-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Retention Alert Program
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 12:03:15 -0700 (MST)
From: Deborah.Harris@NAU.EDU
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;

January 13, 2003

Dear Faculty:

NAU will continue the Retention Alert Program (RAP) during the spring 2003 semester. The program is designed to identify first and second year students who may be experiencing difficulties in one or more of their classes. Faculty who observe a student having difficulties, such as not attending class or not completing assignments or exhibiting emotional distress, can contact a retention specialist using a simple Web interface. The student will then be contacted by a retention specialist who will provide them with the type of assistance that might make the difference in whether or not they remain at NAU.

This year, we have identified a group of freshman and sophomores to participate in this program. You have been identified as having one or more of these students in your course or courses. A web-based program has been designed to allow you to provide the retention specialist with information regarding these students. To access the web program click on the following address:

http://mindy.ucc.nau.edu/stdret-cgi-bin/instr_start.pl

After you have entered the program, please complete information on any student you are concerned about. Please notify us using this system if you think any of your students may be at risk. The system will be available for your use throughout the semester and we encourage you to use it at any time to identify students who may need assistance.

Deb Harris, Associate Dean of Students, Office of Student Life, is coordinating this program and will serve as your resource person. Please feel free to contact her at 3-7625 or by e-mail at deborah.harris@nau.edu

We appreciate your willingness in advance to participate in this retention project. Faculty like you have unique insights about your students' academic and sometimes personal success at NAU. This partnership between faculty and Student Affairs will allow us to increase the retention rates of our students.

Thank you for your support and assistance with this project. Your involvement with this program can make a real difference in helping these students to stay in school.

Sincerely,

Liz Grobsmith
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

--
Alan A. Lew, Ph.D., AICP
Professor and Chair,
Dept. of Geography, Planning and Recreation
Northern Arizona University

Editor, 'TOURISM GEOGRAPHIES' journal
Homepage: <http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~alew/>

Event Tourism & Destination Management Conference
26-29 September 2003, Yichang/Three Gorges, China
<http://www.geog.nau.edu/igust/yichang2003/>