‘Proactive over reactive’: Claflin’s new grade-monitoring system

Dr. Michelle Mayo, provost and vice president for academic affairs. (Panther photo by Tahje Prioleau)

Claflin University has introduced a new academic monitoring system that requires faculty to submit grades throughout the semester, providing students with more frequent updates on their academic progress.

The initiative requires faculty to provide a snapshot of students’ academic standing at four, eight, and 12 weeks through the Jenzabar portal. The system, managed in collaboration with the Office of the Registrar, allows both faculty and staff to track students’ attendance and academic performance.

Dr. Michelle Mayo, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the goal is to conduct regular check-ins with students to identify academic concerns earlier.

“We want to be able to be more proactive than reactive for students,” she said.

The portal also helps ensure students meet financial aid requirements by identifying those who are not attending classes regularly. Mayo explained that when students are earning D’s or F’s, faculty and staff can check in and connect them with resources to improve their performance.

“If we’re providing you with the resources and getting you connected. We’re going to do what we can on our end, then the student will have to do what they can on their end,” she said.

Mayo emphasized that the new monitoring system is separate from the Early Alert Program, which allows faculty and staff to refer students facing academic challenges.

“Early Alert has to be generated by a faculty or staff member where they see something happening, and then it goes to the student success coaches,” she said.

While the new academic monitoring system is designed to help students stay on track this semester, Mayo said more initiatives are in the works to support student success.

“We’re developing another initiative centered on student success,” Mayo said. “It will allow us to gauge what students need, similar to the ‘vibe checks’ student success coaches already conduct, but with real-time feedback from students — sometimes as simple as a text message.”

In addition to providing more personalized support, Claflin is exploring new and innovative degree programs, including integrating aspects of artificial intelligence into the curriculum.

“Our goal is for students to leave here knowing how to apply AI in their work, making them more marketable in the workforce,” Mayo said.