Purchase College employs multiple resources, offices, and departments to support the academic success and well-being of our students. Starfish flags have replaced student alerts and mid-term academic warnings to allow students, faculty, and support staff to streamline communications to support student success.
Please note that Starfish is not for emergencies or mental/behavioral health crises in which a student is believed to be at imminent risk of physical self-harm or harm to others.Contact UPD at 914-251-6911 or the Counseling and Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) at 914-251-6390 for emergent matters.
Confidential Flags
These flags cannot be seen by students; flag raiser only notified if outreach completed:
Raise if concerned about student’s mental or emotional health, including depression and severe anxiety. If you believe the student may imminently harm themselves or others, call UPD immediately at 914-251-6911 instead
Flag reviewed by Counseling and Behavioral Health Services; outreach conducted to student
Confidential flag: CBHS will not notify flag raiser about outcome of outreach, but will close flag when outreach completed
Raise if a student interferes with the orderly functioning of a classroom or office, the instructor’s ability to teach, the safety or welfare of others, or other violations of college policies. If you believe the student may imminently harm themselves or others, call UPD immediately at 914-251-6911 instead of raising a flag.
The flag will be reviewed by Health Services and appropriate outreach will be conducted
Confidential flag: Health Services will not notify flag raiser about outcome of outreach, but will close flag when outreach completed
Non-confidential Outreach Flag
This flag cannot be seen by students; flag raiser will be notified of outcome of outreach:
Raise when you observe a sudden unexpected change in a student’s attendance or academic performance that causes concern.
This flag does not go to the student
Goes to the student’s advisor, EOP or ACE counselor if applicable, coaches, and the Advising Center.
The director of the Advising Center will review the flag; support and resources will be offered to the student as appropriate
Student Notification Flags
These flags notify students that an action is recommended on their part:
Use to indicate that a student has never attended your class since the start of the semester
Goes to student, assigned faculty/staff advisor, EOP/MAP counselor, athletics
An automatic email is sent on behalf of the instructor to the student including all faculty comments along with recommendations for how to resolve the issue (e.g. consult Registrar, Advising Center, etc.)
Student is expected to follow up to ensure they withdraw from class if appropriate
The Advising Center follows up with a student who has two or more of these flags to check in with them and assist them if necessary
Use when a student has stopped attending class regularly and has not been in communication
Goes to student, assigned faculty/staff advisor, EOP/MAP counselor, athletics
An automatic email is sent on behalf of the instructor to the student including all faculty comments along with recommendations for how to resolve the issue (e.g. get in touch with faculty, go to the Learning Center, etc.)
Student is expected to address the issue
Use when a student is struggling academically, but there is chance that they could still pass the course if they attend tutoring or get other necessary support
Goes to student, assigned faculty/staff advisor, EOP/MAP counselor, athletics
An automatic email is sent on behalf of the instructor to the student including all faculty comments along with recommendations for how to resolve the issue
Student is expected to address the issue (Recommended: refer student to the Learning Center or Einstein Corner)
Use when a student is in danger of failing based on any combination of grades, class participation, or attendance
An automatic email as well as a text message is sent on behalf of the instructor to the student including all faculty comments along with recommendations for how to resolve the issue (e.g. withdraw if prior to course withdrawal deadline)
Student is expected to address the issue and should consider seeking tutoring or withdrawing from the course (Recommended: refer student to the Learning Center or Einstein Corner)
An automatic email as well as a text message is sent on behalf of the instructor to the student including all faculty comments along with instructions on how to withdraw from a class
