Faculty Feedback - Office of Student Success

Faculty Feedback is Oakland University's Early Alert system used as a communication tool for faculty to let undergraduate students know if faculty are concerned about academic progress.

The Faculty Feedback system is

opened for the first six weeks of both the Fall and Winter semesters;
is only required for the 000 - 2000 level undergraduate courses;
an opportunity for faculty to share with their students any academic concerns early in the semester;
an opportunity for students to take action on the steps noted in the email received and make academic progress in the course.

For Students

Listed below are the action steps that a student may receive from the Faculty Feedback program. Students are encouraged to follow up on these action steps to enhance their academic success for the course feedback was submitted.

Students with any additional questions about the email received are encouraged to contact their Academic Adviser.

Please see me

Your professor is interested in helping you get back on track in the course. Office hours (listed on the course syllabus) are a great way to connect with your professor one-on-one. Plan for the meeting by preparing questions and bringing your course material.

Attend class regularly

Some classes track attendance and assign points for class participation--don't miss out on these points that go toward your course grade!

Regularly attending class is one of the best indicators of success in a course. If you’re having difficulty attending class, it might be time to assess where your time, energy and attention go. Utilize online resources to get started.

If you thought you dropped the course, be sure to check on MySail to verify your schedule.

Utilize free tutoring

There are several avenues for academic assistance: peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, Academic Peer Mentors, and writing consultants. View the general tutoring schedule here. View these tutoring tips to make the most of your session.

Learn more about APMs! Academic Peer Mentors (APMs) serve as tutors several nights a week during “Tutor Nights", in the residence halls. Any registered OU student is welcome!

Schedule a writing consultant appointment online here. Writing consultants are available by appointment to students needing assistance at any stage of the writing process or with writing assignments. They help students explore ideas, revise drafts and develop the skills necessary to become competent writers.

Meet deadlines/ be prepared for class

Course syllabi outline homework and readings necessary to master course material. By completing these ahead of the class sessions, you will be ready to engage in class discussions and ask insightful questions. You will learn the material over time, allowing you to be more successful in retaining the information.

You can also set up an appointment to talk with your Academic Adviser about an academic success plan or the Academic Coach for strategies to help boost your success in the classroom.

To drop a course or not

Considering dropping, withdrawing from or repeating a class? Understand your options and make an informed decision.

If you have an unexpected emergency or catastrophic situation, consult with your Academic Adviser right away.

For Faculty

Faculty want to see students succeed in their classroom. When a faculty member uses the Faculty Feedback system early enough in a semester, this empowers students to take action for their academic success.

Faculty with any additional questions about the Faculty Feedback system are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Success.

Are there instructions on how to use the Faculty Feedback system?

Yes, the Faculty Feedback presentation has more details on how to best use the system. Once in the Faculty Feedback system, faculty are encouraged to select the issue of highest concern for the student as this will then deploy intentional resources for the student. There are four issues for faculty to select:

Other: meet with me
Not attending/missed classes
Struggling academically
Time management

When can Faculty Feedback be used in Fall and Winter Semesters?

The system opens on the first day of classes for both Fall and Winter semesters and closes at the end of the sixth week. Faculty teaching courses up to the 2000 level, are required to provide an early alert to students in their classes who may be falling behind in a course through the Faculty Feedback system in SAIL.

How will faculty know if their Faculty Feedback was sent?

Faculty will receive a summary email 24-48 hours after submitting Faculty Feedback. Faculty are encouraged to save the email, studentsuccess@oakland.edu, to their address list to ensure they receive their Faculty Feedback summary.

Should faculty enter in grades?

No, grades should not be entered for the Faculty Feedback system as students will not receive feedback.

Can faculty use Faculty Feedback more than once during the six weeks that the system is open?

The Faculty Feedback system in SAIL can be used as often as a faculty member wants to submit feedback to students within the first six weeks of the semester. However, it is important that any original feedback be left in the system and not unchecked. For example, if a faculty wants to submit another feedback to a student in their class, to not uncheck any original items checked when entering new feedback.

What can faculty do after Faculty Feedback closes and for Summer?

After the system closes or if it is the Summer semester, faculty are encouraged to reach out to their students about academic concerns through Moodle, meet with the student(s) before or after class, or email the student to set up a meeting during the faculty office hours.