We want to be proactive in connecting students to key people and resources when academic concerns are present. Early Alerts help to identify students who may need additional support. Early Alerts are submitted for course-specific concerns to alert the student, their advisor, and the Assistant Dean of the Academic Success and Writing Center that there is concern. 

HOW TO SUBMIT AN EARLY ALERT - Step-by-step instructions and screenshots for how to submit an Early Alert

Alerts are not meant to be punitive, but rather, they are intended to help a student to get back on track in a course or make an informed and timely decision about withdrawing from the course.

Please note this process is replacing the previous Section 3/Academic Performance Concern process for undergraduate students.

When professors observe one or more of the following behaviors, they can submit an Early Alert through Compass at go.lehigh.edu/CompassAdmin (instructions for submitting an Early Alert). Please be sure to include the course for which the Early Alert is being submitted.

  • Excessive Absences
  • Missed Assignments
  • Missed Exams
  • Consistently Low Scores and Performance
  • Low Performance - Course Withdrawal Recommended
  • Classroom Behavioral Concerns
  • Requesting Administrative Withdrawal

Please review this spreadsheet to learn more about the alert-specific follow up that occurs.

Each Early Alert creates a “case” in Compass that copies the academic advisor to the alert (with the exception of the “Classroom Behavioral Concerns” and “Requesting Administrative Withdrawal” alerts). A case allows the academic advisor and the Assistant Dean of the Academic Success and Writing Center to track their outreach and interactions with the student.

Cases are considered closed when the student takes action and/or there is resolution. The advisor and Assistant Dean of the Academic Success and Writing Center can close the case.

Professors can request that a student be administratively withdrawn from a class to prevent a failing grade if the following requirements are satisfied:

  • At least one (1) prior Early Alert was submitted at least a week prior
  • The student did not take action
  • It is before the withdrawal deadline