Starfish for Students

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FAQs

  • What does it mean if I get an email from Starfish?

    Starfish communications fall into three categories – flags, to-dos, referrals, and kudos – and all are designed to support and help students succeed academically. Instructors and advisors can use Starfish as another point of contact to help keep you on track and encourage improvement.

    Do not ignore emails from Starfish as they might be alerting you of missing assignments or attendance concerns (a FLAG), requesting you -the student- to complete a specific action (a TO-DO), recommending important support like success coaching or career services (a REFERRAL), or giving you a needed boost to carry on (a KUDOS).

    If you receive an email from the MU Starfish team, be sure to follow up with your instructor or a support office as encouraged in the message. Offices may also will reach out to you directly as explained in the email.

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  • When I receive an email from Starfish, how should I prioritize follow up on raised academic alerts from progress surveys or individual alerts about my course performance?

    Academic alerts fall into three classifications – those that are urgent, those that recommend action, and those that are informational. Urgent flags (Attendance No Shows, Attendance – Stopped Attending, and In Danger of Failing the Course) are time-sensitive and prompt your immediate follow up.  The Registrar’s Office completes the follow up on attendance flags and it is important that you respond to their outreach. Urgent attendance flags can lead to administrative drops from courses or Z grades.  Advisors are also tagged on these urgent alerts and can provide additional support (for example, if you want to drop a course).   

    Action flags and To-Dos denote an action to be taken – contacting an office to which you are referred or responding to outreach from one of those offices, such as the Office of Mentorship.  

    Informational alerts are “FYI’s” or lower-level concerns that alert you of missed work, class tardiness, etc. You should circle back with your instructor for any questions on these alerts. Kudos, such as “Keep up the Good Work”, are also informational.

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  • I used to see a flag and now I do not. What happened?

    You may notice that some of your urgent or action alerts are being resolved by an academic support office, your instructors, or your advisors while your informational alerts may remain open during the semester.  All alerts will be automatically cleared by Starfish at the end of each semester. You will still be able to see these alerts as “resolved” alerts in your Tracking Tab or on your Dashboard (your Starfish Homepage).  

    You should always consider discussing any alerts received during your advising sessions with your academic advisor.

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  • Why should I use the “Request Help” feature?

    Millersville promotes a proactive culture of student success.  We want students to reach out and make connections and be empowered to seek the information they need. Everyone learns differently and requires different levels of support. Requesting help allows you to build relationships with the offices and services that you need for academic success, career planning, and other related questions.

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  • What is the “Tell Us About Yourself” feature?

    Reflecting our EPPIIC values, Millersville believes in cultivating meaningful relationships. We want to get to know you! Upon your initial welcome to Starfish, you will be asked to complete a small survey to help your advisor get to know you. This allows your advisor to begin thinking about the best ways to support you.

    Also, do not forget to check out your advisor’s profile! Their biography is a great way to get to know them too.

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  • What if I do not see anyone listed in My Success Network?

    Your specific advisors or counselors might not be assigned yet. Check back later or contact your institution’s help desk for additional assistance.

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  • What if I click the Starfish link and get a “You do not have access” message?

    Contact your institution’s help desk for assistance with accessing the Starfish system.

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  • What if I need more help?

    For technical issues, contact the Help Desk at help@millersville.edu. For questions regarding a flag, please contact your instructor or advisor.  For general Starfish questions, contact William Benton at 717-871-4452, McNairy Library room 203, or William.Benton@Millersville.edu.

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