GradesFirst: Comprehensive Student Support System

Student-Athlete Academic Services’ Experiences with the Program

Background: Why SAAS?NCAA Eligibility Rules

SAAS monitors academic progress/success of each SA

SAAS developed many support programsTutorial, Study Groups, Peer Mentoring,

Mandatory Advising, Orientations, Etc.SAAS begins looking for ways to manage it all

Discussions with colleagues at other institutionsGradesFirst

SAAS using GradesFirst as Pilot Program for UHM

GradesFirst: What is it?Web-BasedEarly Alert system to help identify and

support at-risk studentsStudents, advisors, faculty, and other support

staff can monitor the academic progress of students (links them all together)

Provides a good forum for communication and feedback

GradesFirst: How do we use it?Progress ReportsCoordinating Tutorial ServicesOrganizing group activities (advising,

study groups, seminars, etc.)Communicating with studentsMonitoring student trafficTime Management (Calendar)Search Functions/Generating Reports

GradesFirst: Potential benefits for others

Progress ReportsStudents can be referred to services

across campusAdvising ManagementKiosksEmail/Text RemindersFacebook Integration

GradesFirst: Challenges

Setting up user roles (Permissions)Breaking old habits (Growing Pains)Using GradesFirst to its full capabilityWill be tricky to implement across many

departmentsMany different places to log in

MyUH, Laulima, Gmail, etc.

Questions?