In the fall 2021 semester, UNC Greensboro faculty set a record for engagement and utilization of Starfish, the University’s early alert technology aimed at supporting student success.
This semester, Starfish is available to all instructors, academic advisors, academic support staff, and students.
Starfish is a critical technology component of UNCG’s integrated student success initiatives. The software allows instructors, academic advisors, and academic support staff to track student progress and remain in the loop about their shared students. Users can log into Starfish at starfish.uncg.edu.
Updates and Reminders
- New Canvas/Starfish Integration: Starfish and UNCG’s Learning Management System, Canvas, have been integrated. This integration allows instructors to identify students more efficiently at varying levels of academic risk within their individual courses for instructor-directed intervention and support, while monitoring student academic performance in real time, prior to final grades being entered at the end of the term. The ability to view gradebook and course access activity within the student’s Starfish folder provides instructors, academic advisors, and academic support staff a holistic view of the student. This data is easily accessible and can be used to raise flags on students. Instructors can reference the Starfish/Canvas Integration Quick Guide for detailed step-by-step instructions on how to best use the integration to complete the Academic Status Report (ASR.)
- New Starfish Kudos: Based on faculty feedback via the Fall 2021 Starfish Instructor Survey, a new “Keep Up the Good Work!” kudos is now available. This kudos can be raised when students are performing at a satisfactory level in their coursework, and instructors want to encourage continued academic effort. Instructors should select the Academic Kudos that best recognize a student’s accomplishments and academic performance.
- Updated Starfish Academic Flags: Effective Spring 2022, instructors can raise separate flags for students that may be at risk of failing and students who have a low course average. Before this change, the academic flag encompassed both at-risk of failing and low average in course. Instructors should select the Academic flag that best describes the student’s individual situation.
New to Starfish?
Here’s how people in the UNCG community are using this technology. For more information, visit the Starfish website.
Instructors and faculty use Starfish to raise alert flags, kudos, and referrals for students with academic and personal concerns so they can connect with resources and people who can help. To allow for efficient reporting, instructors will complete Academic Status Reports (ASR) at the fourth, seventh, and 12th weeks of each semester to flag multiple students at once.
Academic advisors & support staff use Starfish to reach out to advisees who have received flags to provide additional assistance and direct them to helpful resources on campus. Academic advisors may raise flags on advisees for personal concerns and for retention-related concerns.
Students use Starfish to keep track of the academic feedback they get from their instructors, take action to improve course performance, and connect with campus resources. Students can also schedule appointments with their instructors, academic advisors, and other academic support staff who use Starfish Connect for online scheduling.
Starfish Support & Training
Thanks to the University’s renewed focus on student success, there are lots of new changes and enhancements to the Starfish platform.
- Individuals, groups, or departments who would like to request a Starfish training session should contact Devonne Gaddy, UNCG’s Early Alert & Intervention Coordinator, via starfish@uncg.edu or register for a Starfish 101 session via UNCG Workshops.
- Students, staff, and instructors are also encouraged to explore UNCG’s Starfish website for additional information about Starfish and available training guides.
