Dr. Clayton Railey III talks about the new advising program called GradesFirst and how it is a better means for communication between students and faculty.
Along with Dr. Railey’s many goals here at Bucks, advising has always been a top priority, so it’s no surprise that a new communications tool has been implemented.
After clarifying a legal standing with the Federal Communications Commission, Bucks now introduces GradesFirst as a new way in which students and professors can communicate via text in order to remind students when it is time to meet with advisors.
Railey said, “It is primarily a means for communication between the advisor and the advisee. Faculty members can text or email the students in order to make advising appointments.”
The goal behind this new invention is better communication and immediate connection with students.
In today’s society, the digital age has drastically taken over the ways in which people communicates. With the invention of cellphones and smartphones, most people prefer texting and email over phone calls.
However, not all students check their email on a regular basis. Railey said, “A lot of students say they don’t check their email, but they are always checking their text messages.”
Ergo, GradesFirst.
Incidentally, GradesFirst is also a means for scheduling appointments, rather than just a reminder for students that it’s time to meet and pick classes for the upcoming semester.
“Faculty can put in the calendar their availability, in which students can then sign up for a convenient time,” said Railey.
Along with planning student’s future academic semesters, GradesFirst can also help with student’s successfully finishing current semesters.
With the invention of GradesFirst, advisors can now see midterm and final grades in all courses a student is currently taking.
“I find this to be a phenomenal function because it helps to better the conversation, especially for those who are struggling in courses,” said Railey.
The program was launched Fall of 2015 as a test and will be utilized this spring pending faculty training.
Railey said, “160 faculty members were trained in the program this spring, and by next fall everybody will be using GradesFirst.”
Whether this new program will cost students anything, Railey said, “I hope not,” as it all depends on students’ cell phone plans; though students do have the choice to opt out of texting and strictly rely on email.
Moreover, the program will be integrated with a new product that will launch this fall called Navigate.
“It will start with new students coming in July, and continue on with those starting in the Fall of 2016,” said Railey.
He said, “The student planning module will go away and all students will use Navigate as the new tool for academic planning.”
The link for GradesFirst is found on the portal as an icon bringing those directly to the webpage, and, a single sign on will be adopted.
The single sign on has already been embraced, though a few kinks still need to be worked out. Railey jokes, “It’s a single sign on again, and again, and again.”