Improve higher education persistence with an Early Alert System
Why This Matters
By 2031, 63% of all jobs in Texas will require at least some postsecondary education beyond high school.¹ Stagnant or declining postsecondary student persistence from freshman to sophomore year and beyond concerns many college administrators.
Overall persistence rates in Texas postsecondary institutions are generally high, but there are important disparities to note.
Data & Trends
The Promising Practice
Texas State and Concordia University both participated in the E3 Alliance Institutes of Higher Education Peer Learning Network from 2021-2023. They each took a continuous improvement and personalized approach to increase student persistence into their second year with an early alert system.
This system identifies students who may be struggling providing the institution an opportunity to give time-sensitive support.
Texas State University
Texas State University’s response team works with students facing academic challenges.
Texas State involves all faculty teaching general education or core curriculum courses, lower-division business, developmental math, and first-year seminars.
Faculty submit an early grade between the fourth and sixth week of the semester. A university-wide response team then contacts those facing challenges.
“Students who are struggling can often recover if given the right assistance. Early alerts help identify who is struggling, so we can provide timely support to increase individual course grades, persistence, and retention.”
—Kambra Bolch, Assistant Vice President of Academic Success at Texas State University
Concordia University
Concordia University’s Student Central Team works with all students on financial and academic planning
All Concordia faculty members submit success checks on their entire roster of students throughout the semester.
“Financial and Academic Planners are actively engaged with students throughout the semester as part of the financial aid and advising processes and are a crucial connection point for our most vulnerable students.”
—Cindy Melendez, Vice President of Student Success at Concordia University.
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¹ After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031 (State Report). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2023.