Connect for Success

Connect for Success centralizes university communication to heighten student awareness of academic, financial, and personal well-being. Multiple methods of communication are used to establish connection, including text, chatbot, call center, enrollment coaching, and early success identification. Connect for Success leverages targeted messaging to empower students to achieve academic excellence and thrive. Working collaboratively with campus partners, the Connect for Success program employs four pillars of student success: Connect, Support, Serve, Succeed. Communication apprises students of academic milestones, university rules and regulations, early success alerts, supports student well-being and fosters engagement with peers and with campus resources.

ECU CONNECT

ECU CONNECT early success platform serves as a tool for faculty to facilitate student academic success by allowing instructors to offer praise or express concerns about their students’ academic performance. Referred to as “Kudos” and “Flags”, these notifications are sent to the students’ ECU email account. A university support network is granted access to these notifications and can reach out to students, ensuring a proactive approach to student support.

ECU CONNECT early success system is a pivotal tool in promoting student retention and success at ECU. By promptly identifying and addressing academic, behavioral, or personal challenges faced by students, ECU’s success team can intervene early to provide the necessary support. This proactive approach not only helps prevent potential issues from impacting a student’s well-being but also contributes to a positive impact on student outcomes by fostering a supportive environment that encourages persistence, engagement, and ultimately, success throughout their academic journey.

STUDENTS

ECU CONNECT offers early success alerts that enable your instructors to acknowledge accomplishments or express concerns regarding your academic progress in a course. These notifications, known as “kudos” and “flags,” are delivered to your ECU email account and shared with your success team. Should you receive an academic difficulty alert, it is crucial to take immediate action:

1. 1. Schedule a meeting with your instructor.
   2. Consult with your academic advisor.
   3. Utilize tutoring and other available support services.
   4. Enhance your study habits.
   5. Attend all classes regularly.

It’s important to note that not all instructors will utilize Connect for Success, and therefore, you may not receive flags or kudos from every instructor. The absence of notifications does not necessarily indicate good or poor academic performance. If uncertain about your academic status in a course, always communicate with your instructor.

To access Connect for Success, log in via pirateport.ecu.edu (search for ECU CONNECT) or
academic-success.ecu.edu/ecuconnect.

Additional features of Connect for Success include:

Student Profile

Your ECU 1 Card photo should have been added to your profile. You can change this photo or add a photo if
no photo appears. Please add a phone number to your profile. You can edit your profile by following these steps:

1. Login into the CONNECT
2. Select the menu in the top left corner
3. Select your name and then profile
4. Request Help If you have a question or concern but don’t know what services are available or who to talk to, submit a request help message. The Connect for Success team will contact you!

FACULTY

The Connect for Success early success system serves as a tool for faculty to facilitate student academic success by allowing instructors to offer praise or express concerns about their students’ academic performance. Referred to as “Kudos” and “Flags”, these notifications are sent to the students’ ECU email account. A university support network is granted access to these notifications and can reach out to students, ensuring a proactive approach to student support.

The Connect for Success alert system is a pivotal tool in promoting student retention and success at ECU. By promptly identifying and addressing academic, behavioral, or personal challenges faced by students, ECU’s success team can intervene early to provide the necessary support. This proactive approach not only helps prevent potential issues from impacting a student’s well-being but also contributes to a positive impact on student outcomes by fostering a supportive environment that encourages persistence, engagement, and ultimately, success throughout their academic journey.

Instructors utilize progress surveys to pinpoint students who may require extra assistance. These surveys are administered through the Connect for Success system four times per semester, directly assigned to the instructor of record for each course section.

If any signs of a student needing support are identified, the information is promptly communicated to both the student and their success team. The success team contacts the student to extend assistance. Your support in fostering student success is greatly appreciated!

Spring 2024 Early Success Surveys

SUCCESS PARTNERS

The Connect for Success early success system serves as a tool for faculty to facilitate student academic success by allowing instructors to offer praise or express concerns about their students’ academic performance. A university support network is granted access to these notifications and can reach out to students, ensuring a proactive approach to student support.

