HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR CAMPUS SAP PROGRAM?
Student Assistance Programs are necessary and provide needed resources for students on campus. We asked three questions to help start a discussion on more effective SAP initiatives on campus. This information was based on collected campus data and our research.
How are Student Assistance Programs generally used on campuses?
What’s the effectiveness of the current model?
Where does Flagship come in to bend the SAP gap?
How are Student Assistance Programs administered on campus?
There are two general approaches (there may be mixed programs, but two major paths) to SAP on campus:
Campus based SAP programs
Includes wellness, clinical and administrative staff to support the students for a wide range of services (stress, academic assistance, retention, aggressiveness, alcohol, etc).
Outsourced SAP programs
The campus will bid out services to providers and select a clinical group that will handle all aspects of service starting with the initial call to the referral.
How effective are the current SAP models?
Campus based SAP Programs
Staff are available on campus to provide direct services
Familiarity with students and staff
Access to additional support resources through the campus
Centralized location for aggregated data
Cost/benefit to manage all FTEs on campus. Considering the online and post graduate students returning back to campus. The true cost of service is not realized and high.
General data not available to campus when student engages with clinical staff (data protected by privacy laws)
Staff are generally servicing students and not shaping best practices related to administrative policies
Research is based on snapshot data and correlations are non-existent
Assumption that since actual utilization is low, the campus overall wellness is high
Most SAP plans on campus react to instances. As an incident occurs, a responsive action is implemented. The cost to look at aggregated data to drive preventative policies is high and the tools are not available in a live environment.
Outsourced SAP programs
Advantages:
Campus can source out ALL functions of the student assistance component of service. The clinical partner (hospital or local provider) handles the call and referrals.
Cost to campus is cheaper than using a full staff on campus.
Assumption that outsourcing the service reduces the liability to campus. All students are directed to an 800# immediately for service. The number is available on the website, print material, ID cards, etc.
The provider handles referrals and may give raw stats on number of calls, summarized utilization back to the campus weekly or by semester for reporting.
Cost for all FTEs on campus exists whether the campus uses the service or not. Use beyond a certain amount costs the campus more per FTE (Over utilization) or fee for service.
The provider creates a cost structure based on ‘anticipated use’ by students.
When students call into a center for any number of issues and a referral is made, the campus will NOT receive any details on that information (privacy protections). The campus is notified that a call made and referral for the student scheduled.
Provider has no preventative re-engagement with the student on campus
Provider can’t validate if caller is an actual student
Provider sells low utilization as effectiveness of the program.Â
Where does Flagship come in to bend the SAP curve?
Green Chalk Flagship SAP allows wellness staff on campus to manage all aspects of your program and outsource the clinical services with our network of providers.
Here’s how Flagship SAP is different:
All faculty and staff on campus can submit live reports using our 5 levels
Triggers are sent to the appropriate staff for intervention. For example, a scheduling conflict with access to the library is directed to the advisor and library staff for conflict resolution. The intervention is also recorded with the report.
Cost: Levels 1-4 cost the campus $0. Level 5 (most severe) actions refer to our network providers and that’s similar to the current process.
Cover not only your FTEs, but also your alumni as well. The cost is the same.
Our Flagship SAP eServices allow scheduled follow-ups with students
Aggregated data: Our levels 1-4 data streams are shared with campus wellness and reported up to administration.
Data is correlated to retention and academic performance.
All students are verified when referred for level 5 intervention (most severe or repeated level 4s).
Flagship SAP software promotes 100% utilization.
Reporting data is available to key staff. For example:
If campus administration asks how an alcohol policy effects after game activities on campus, you can provide that data in real-time along with historical comparisons.
How many dormitory alcohol related fights occurred over the last 2 academic years?
Whether you have an internal campus SAP or outsource the services, the access to shape the policy through student data is the key to building a healthier campus.
