Jesse Poole

IRB Narrative
D. Purpose and Design:
Purpose: Describe the purpose of the study.
The purpose of this study is to gain access to archival data in order to evaluate and measure the
effectiveness of a web-based early alert and intervention program designed to increase student
success and retention in a post-secondary education environment. Optimistically, research in this
study will contribute to a variety of communities that include: education, student success,
retention, and academic advising.
Design: Describe the research design and procedures. Clearly specify what the participants will
do.
Western Oregon University has purchased a web-based early alert and intervention program that
is designed to allow faculty or staff the ability to electronically refer students they believe are at-
risk of failing or attrition. The electronic referrals are sent to the student success specialist,
located in the Academic Advising and Learning Center.

Methodology:
After receiving the electronic referral by the faculty or staff member, the student success
specialist will attempt to contact the student via telephone and email to schedule an advising
appointment to address the academic concern; however, specifics regarding the meeting will not
be quantified or measured as part of this study. The advising session will merely be mentioned
in the writings as part of the intervention process associated with a WCS referral.

The principle researcher in this study will gather archival data on students that have been
referred using WCS. Specifically, academic standing for each participant from the Winter 2013,
Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Winter 2014, and Spring 2014 terms.
The information across the different terms will be analyzed to potentially identify patterns and
trends, in addition to measuring student success.
E. Data Collection
#2 The identity of student participants will be kept confidential in accordance with
university policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) dictating who can
access a students academic standing record; however, the manner in which the principal
researcher will be quantifying the data will be kept in a secure digital environment protected by a
password and accessible to only the primary researcher.
F. Description of Participants
#2 Students will be referred by faculty or staff using the web-based early alert and
intervention program, called the Wolf Connection System (WCS).


Jesse Poole
IRB Narrative
H. Risks and Benefits:
#1 Research involving human participants always carries some level of risk associated with
the unintentional identification of a particular participant or participants. Extensive measures
will be taken to ensure as much anonymity as possible; however, some level of risk still exits.
Specifically, digital hacking vulnerabilities are a continuous concern throughout the information
system community. While it is possible for such a security breach to occur, it is not plausible.
In addition to digital security concerns, it is not possible to prevent the students from disclosing
their own participation as a referred student.
Finally, the potential exists for a faculty member to disclose which students they referred to an
unauthorized person, or individual that does not have an academic need to know; however,
faculty undergo annual training regarding FERPA regulations, university policy regarding
student privacy, and potential university and legal ramifications related to such a breach.
Securing of Information:
Information regarding the specific identification of each participant, and their academic standing,
will be stored on a secure network server requiring a username and password and/or a locked
cabinet accessible only by the primary researcher.
#2 In the event that a students identity is revealed, a written letter will be sent to the
participant informing them of the disclosure. The letter will provide information regarding how
to contact the primary researcher if the participant has any concerns.
#4 Research in this study may contribute to a variety of communities that include: education,
student success, retention, and academic advising. Additionally, little research exists regarding
the effectiveness of early alert and intervention programs in higher education. Findings in this
study may not only provide insight into best practices in the area of early alert, but support or
contend the ideological perspective associated with such a personal approach to student success.