Early Assist

Early Assist is a university-wide service offered at Memorial University that supports students across all campuses and degree levels. By identifying academic or personal challenges and connecting students with relevant resources at the right time, the program promotes student success and well-being.

Who can submit an early assist referral?

All instructional staff (including faculty members, per course instructors, and graduate supervisors) can submit an Early Assist referral form.

When is a referral form appropriate?

University students face significant challenges, and sometimes those challenges may affect their academic performance through no fault of their own. Early Assist ensures the students do not have to face those challenges alone. It is not designed to be in any way punitive, and does not inform academic or financial decisions. 

If as a course instructor or graduate supervisor you have noticed a student has been struggling and made attempts to connect with them with limited success, then it may be appropriate to submit an Early Alert referral form. Examples to consider are as follows:

  • A student’s attendance in class has become sporadic or they stop attending altogether
  • A student has missed important or numerous evaluations without notifying you
  • A student has disclosed challenges they are struggling to manage on their own
  • You have noticed a significant decrease in academic performance
  • You have heard of significant challenges (e.g., financial, personal, etc.) the student is facing

Please note that Early Assist is not an emergency service. For emergency assistance, please contact Campus Enforcement and Patrol in St. John’s Campus, Marine Institute or Grenfell Campus.

How it works 

Once a course instructor or supervisor submits a referral form, it will be reviewed by the advising or student services team at appropriate campus (or by the School of Graduate Studies in the case of graduate students). The student will receive within one business day a personalized email offering support, and depending on the circumstances and the student’s wishes other service units may be engaged to provide the best possible help (including counseling services, accessibility services, financial aid, or career services). Students can choose to accept or decline the support that is offered to them.

Submit an Early Assist

To best support student learning and achievement, Memorial University uses an early assist system by which university employees (faculty and staff) reach out and offer support when they notice students may be in difficult situations. Therefore, some of the personal information collected on this form may be used to facilitate the early assist system if deemed necessary and in the best interest of the student. This is not meant to be disciplinary or punitive. Instead, it is meant to ultimately connect students with resources and support they might need in a timely manner to ensure they achieve their goals. In doing so, university employees may share some student personal information with central support units to advise students accordingly. Your personal information will not be shared with any unit not deemed necessary to facilitate the early assist system and the personal information shared will be limited to the minimum amount necessary to support the student. This use of personal information is authorized by the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. If you have further questions about early assist, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@mun.ca. If you do not wish for your personal information to be used for the purposes of the early assist programs, please contact registrar@mun.ca.