EARS is an early intervention tool for teachers to refer students in need of additional assistance.
Assistance is provided to students by the EARS Team in the Centre for Learning and Teaching Enhancement (CLTE), in collaboration from appropriate FNU Student Services such as the Library, College support teams and the Registrar’s Office.
Teachers are encouraged to submit an EARS Alert when concerned about a student’s performance in their course. EARS platform is managed by the CLTE EARS Team, whose focus is to connect students directly to the support they need to get and stay on track for success in their courses.
How do I submit an EARS Alert?
Before you submit an alert, you are encouraged to discuss the concern with your student first. If the concern requires additional support, submit an EARS Alert Form. You need to inform the student about your intention to refer him/her to the CLTE Team.
EARS Alert Form allows you to refer students one at a time, and is designed to help you identify concern(s) in three categories:
1. Academic,
2. Behavioural, and
3. Enrolment.
Below is a brief description of each of these categories. The form also allows you to provide additional details about the individual that may be helpful to the CLTE Team in determining appropriate intervention to assist the student.
1. Academic
The academic alerts category can be used to identify a student who is habitually late or absent from classes, missed more than one assignment; repeatedly failed tests and/or assignments; have underdeveloped study skills; and deterioration in quality of work (quizzes, assignments, classroom/research, and laboratory activities).
Early alerts for academic concerns are supplemental to and not a substitute for, conversations between the teacher and student about course expectations (and the ways in which those expectations have/ or have not been met).
2. Behavioural
The behavioural category identifiers can be used to refer a student who misbehaves in class; sends inappropriate communications to teacher or other students; and disregards rules and defies authority.
3. Enrolment
Enrolment alerts can be used to peg a student who is signaling dropping out of the course or changing programme.
When should I submit EARS alert?
As soon as you observe that a student’s performance is declining in your course, and requires additional support for proper intervention. The earlier the student can access necessary support, the more likely they are able to succeed in their course.
What happens once an EARS Alert is submitted?
Once you have submitted an early alert for a student, the following steps occur:
Do students have to respond to an Early Alert?
Students can choose whether to accept or decline the support being offered – the choice is theirs.
Do Early Alert referrals become a part of a student’s academic transcript?
Information sent to Early Alert is in no way associated with a student’s academic transcript or official record.
How can I familiarise my students with EARS?
You can inform your class that you will use EARS to identify students who are at risk of falling behind. You may also refer your students to the EARS webpage.
Who do I contact about my referral?
Please feel free to email Ms. Ferine Bano at clte@fnu.ac.fj.
How does EARS work?
Your teacher(s) may use EARS to refer you to additional support for academic success and well-being if they notice that you are falling behind in your course. Your teacher will discuss this first with you before referral to EARS. Then you may be contacted by the EARS Team offering assistance needed for your success.
What do I do if contacted?
You can choose to accept or decline the support being offered – the choice is yours. However, we strongly encourage you to accept the assistance being offered to get yourself back on track for academic success.
Do Early Alert referrals become a part of my academic transcript?
No! Information sent to EARS is in no way associated with your academic transcript or official record.
Who do I contact about my referral?
Please feel free to email Ms. Ferine Bano at clte@fnu.ac.fj.