Connection to them

3. To organize your students list by flag, select the Tracking tab.

1. You can sort the list by flag name and/or flag status.

2. You can clear or comment on flags from here.

Slide 18

To clear multiple flags at once from the Flags tab:

Check off the boxes to the right of the flags you want to clear, then click the

Clear Flags link at the top.

View a student folder

1. From your Students list, click the hyperlink of a student’s name.

2. This brings you to the student’s folder. Depending on your level of access, you will find information on…

1. Courses (past/current)

2. Notes (you added/shared with you)

3. Tracking history (raised/cleared)

3. From the student folder you can…

1. Raise a flag

2. Add a note

Slide 19

Anywhere you see a student’s name as a hyperlink will take you to their

student folder.

Configure Your Profile

1. Click Profile in the top frame navigation.

2. Edit your contact information. Then, select the email address(es) where Starfish notifications should be sent.

3. Upload your photo.

a. Select the Upload Photo link.

b. Browse for a photo on your desktop (JPEG, GIF, PNG).

c. Click the Upload Now button.

4. Click the Save button.

Slide 20

Students will see your profile information when they click to view your

online appointment calendar.

Email Notifications

1. Go to Profile. Then choose Email

Notifications.

2. Under Tracking Item

Notifications, set your

preferences for if/when you want

to be notified of flags.

3. Click the Save button.

Slide 21

You can change your email notifications settings

at any time.

Need more help?

Official Starfish YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/starfishretention

Slide 22

You are ready to begin utilizing Starfish!

Congratulations!

Slide 23

Support

Slide 24

To learn more contact: Rosalyn Donaldson rsdonaldson@ysu.edu (330) 941-1529 Having technical trouble? contact: Bob Forchione, rfforchione@ysu.edu 330-941-1691