Reflecting a trend across the nation, the Gateway Student Success Center has been exploring ways to improve student success and retention using early alert systems. For the last two years, more than 50 NAU faculty, staff and students have collaborated to design NAU’s new academic early alert/retention tool, which will pilot this fall. Grade Performance Status—known as GPS—is a one-of-a-kind, multi-tiered guidance system designed to promote students’ academic success and retention.
Beginning this semester, GPS is available in LOUIE through the Faculty Center homepage to instructors who have students in the GPS population. This population encompasses a variety of students including NAU freshmen, transfer and probation students, and students in the Multicultural Student Center, Native American Student Services and Student Support Services. Instructors should check for the GPS icon 
on their class rosters.
Updates are sent to the student directly using NAU e-mail and communicate the instructor’s assessment of a student’s progress and attendance. The student’s update e-mail contains links to NAU’s campus and online resources. Instructor communication is automatically recorded in the student’s online advising record in LOUIE, allowing advisors to conduct outreach and provide additional support.
The update periods coincide with key drop/withdrawal dates during the semester, giving students and advisers important feedback that will help students make timely decisions about their enrollment in classes that will help them protect and manage their GPA. The system includes such updates as positive feedback, attendance, grades, academics and resources.
The Gateway Student Success Center welcomes participation and feedback during this critical pilot year. For information, visit the GPS Faculty page and the GPS Student page.