The Connect for Success alert system is a pivotal tool in promoting student retention and success at ECU. By promptly identifying and addressing academic, behavioral, or personal challenges faced by students, you can intervene early to provide the necessary support. This proactive approach not only helps prevent potential issues from impacting a student’s well being but also contributes to a positive impact on student outcomes by fostering a supportive environment that encourages persistence, engagement, and ultimately, success throughout their academic journey.

Student Success Process

STEP 1: Faculty Raise Flag/Kudo Notifications
Faculty can raise notifications in ECU CONNECT at anytime during the semester. Faculty can add comments to the notification raised. All comments can be seen by the student and support connections. View your notification options. Please note that not all notification options are in the Progress Surveys, you can raise all notifications by going to ECU CONNECT > Students > MyStudents. See instructor guide below.

STEP 2: Email is sent to Student
Email is sent to the students ECU email account from the individual who raised the notification. There is a template for each notification raised and any comments entered by the faculty member are included in the email.

STEP 3: Advisor and Success Team Connection and Follow
up Academic Advisors and other student success partners who are connected to students will have access to the raised notifications.

PARENTS

Connect for Success early success alerts serves as a comprehensive student success platform, fostering seamless communication and engagement among students, faculty, and staff. At ECU, this interconnected system enhances our ability to support students effectively, connect them to relevant resources, and ultimately elevate their success and well-being.

Utilizing Connect at ECU streamlines support processes, allowing for quicker and more thorough assistance to students. The platform also offers faculty and staff a user-friendly avenue to provide feedback and support to students, while enabling students to seek help, even when unsure whom to approach. Students can effectively tap into their campus support network, cultivating a profound sense of connection and facilitating a robust support system for their academic journey.

The Connect system enables instructors and advisors to track students’ progress throughout the semester. It provides an avenue for students to receive advice, support, or recommendations to access academic support services available across the campus.

Progress surveys within the Connect system serve as deliberate check-ins at strategic points during the semester. Instructors can use these surveys to raise concerns (flag), make referrals for additional support, or commend students for exemplary work (kudo). This system facilitates proactive intervention and guidance to enhance students’ academic experience.

Connect Early Success Surveys

Progress Surveys empower both instructors to offer feedback for multiple students simultaneously at crucial intervals throughout the term. Each survey comprises tracking items (Flags, Kudos, To Do’s, and Referrals) that instructors can choose and provide comments on for students in each of their course sections.

Instructors receive email notifications when surveys are available, and upon logging into the CONNECT platform, they are presented with links to the available surveys.

HELP & SUPPORT

Support for students, faculty, staff and campus partners in optimizing the use of the CONNECT system is readily available. Campus stakeholders can access assistance and resources to enhance their proficiency with the system, and for assistance with system features. The following Help and support is available:

Training Sessions

Regular training sessions are conducted to familiarize faculty with the features and functionalities of the CONNECT System. These sessions provide hands-on guidance on how to navigate the system, interpret alerts, and take appropriate actions.

User Guides and Documentation

Comprehensive user guides and documentation are provided, offering step-by-step instructions and best practices for using the CONNECT System. These resources serve as handy references for faculty members and campus partners seeking guidance at their own pace.

Help Desk and Support Services

A dedicated help desk or support services are in place to address any queries or issues faculty may encounter. Faculty members can reach out to these support channels for timely assistance.

Online Tutorials and Webinars

Online tutorials and webinars are available to accommodate different learning preferences. Faculty can access these resources to gain insights into advanced features, troubleshooting techniques, and strategies for maximizing the system’s benefits.

Customized Consultations

For more personalized assistance, faculty members can schedule one-on-one consultations with system experts. These sessions allow faculty to address specific questions or challenges they may encounter in their unique teaching contexts

Regular Updates and Communication

Faculty and campus partners receive regular updates and communications regarding system enhancements, new features, and tips for optimizing the CONNECT System. Staying informed ensures that campus partners are aware of the latest tools and functionalities available to them.

