Ontario Tech is proactively supporting student success thanks to a new online system that spots potential concerns before they impact academic progress.
Ontario Tech University will officially launch its new Early Alert System (EAS) in September, following a successful pilot of the system this Spring/Summer semester in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the Faculty of Science. Designed as a proactive tool to support student mental health and academic success, the EAS identifies students who may need assistance and connects them with support early on.
Funded through a generous $150,000 gift from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, the EAS is a tangible example of Ontario Tech’s commitment to Tech with a Conscience by using technology to support student success. The funds allowed for the development and pilot of the system, which has already shown promising results.
“We've had a couple of successful interventions so far,” says Dan Crouse, Director of Academic Advising and lead on the project. “One student, for example, was unsure of how they could get back on track with their studies, but they had never visited their academic advisor. We were able to make the connection and assist them with their challenges in a more proactive way.”
The EAS uses indicators such as low grades or missed assignments to alert academic advisors, who then initiate a one-on-one check-in with the student. These online or in-person meetings are designed to understand the root cause of a student’s challenges and offer support, which may include referrals to services such as Student Mental Health Services or the Mental Health Peer Mentor Program.
Crouse says the response from advisors and students during the pilot has been positive.
“Rather than dealing with that kind of reactive situation, we’re meeting with a student in the middle of the semester, chatting to them about specific challenges, and getting referrals out early,” Crouse explains.
The university-wide launch of EAS in September marks a major step forward in Ontario Tech’s efforts to support mental health and well-being.
