Academic Alert System
Eastern Illinois University is committed to helping students succeed and persist toward graduation. The Academic Alert System (Panthers Persist) was developed to help identify students who may be experiencing academic, co-curricular, and extra-curriculuar difficulties throughout their journey so they can be connected with appropriate support resources.
The Academic Alert System is part of EIU’s broader student success and retention efforts, which include the use of Navigate360, to support student retention, persistence and success.
Academic Alert System Mission
The mission of the Eastern Illinois University Academic Alert System is to empower students to achieve academic and personal success by fostering a culture of care across campus. Housed within the Academic Support Center, the system provides a centralized, student-centered approach to identifying challenges, celebrating achievements, and connecting students with meaningful support from campus resources.
The Academic Alert System engages with the entire EIU community in promoting student success while staying grounded in the Academic Support Center’s values of inclusivity, empathy, accountability, curiosity, kindness, dedication, lifelong learning, and growth.
Academic Alert System Philosophy
The Eastern Illinois University Academic Alert System is grounded in ecological validation (Hallet et. al, 2024; Kitchen et. al, 2021) grounded in the belief that student success is best supported through meaningful relationships, early connections, and shared responsibility. Academic challenges are often influenced by factors outside the academic environment, such as personal, social, financial, and other environmental factors. Rather than viewing alerts only as indicators of concern, every alert is an opportunity to engage with students in ways that promote growth, belonging, and success.
The system embraces a holistic, solutions-focused approach informed by ecological validation. Not only does the system provide prompt intervention when a student meets challenges, it also intentionally recognizes positive behaviors and accomplishments. Students’ assets, experiences, needs, and goals evolve over time; the accompanying validating support must evolve as students learn and grow during college, new needs and goals emerge, and new challenges navigating resources and support in college are encountered. A developmental approach that builds on and is tailored to students’ assets, successes, and progress—rather than a one-size-fits-all approach—is the very philosophy of this approach.
The Academic Alert System is a collaborative and campus-wide initiative. Every member of the EIU community plays a significant role in recognizing students who may benefit from added support and those whose efforts should be acknowledged. Together, we can create a campus culture where students feel seen, feel valued, and feel empowered to reach their full potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Faculty FAQEastern Illinois University is committed to helping students succeed and persist toward graduation. The Academic Alert System (AAS) was developed to help identify students who may be experiencing academic difficulties throughout the semester so they can be connected with appropriate support resources. The Academic Alert System is part of EIU’s broader student success and retention efforts, which also include outreach to students experiencing academic challenges, registration issues, or other barriers that may impact their progress. Additionally, the implementaition of positive alerts (Panthers Persist Kudos) allows the campus community to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our students. Any faculty or staff member may submit an alert through the system. Faculty teaching 1000- and 2000-level courses are especially encouraged to participate, since timely intervention can have a significant impact on student success. Students can also choose to self report challenges via the Handraise feature on the EAB Navigate Student App, connecting them quickly to resources through the platform instead of having to navgate multiple offices when facing a challenge. Faculty and staff use Navigate360 to submit Academic Alerts when they notice a learner who may benefit from connection or support, or when they want to recognize a learner through a Panthers Persist Kudos. Alerts are reviewed and responded to based on the type of support or recognition indicated. Depending on the alert, this may include outreach from a Certified Peer Educator or Program Coordinator, connection with an appropriate campus resource, or a positive message recognizing the learner's efforts. The Academic Alert System creates a shared pathway for the EIU community to notice learners, communicate what they are seeing, and connect learners with timely and meaningful support. What happens after you submit an alert depends on what you noticed and the type of alert selected. The Academic Alert System is designed to respond in ways that are appropriate to the learner and their circumstances rather than treating every alert the same. For academic concerns, learners may receive an email and outreach from their Certified Peer Educator or Program Coordinator to begin a conversation, learn more about what they are experiencing, and identify helpful next steps or resources. Alerts involving specialized needs may be connected with the campus office or University representative best positioned to provide support. Panthers Persist Kudos work differently. These alerts are intended to recognize and validate positive behaviors, accomplishments, growth, and engagement. The learner receives a message letting them know that someone at EIU noticed their efforts. Submitting an alert starts a connection—it does not place a label on a learner. Your observations provide valuable information that helps EIU respond with curiosity, coordinate support, and better understand the learner's experience. For specific information about the actions associated with each alert type, view What Happens After I Submit an Alert? For most alerts, yes, the learner will know you have submitted an alert. The exception to this includes Basic Needs, Hold on Account, Financial Difficulty, and Mental Health Resources (non-emergency). Submit an alert when you notice something about a learner that may warrant connection, support, or recognition. You do not need to wait until a concern becomes serious, a learner is failing, or multiple concerns are present. Early connection gives us more opportunities to understand what the learner is experiencing and respond in meaningful ways. What you notice may look different depending on the learner, course, and context. A change in attendance, engagement, academic performance, or behavior may be worth sharing even when you do not know why the change has occurred. You are not expected to determine the cause or solve the concern before submitting an alert. Concern alerts available in Navigate360 include:
Faculty and staff may select multiple concerns when appropriate. Descriptive comments are highly encouraged because they provide helpful context for those connecting with the learner. Noticing also means recognizing when things are going well. Panthers Persist Kudos available in Navigate360 include:
When appropriate, we also encourage you to connect directly with the learner. A simple “I noticed you haven't been in class lately. How are you doing?” can be a meaningful act of care. Submitting an alert allows the broader EIU support network to join that effort; it does not replace the relationship between a learner and their faculty or staff member. If a student has not attended a traditional course by the 5th day of the semester and has not contacted the instructor, the department chair should be notified so an administrative drop may be considered. If the student has never attended and it is after the 5th day of the semester, faculty should email registra@eiu.edu to notify the Office of the Registrar. Yes. Multiple alerts may be submitted throughout the semester if concerns continue or new issues arise. Continued outreach can help connect students with the support they need at different points throughout the semester.
