Many LMC students will soon be getting feedback from their professors in a new way, courtesy of LMC Connect, powered by Starfish. Educators will be mailed a survey at the end of the sixth week of the semester, and in their completion of it will award students “kudos,” commendations based on academic performance, or “red flags,” notifications that students aren’t performing at the level the course requires.

The program is being implemented campus-wide and educators are strongly encouraged to utilize it to communicate with their students on another level in the hopes that it will push students to either find the help they need or recognize their own achievements.

The program and its implementation is being spearheaded by Interim Program Coordinator Phoebe Keesay and Student Success and Retention Program Manager Carla Rosas.  

“It’s not just a tech platform, it’s a shift in intention,” said Keesay. “That one-on-one connection with a student is super valuable.”

This connectivity promises to be one of LMC Connect’s premiere features. Students often feel lost in larger classes, and the more personal connection the service provides, promises to work to make students feel less like faces in the crowd.

Rosas explained how students can sometimes be reluctant to communicate with counselors.

“How can we have a better idea what is happening in the classroom?” Rosas asked before continuing on, “Our students aren’t telling us everything.”

Rosas explained that students will often say they are ‘fine’ long past the point where they aren’t doing well. The flag system will allow counselors to more easily check in on students and get a more well-rounded picture of the student’s success or struggles.

Counselor Faith Watkins was excited about the prospect of giving students structured positive reinforcement.

“Everyone likes to hear that they are doing a good job,” said Watkins, explaining that oftentimes students lack this sort of positive reinforcement at home and can benefit greatly from its introduction at school.

Nina Ghiselli, who is also a counselor, was similarly excited for the program’s implementation.

“This will be a good way to communicate with instructors and students,” said Ghiselli, who described the program as one more way to ensure proper channels exist between students, professors and counselors.