Connect for Success Call Center

Facilitating student access to academic resources poses a challenge for collegiate support services. Conventional communication channels such as email and flyers prove ineffective in reaching today’s undergraduates. The integration of call centers, exemplified by ECU’s Connect for Success, is tailored to link undergraduates, especially first-time students, with essential services. The incorporation of a call center into campus success services offers several advantages, including:

1. Enhances the efficiency of referrals to academic success services.
2. Enables prompt scheduling of tutoring sessions and study skills appointments.
3. Expands avenues for peer engagement.

Student Directory Composition

The Connect for Success call center team consists of twelve students known as Success Navigators, overseen by Dylan Moore. These Success Navigators are provided specific student lists each semester. Throughout the semester, there are four main touch points, during which Success Navigators utilize scripted questions to guide their calls. First-time Freshmen and transfer students are included in the call center student directory.

Directory lists originate from sources including:

1. Opt in” first time students from summer orientation sessions
2. Students receiving early success alerts
3. Residence hall freshmen on academic warning provided by Campus Living

Call center conversations primarily revolve around maintaining a healthy balance between classes and other aspects of school life, addressing course difficulties, and assessing general well-being. Success Navigators play a pivotal role by offering necessary referrals to campus resources, facilitating tutoring and study skills appointments, and organizing study groups during these interactions.

PeeDee Communications

PeeDee Communications is a texting program designed to elevate student success and retention at ECU. By facilitating direct communication between our students and support services, PeeDee ensures a proactive exchange of crucial information, including academic deadlines, resources, and campus events. PeeDee ’s nudges and messages promote student engagement, addresses concerns promptly, ultimately promoting student engagement and persistence throughout their academic journey.

The commitment to student success interventions goes beyond a text message. Our dedicated success team reviews and responds to student feedback and responses to system messages. This personalized approach ensures that our support is not only delivered but actively adapted to meet the individual needs and concerns of each student, enhancing the effectiveness of our intervention strategies.

Our message campaigns are strategically centered on the comprehensive 4 pillar success model: Connect, Support, Serve, and Success. Each message is thoughtfully tailored to precisely address and align with these pillars, ensuring a targeted and holistic approach to student engagement and achievement.

Peer Enrollment Coaching

Student success begins during the summer months before a student steps into the classroom. For some students, navigating the enrollment process can be difficult and may lack the family enrollment support needed to establish connections with key campus resources and complete business processes like filing and interpreting financial aid, paying tuition and fees, completing housing contracts, and submitting immunization records. At ECU, the Connect for Success Peer Enrollment Coaching (PEC) program has employed peer enrollment coaches to guide admitted students through key enrollment milestones. Applying best practices in summer yield programming, the PEC program emphasizes 4 important components:

1. Completion of academic enrollment benchmarks
2. Targeted student profile data analytics
3. Personalized peer coaching through call center design
4. Engagement with peer coaches in orientation events

An essential element of the PEC program includes targeting students through milestone data analytics. In step with the summer enrollment process, student contact lists are generated by combining multiple factors including enrollment deposit payment, housing contracts, Campus Living deposit payment, orientation registration and fees, low or no course registration, immunization records deadlines, profiles with system hold tags, NC Gear Up Specific high schools, FAFSA filing status, and Admitted Students Day attendees.

Peer enrollment coaches proactively assist admitted students with the summer enrollment process before the Fall term begins. They provide personalized guidance through phone calls, email follow-ups, orientation involvement and virtual sessions. Their five main functions include:

1. Personalized Enrollment Guidance: They guide admitted students, tailored to their demographic profiles, through key enrollment steps via phone or virtual sessions.
2. Issue Resolution: They identify and address barriers, escalating problems to professional staff for resolution.
3. Academic Support: They assist with academic orientation activities, including outreach events and registration logistics support
4. Campus Resource Connections: They establish connections to various campus resources, such as Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Cashier’s Office, Registrar’s Office, Campus Living, and Student Health.
5. ECU Welcome and Belonging: They extend a warm welcome and reinforce students’ sense of belonging within the ECU community.