Quick Reference for Deans, Department Chairs, and Designated Unit Representatives

Progress Surveys are just one piece of the Academic Early Alert process. They help prompt instructors to raise alerts, but they're not the only way. Even if a course doesn’t receive a survey, instructors can log into MU Connect and raise alerts manually at any time.

Progress Survey: A Prompt for Timely Support

Instructors can raise flags, kudos, and referrals at any point in the semester through MU Connect to identify students who may benefit from support or encouragement.

Progress Surveys are one way to do this.  They serve as a timely reminder and prompt to raise alerts. These surveys are sent to instructors teaching courses on a designated list (criteria are listed below) at key points in the term. Instructors can use the survey to raise:

• Flags (concerns about attendance, performance, or engagement)

• Kudos (positive reinforcement for effort and improvement)

• Referrals (recommendations to connect with support services - Tutoring or the Writing Center)

When an alert is raised, students receive an email message directly. Advisors and support staff are able to see the alerts and may follow up with students to provide additional support.

 

Reviewing your academic unit's progress survey course list

You will review the list of courses selected for Progress Surveys each semester. Your goal is to confirm that the right courses are included and that they're set up in a way that makes the survey useful for instructors. When in doubt, include courses where instructors can make meaningful observations about student performance, attendance, or engagement.

Here's what to check:

1. Canvas course combinations drive survey setup

• MU Connect Progress Surveys are based on how courses are combined in Canvas, not myZou. That means:
  • If parent sections are set to receive the survey, all instructors assigned to the course will get the survey, and all students across child sections will be included in that one survey.
  • If the child sections receive the survey individually, each instructor gets their own survey with just the students in that section.
• Either way, both parent and child sections will appear in MU Connect using the My Students and Zoom In tabs, so instructors can raise alerts even if they don't receive a survey directly. The survey is a reminder/prompt, not a requirement for Early Alert participation.

2. Review cross-level and cross-listed courses
   • Cross-level courses (i.e. 4000/7000) may only show the undergraduate section. If undergraduate students are enrolled in the graduate level section, make sure both sections are listed in the course list.
   • Look for hidden cross-listings (i.e. cross-departments, cross-level, etc.)
   • Cross-listed courses show up under the academic unit listed in myZou. If your unit teaches a cross-listed course but doesn't own it, you may not see it listed. Please confirm that these are on the list if they should be included in the progress survey course list. 

3. Additional Considerations
   • Consider adding internships, externships, and research-based courses (individual study) which could benefit from a prompt to praise or flag students who aren't engaging in the work.

3. Consider Withdrawal
   • Select courses are included in the survey - we start with
     • Courses with 50 or more students
     • Courses with a historical 15% or higher DFW rate
   • Additional courses may be added at the discretion of unit leadership

Need to Add or Remove a Course?

Make the adjustment directly on the Excel spreadsheet and reply to the email.  Highlight any sections added.  

 

Courses Included in Progress Surveys

Progress Surveys are distributed to undergraduate courses that most benefit from timely feedback and support. By default, the following types of courses are included. Academic unit leadership can request additional courses be added each semester.

 

Key Progress Survey Dates (Fall and Spring)

• Survey Opens: Tuesday of Week 4, Tuesday of Week 8, Tuesday of Week 12 (8WK2 courses, Consider Withdrawal)

• Reminder Emails: Monday of Week 5, Monday of Week 9, Monday of Week 13 (8WK2 courses, Consider Withdrawal)

• Survey Closes: Friday of Week 5, Friday of Week 9, Friday of Week 13 (8WK2 courses, Consider Withdrawal)

 

Key Progress Survey Dates (Summer)

• Survey Opens: Tuesday of Week 2, Tuesday of Week 6 

• Reminder Emails: Monday of Week 3, Monday of Week 7

• Survey Closes: Friday of Week 3, Friday of Week 7

 

Have Questions or Need Help?

Contact Bailey Reeder or email muconnectsupport@missouri.edu.  We’re happy to talk through your course list with you.

 

Related Articles:

• Academic Early Alert Overview, Timeline, and Tips

• Flag and Kudo Comment Templates and Examples