In this episode of Ed Tech Hour, Samantha Tackett discusses her experience in educational psychology and leadership of the Proactive Referral and Engagement (PRE) Program at Florida State University, which was designed to identify and support students experiencing academic or personal challenges before they disengage. She explains how a campus-wide referral system empowers faculty, staff, and peer leaders to flag concerns early, while integrated technology embedded directly into the learning management system enables timely, automated referrals and coordinated outreach.
Tackett emphasizes that the program’s success lies in its friendly, nonjudgmental communication style, growth-mindset messaging, and reliance on trained peer tutors and mentors who normalize help-seeking. By serving as a centralized connector to tutoring, advising, mental health, and basic needs resources, the PRE Program reduces barriers to support and improves student persistence and academic success. Tackett highlights measurable outcomes, including increased engagement rates and record-high retention and graduation rates, demonstrating how proactive, technology-supported intervention can strengthen student success and belonging across diverse populations.