Overview
Personalizing comments help students better understand the concern and are more likely to encourage action. Use the examples below as a starting point when raising an Attendance Concern flag in MU Connect. The templates are organized into three different tones, but are intended to be flexible. Copy and paste the example as written, combine elements from multiple examples, and add course-specific details that provide helpful context for the student. Even a small amount of personalization can make your message more meaningful.
NOTE: This flag can be raised anytime using the My Students or Zoom In tabs in MU Connect or during Progress Survey availability (Weeks 4,5, 8, and 9, or Weeks 12 and 13 for 8WK2 and Journalism and courses).
Goal: Understand why attendance is important and encourage re-engagement.
Formal Tone
- Your current grade is below passing due to missing assignments and low exam scores. Please review the missing work and complete the exam review by Thursday to gain some of those points back. Email me so we can discuss strategies for improving your grade.
- You are at risk of failing this course. Please review your grades in Canvas and work with your advisor or an Academic Coach to create a plan to complete your upcoming assignments. I encourage you to meet with me during my office hours on Tuesday between 3:00 and 5:00 pm so that we can talk about strategies and get you back on track.
- Several missed assignments and low exam scores have significantly affected your course grade. Please focus on completing any available work and preparing for the remaining exams. If you would like to talk about your progress and discuss resources, please email me.
- Your current grade is below the threshold needed to pass this course. Please review the feedback on your last paper and reach out to me or the Writing Center on campus to help you on your next paper. I am happy to meet and help you develop a plan for the rest of the semester to finish strong.
- Recent grades indicate that you may not successfully complete this course without changes. Please attend class each session, complete the upcoming assignments, and make sure you're reading the required readings each week. Email me or stop by my office during office hours on Wednesday - my office is in the basement of the Student Success Center - to talk about your progress and next steps.
Friendly Tone
- I wanted to check in because your current grade is below passing after a few missed assignments and low quiz scores. There's still time to improve, so let's work together to make a plan. Email me or stop by during my office hours on Tuesday and we'll talk through strategies and options. You can do this!
- It looks like you've hit a rough patch in the course, and your current grade puts you at risk of failing. Start by catching up on those two missing assignments and make sure you turn in the next ones on time. I'm happy to help you figure out the best path forward.
- Right now, your grade is lower than it needs to be to pass the class. Focus on completing the upcoming assignments and reviewing my most recent feedback so you know where there's room for improvement. Let me know if you'd like to meet and we can make a plan together. This course is tough, but you've got this!
- I'm concerned because several recent assignments and quizzes have lowered your grade. The good news is that there are still opportunities to improve if you take action now. We drop the lowest 2 quiz scores and lowest assignment, so there's no need to panic yet. Email me if you'd like to talk about what's been going on or how to get back on track. I'm here to help!
- I want to see you finish this course successfully, but your current performance shows we need to make some changes. Attend class, complete the upcoming assignments, and ask questions when you're stuck. Let me know how I can help you move forward.
Direct Tone
- Your current grade is below passing due to missing assignments and low exam scores. Complete the missing work for half-credit and make sure you complete the remaining assignments on time to keep those points. Email me to talk about any questions or concerns you have.
- Even though your score is passing now, you are at risk of failing. Review your grades in Canvas and take a look at my feedback on your assignments. Email me or your advisor if you'd like to talk through a plan to get back on track.
- Several missing assignments have significantly impacted your grade. We only have 5 remaining assignments, so make a plan to do your best on those and get them in on time. Make sure you're completing the required readings before class and attend each of the classes to get your participation points back. Email me to get help getting caught up.
- Your recent exam and assignment scores indicate that you may not pass the course without some new strategies. Review the feedback on your work, attend the Exam Review with the Learning Center (their information is below) and attend our upcoming classes. My office hours are on Tuesday in Middlebush if you'd like to talk through some strategies.
- Your performance requires immediate attention. Prioritize completing upcoming assignments, attend class consistently, and use our class study guides and the Learning Center to get back on track. Email me to discuss next steps.
The following email is sent to students when this flag is raised. The bracketed information is updated based on the individual's information. The highlighted portion is customizable by the instructor within MU Connect when raising the flag.
Subject: You are in danger of failing [COURSE NAME]
[STUDENT FIRST NAME],
You are currently in danger of failing the course. Please review the syllabus to see the remaining points available and reach out to let me know what questions or concerns you have.
[INSTRUCTOR FIRST AND LAST NAME]
[INSTRUCTOR EMAIL]
The Mizzou community is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our students. Check out some of the well-being resources on campus, along with the Learning Center's resources, including Academic Coaching, Tiger Tutors, Exam Reviews, and more.
Your instructor raised this flag for you, and the MU Connect team values your feedback. Please take a moment to complete a short survey about your experience with this message and the Early Alert process. You'll also have the option to let the MU Connect team know if you'd like additional follow-up or support.