Early Alert & Thrive Information for Employees

The Early Alert & Thrive program connects students with resources and supports they need. This program simplifies the referral process, making it easier for faculty and staff to connect students to campus services. Additionally, it aids faculty in assisting students to develop the necessary learning and personal skills to excel in their academic pursuits.

"Early support" programs have become a best practice in many colleges and universities across Canada and the US. Several other Canadian institutions, such as UBC, Ryerson University, Mount Royal University, and the University of Calgary, also implement early support and early alert programs.

The creation of an early support system was a priority outlined in CNC's Institutional Health & Wellness Strategy. CNC's Early Alert & Thrive program is a custom system developed by CNC Student Services, an "Early Support Committee," and an "Early Alert Committee." These groups consist of staff, faculty, Students' Union representatives, and educational administrators who tailored the program to fit the CNC context.

The Process

Before referring a student, if possible, have a conversation with them about the referral beforehand. See below for information on how to talk to students about Early Alert & Thrive.

Step 1: Refer a Student

Students can be referred by CNC employees, faculty members, Student Union representatives, or campus housing advisors. Log in to CNC Connect or fill out the Manual Referral Form to refer a student.

Step 2: Referral Reviewed

The referral is reviewed by a staff member in the identified service area.

Step 3: Services Offered

A CNC staff member assists the student to book an appointment with the service area that best fits their needs.

Step 4: Appointment is Booked

If the student confirms they would like to access services, the staff member who contacted them helps them book appointment(s) with the service area they both feel will best fit the student’s needs.

Step 5: Student works with resources on their goals

The student works with campus or community resources toward their goals.

How to Talk to Students about the Early Alert & Thrive Program

Before you refer a student, if possible, have a conversation with the student about the referral beforehand. It’s helpful to emphasize to the student that they’re not in trouble but that Early Alert & Thrive is an additional resource on campus to connect them with services to support them with their academic and personal goals. Students often appreciate knowing you are concerned for their well-being and about getting them connected with supports.

If you want to share information about the program with your students, feel free to use the paragraph below:

"Throughout the school year, unexpected challenges and difficulties may arise in various aspects of life—be it at home, work, or school—that can impact your studies. It's essential to remember that life happens! In such cases, I (or other CNC staff) may refer you to Early Alert & Thrive, a voluntary program designed to connect you with campus services and resources. These supports are aimed at helping you succeed personally and academically while also developing valuable skills that extend beyond your post-secondary journey."

Check out our guide on how to have a supportive conversation with a student.

Signs of a Student in Distress

Academic

Decline in quality of work and grades
Repeated absences
Disorganized performance
Multiple requests for extensions
Avoidance of participation
Overly demanding of faculty and staff time and attention
Personal rather than academic issues dominate office hours
Unusual or out of character content in writings or presentations

Physical

Reports nausea or headaches
Problems with excessive eating or restrictive eating
Engages in excessive exercise
Listlessness or falling asleep in class, signs of fatigue or sleep disturbance
Marked changes in physical appearance including deterioration in hygiene, weight loss/gain
Disoriented or appearing “out of it”
Signs of substance use (memory problems, slurred speech, drowsiness,
confusion, lack of coordination)

Behavioural

Binge eating or restrictive eating
Excessive exercise
Changes in relationships or social behaviour (withdrawal, isolation, or
dependency)
Irritability or unusual apathy
Unusual behaviour (unexplained crying or excessive teariness, panic reactions, laughing to self, rapid speech, disorganized thinking, suspiciousness)
Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
Self-disclosures of personal stress such as family problems, financial
difficulties, contemplating suicide, grief

Safety

Unprovoked anger or hostility
Verbal abuse
Physical violence
Implying or making a threat to harm themselves or others
Stalking or harassment
Communicating threats via e-mail, texting, or phone calls
Expressions of concern about the student by peers
Academic assignments are dominated by themes of extreme hopelessness, rage, worthlessness, isolation, despair, violent behaviours, or suicidal ideation

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Thrive FAQ

Will Early Alert & Thrive program information show up on a student’s transcript or academic record?

Information about Early Alert & Thrive program outreach is confidential and only accessed by members of the Early Alert & Thrive team. It is stored separately from a student’s academic records and will never become part of a transcript or general academic record.
Do students have to participate in the Early Alert & Thrive program?

The Early Alert & Thrive program is voluntary, and students can choose whether or not they want to access supports. They can book an appointment, decline the support, or simply ignore phone calls/emails.
How does this program benefit faculty and staff?

It helps streamline the referral process by reducing the need for faculty and staff to keep track of every service and support available to students, and connects students directly with supports offered on campus.
It also helps support faculty by helping students develop the learning and personal skills needed to tackle academic content.
If I submit a referral, is the student notified?

Yes. After a referral is received by the service areas you have referred the student to, staff reach out directly to the student about the referral and to offer services. We encourage faculty and staff to have a conversation with the student about the referral beforehand, although we recognize that is not always possible.
The student is not provided with the referral form, but it is possible they may request a copy of their referral through the Freedom of Information Act.
How can I access the Early Alert & Thrive program?

The referral form is available here in CNC Connect.
Contact thrive@cnc.bc.ca with any questions about how to submit a referral or about the Early Alert & Thrive program.
Do other post-secondary institutions have similar programs?

Early alert/early support programs have become best practice at many colleges and universities in Canada and the US. Other Canadian Institutions that use an early alert/support program include UBC, Ryerson University, Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary, and many more.
The development of an early support system is a priority that was included in CNC’s Institutional Health & Wellness Strategy. CNC’s Early Alert & Thrive program is a custom system developed by CNC Student Services, an “Early Support Committee”, and an “Early Alert Committee” comprised of staff, faculty, and educational administrators to fit the CNC context.

Refer a Student More

Contact Us

thrive@cnc.bc.ca

Areas of Study

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