Student Navigators
The Academic Success Student Navigator is dedicated to the mission of providing high quality, student-to-student interactions focused on early student engagement while increasing student motivation for excellence at KU.
Who are Student Navigators?
Student Navigators are student employees who serve as compassionate, well-informed guides for other students at KU. They work to support students that are facing academic and personal challenges by providing resources, encouragement, and understanding.
What do they do?
Student Navigators reach out to students through phone calls, text messages, and emails. The purpose of this outreach is to connect students with resources on campus that can help the student be successful, whether that is academic or personal.
Why would they contact you?
Professors and Teaching Assistants (TAs) can fill out "cases” for students who seem to be falling behind in a certain area in the class. Some of these areas include “attendance”, “missing assignments”, or “not paying attention”. On the flip side, professors and TAs can also fill out positive “cases”, which are called “High Fives”. Student Navigators may contact students for a positive message as well – those are sent in the form of a text message.
After sending a final email, Student Navigators will not contact you again for that case concern.
FAQs
Student Navigators will outreach 4 times via phone (text or call) and send a final email to the student’s KU email address if they are unable to reach them over the phone.
That’s great! Just let the Student Navigator know, and they will close the case and stop reaching out.
No, Student Navigators have not received professional training in mental health support. However, they are very willing to listen and connect you with mental health resources.
Yes, Student Navigators are required to tell someone if you share that you plan to harm yourself or others, or if you have experienced physical harm in the past. This requirement is in place to protect KU students.
Student Navigators would love to hear how you are doing! If you would like to follow up or have any further questions, you are always welcome to reach out. The Student Navigator phone number is 785-864-2067 and the email is stdnt-navs@ku.edu.
Student Navigators are also students – they understand that there is a lot going on in your life! These conversations are very short and informal, but if you are uninterested in receiving support from Student Navigators, let the Student Navigator know and they can have the information shared via your KU email.
We typically hire new Student Navigators once or twice a year; you can reach out to Kaitlyn Fallik at kaitlyn.fallik@ku.edu if you are interested.
You can donate to support our Student Navigator team though One Day One KU, more information can be found at their website, One Day One KU.
Academic advisors, Student Navigators and other members of your support team can see the information about alerts and any emails or texts that you reply to. Please do not disclose any information that you would not want Jayhawk Advising or Academic Success staff to have access to. Most KU staff members are also mandated reporters, which means we are obligated by law to contact (1) the Office of Title XI about any cases of harassment and discrimination or (2) KU safety and local emergency services if there is an imminent threat to safety. If you would like to speak with a KU staff member confidentially, please utilize CAPS services or the KU Psychological Services Clinic.