For the Academic Alert System and Academic Support:
Amber Webb, Ph.D. Director, Academic Support Center ajwebb2@eiu.edu For EAB Navigate360 Access and Technical Concerns eabhelp@eiu.edu |
Student FAQEIU wants you to feel seen, supported, and connected throughout your college experience. The Academic Alert System gives faculty and staff a way to reach out when they notice you may benefit from additional support and to recognize your effort, growth, and accomplishments through Panthers Persist Kudos. An Academic Alert is an invitation to connect. If you are experiencing a challenge, we want to understand what is happening from your perspective and help you connect with people and resources that may be useful. If things are going well, we want to notice that, too. Whether you are navigating a challenge, making progress, or doing something worth celebrating, the message is the same: We notice you. Faculty and staff use Navigate360 to share when they notice that you may benefit from additional support or connection. They can also send Panthers Persist Kudos to recognize your effort, growth, engagement, or accomplishments. You can be part of the process, too. Through the Hand Raise feature in Navigate360 app, you can let us know when you would like help connecting with a resource or someone at EIU. The Student App is available for download on the Apple iStore, Google Play, or the Navigate 360 Student Application Website. The Academic Alert System brings these connections together so that noticing a need, asking for help, and recognizing success can all lead to meaningful connection. What happens next depends on the type of alert you receive. If the alert identifies an academic concern, you will receive an email, and a Certified Peer Educator or Program Coordinator may reach out by email, text, or phone to check in with you. The conversation is about you, not just the alert. We want to hear what you are experiencing, understand what is important to you, recognize what is already working, and help you identify resources or next steps that may support your goals. If we are unable to connect with you and you live on campus, we may also partner with your Resident Assistant (RA) to help make that connection. If you receive a Panthers Persist Kudos, it means someone at EIU noticed something positive, your effort, growth, engagement, persistence, or contribution, and took the time to recognize it. A concern alert is information, not a label. It does not define you or your ability to succeed. It simply gives us an opportunity to notice, listen, and connect. Yes. The email you receive will explain why the alert was submitted and identify the course involved. You may receive an Academic Alert at any point during the semester. A faculty or staff member may submit a concern alert when they notice a change or circumstance that suggests you could benefit from additional connection or support. This might include changes in attendance, missing assignments, academic performance, engagement, basic needs, finances, or well-being. You may also receive a Panthers Persist Kudos when someone notices your effort, improvement, engagement, leadership, persistence, or contributions to the EIU community. Academic Alerts aren't only about noticing when you may need support. They're also about noticing when you're doing well. Yes. You may receive multiple Academic Alerts during a semester, including concern alerts, Panthers Persist Kudos, or both. Different faculty or staff members may notice different aspects of your experience, and each alert provides another opportunity for connection, support, or recognition. If you receive multiple concern alerts, it does not mean you are in trouble or that the alerts are adding up against you. Each alert provides information that can help us better understand your experience and coordinate support that may be helpful to you. EIU offers many resources to support students academically and personally. For academic support, contact the Academic Support Center. The ASC can help with:
For personal support, students can contact the Counseling Clinic for help with:
Students are also encouraged to talk with their professors and academic advisors if they are having difficulties in a class.
The Hand Raise feature in Navigate360 allows a learner to ask questions and seek information independently. A Hand Raise is like an Academic Alert that is initiated by the student themselves.
Handraises follow the same protocol and procedures as Academic Alerts, and will be routed to the office, program, or person best suited to answer. To contact the Academic Support Center outside of Navigate360, please email pantherspersist@eiu.edu. |
Academic Alert System Goals
These indicators can be tracked and reported every semester. They measure whether the alert system is functioning as relational infrastructure — early, collaborative, and strengths-based — rather than as a deficit-tracking tool.
- By the end of AY 2026–27, reduce the percentage of students entering academic probation with no prior alert by 20 percentage points from baseline [2025-2026], and raise the probation-to-good-standing return rate for alerted students by 10 percentage points over non-alerted peers.
- By the end of AY 2028–29, close the fall-to-fall persistence gap between alerted and non-alerted students to within 5 percentage points, while establishing a measurable persistence advantage for students who received a positive/recognition alert over the campus baseline.
- By Fall 2027, produce and report on fall-to-spring and fall-to-fall persistence rates for alerted vs. non-alerted students, disaggregated by at-promise indicators (first-gen, students of color, Pell status, etc.).
