As instructors we often go out of our way to make sure those students who are struggling are getting the help that they need. One tool that the U of A has is UASuccess. UASuccess “allows faculty, staff, and students to connect to people and services that will better help our students to reach their academic goals.” Faculty can set office hours, send messages, communicate with students when they are struggling in a class, and also provide positive reinforcement when they are doing well.
Lauren Sabon, a clinical assistant professor in the Sociology and Criminology department, uses UASuccess to send “kudos” to students when they are doing well. Dr. Sabon often sends these to students who have shown improvement from one exam to another, have brought their grades up, have consistently done well on assignments, and to show students that she cares. It is often easy to forget to celebrate those students who excel, but Sabon has found a quick, easy, and efficient way to do so!
Interested in giving Kudos? You can also raise flags in the same way if you are worried about the progress of a student.
The response from students of often very positive!
For more information, email Lauren Sabon at copley@uark.edu
This content was developed from a presentation by Lauren Sabon at the summer Teaching Camp which was sponsored by the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center.