UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Starfish midsemester progress surveys are open now until Oct. 22. Over this period, instructors and teaching assistants formally listed as instructors of record in LionPATH will receive emails prompting them to complete progress surveys for their full-semester undergraduate courses, numbered 499 and below.
Progress surveys can be completed by clicking the survey link either in the emails or under “Outstanding Surveys” in the Starfish dashboard, checking boxes with feedback options for each student and, if desired, providing written feedback. Instructors can raise a flag, give kudos or recommend a student “to-do.”
During the Starfish early indicators progress survey, which closed on Sept. 17, instructors and teaching assistants created 6,911 flags, 16,126 to-dos, and 119,609 kudos for 57,890 students in 7,330 course sections.
Although thoughtfully assessing and sharing students’ course progress takes time, Starfish progress surveys remain one of the most efficient methods of getting everyone on the same page by communicating kudos and concerns to the student, their academic adviser and others available to support them. Progress surveys are also timed to coincide with critical moments in the academic calendar so that students are empowered to make informed decisions about their learning strategies and course enrollment.
In addition to progress surveys, instructors and teaching assistants have other options for sharing student progress in Starfish, even outside of survey periods. These options may be better for those needing to share progress only for select students or for a large class already using Canvas Grade. Instructors and teaching assistants who have concerns about religious observances coinciding with the survey period are encouraged to speak with the lead instructor or their academic unit head about using one of these alternatives.
How academic advisers and others respond to progress surveys
The network of support activated by progress surveys in Starfish includes academic advisers, who are asked to follow up on instructors’ concerns and requests for adviser assistance by reaching out to students and closing the loop on flags and to-dos. The Starfish Success Network also extends beyond advisers. A range of other Penn State roles and services has access to progress survey information and uses it to provide more proactive outreach and personal and informed support to students.
How students can respond to flags and to-dos
Students should contact their instructor or academic adviser if they receive a flag or to-do and need help in improving their coursework. They also can seek tutoring or use resources and services suggested in progress survey emails such as learning support, disability services, basic needs support or personal support through University Health Services or Counseling and Psychological Services. The Division of Undergraduate Studies released a video tutorial for students on how to find Penn State support services, as well as how to use the Starfish dashboard and profile.
It is always important for students to track their own progress in a course. The absence of progress survey data should not be interpreted as the absence of concern or need for change.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is the second largest unit of enrollment at Penn State and leads academic advising across the University. It is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education.