Early Support for Students | Worcester State University

[...] Campus Life Student Services Retention Office Early Support

Early Support for Students

Early Support allows you to stay connected with faculty and other support staff to receive feedback on how you are doing in class, and access services to help you succeed at Worcester State.

Using Early Support, your faculty can communicate with you to celebrate a job well done or offer support and resources when there are opportunities to improve in a class. Early Support uses email to communicate with you.

Student Handout

Notifications from Faculty or Staff

Kudos

When your faculty sends a Kudo, they are recognizing your great effort in class.

Examples of Kudos

Kudos	Circumstance

Kudos to Student: Great Job!	To recognize students’ positive behavior, work, or attitude in the class.
Kudos to Student: Great Participation!	To recognize students who have been making contributions to the course through participation.
Kudos to Student: Positive Course Engagement	To recognize students who have been engaged in a course.
Kudos to Student: High Score on Assignment	To congratulate students for their outstanding performance on an assignment.
Kudos to Students: Showing Improvement	To recognize students who have improved during the course and encourage them to continue working.
Kudos to Students: Meets Expectations	To recognize students for whom there are no academic concerns.

Flags

When your faculty raises a Flag, they see an opportunity for you to improve in the course.

Examples of Flags

Flags	Circumstance

Flag to Student: I have a concern about your attendance.	To warn students who have missed two or more assignments.
Flag to Student: I have concerns about your low course engagement/participation.	To identify students who have not been making contributions to the course through participation or online engagement.
Flag to Student: I have concerns about your low grade(s).	To warn students whose low scores may negatively impact their final course grade.
Flag to Student: I have concerns about your missing work.	To warn students who have missed two or more assignments.
Flag to Registrar’s Office and the Student: Never attended the course.	To notify students and the Registrar’s Office of students registered for the course who have never attended.
Flag to Registrar’s Office: Student Failure Warning for Non-Attendance	To notify the Registrar’s Office of students at risk for failure due to non-attendance of the course.
Flag to Registrar’s Office: Student Failure Warning for Non-Performance	To notify the Registrar’s Office of students at risk for failure due to non-performance in the course.
Flag to Success Network: Student has 3 or more unresolved Flags	To notify a student’s Success Network about multiple flags that have not been resolved.
Flag to Success Network: Student has 6 or more unresolved Flags	To notify a student’s Success Network about multiple flags that have not been resolved.

Referrals

When a Referral is raised, you will be connected with a specific service or resource at Worcester State that is ready to help you!

Examples or Refferals

Referral	Circumstance

Academic Success Center Referral	To connect a first-year student to the Academic Success Center to make schedule adjustments.
Career Services Referral	To connect students to Career Services for jobs, internships, and professional development opportunities.
Commuter Services Referral	To connect students with Commuter Services to learn about programming and engagement opportunities for commuter students.
Counseling Services Referral	To connect students with the Counseling Services at Worcester State. This is only for non-emergency referrals. For emergency situations, please contact Worcester State PD at (508) 929-8911.
Financial Aid Referral	To connect students with Financial Aid or interested in Financial Aid.
Health Services Referral	To connect students with Health Services to clear a Health Form hold or for those looking for high-quality, cost-effective health care.
International Programs & Study Away Referral	To connect international students with scholar services or students interested in study away experiences.
IT Help Desk Referral	To connect students to the Help Desk for information about IT support.
Library Research Referral	To connect students to a Librarian for research assistance.
Math Center Referral	To encourage students in need of tutoring for a mathematics course or a course with mathematical components.
Recreation & Wellness Referral	To connect students with the Recreation & Wellness Center to join programs and access services while at Worcester State.
Registrar’s Office Referral	To connect students in need of academic records services including course registration, transcripts, records maintenance, security, and certification of veterans benefits.
Residence Life Referral	To connect commuter students interested in living on campus to learn more about the on-campus housing options.
Retention Office Referral	To connect students with the support they may need when they disclose an interest in a Leave of Absence, Withdrawal, or Transfer away from Worcester State.
SNAP Services Referral	To connect students with peer support that provides information about the program and participant eligibility, and accepts applications for SNAP benefits.
Student Accessibility Services Referral	To connect students with permanent or temporary disabilities to access support services and programs that enable equal opportunities for education and university life.
Student Accounts Referral	To connect students with questions about their semester bills and how to make payments.
Student Affairs – Emergency Fund Referral	To connect students in need of emergency financial support for unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable emergency circumstances that impact their ability to successfully continue in school.
Student Involvement and Leadership Referral	To connect students to the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development to learn more about student organizations, leadership development programs, and on-campus programming.
Thea’s Pantry Referral	To connect students expressing at-home food insecurities with Thea’s Pantry so they can stay focused on their studies.
Writing Center Referral	To encourage students in need of writing support to work with a knowledgeable peer consultant in order to achieve their writing goals.

Notifications Raised by Students

Early Support Notification You Send Raise Hand - When you need help or are feeling stuck, this feature allows you to engage with faculty or staff to address a specific issue.

Examples of Notifications Raised by Students

Raised Hand	Circumstance

I am concerned about my performance or progress in a course.	Raise your hand when you are concerned about your course performance. We will contact your faculty member about this.
I am concerned about paying for school.	Raise your hand when you are concerned about your bill or financial aid. We will contact Student Accounts and your Financial Aid Counselor. Please allow 5 business days for a member of the staff to contact you.
I am considering a leave of absence or withdrawal from Worcester State.	Raise your hand when you are considering a leave or withdrawal from WSU. We will contact the Retention Office on your behalf. Please allow 5 business days for a member of the staff to contact you.
I am experiencing education access issues or barriers.	Raise your hand when if you have a permanent or temporary disability and want to access support services and programs that enable equal opportunities for education and university life.
I am feeling stressed/overwhelmed.	Raise your hand when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed and would like to be connected with Counseling Services. Please allow 5 business days for a member of the staff to contact you.
I have a question and I don’t know where to go to ask it.	Raise your hand when you have a question about Worcester State but you don’t know where to ask it. Please allow 2 business days for a member of the staff to contact you.
I want to get more involved in Campus Life.	Raise your hand when you are looking for new opportunities to get involved with campus life. Please allow 2 business days for a member of the staff to contact you.