- Alerts when an instructor or advisor has a concern about your progress
- Quick access to your Success Network and available support services
- Reminders and updates delivered on the device you use most
Support That Keeps You on Track
Starfish is PennWest’s student success platform, designed to connect you with the people and resources that support your academic progress at PennWest. From academic advisers and instructors to tutoring and student success services, Starfish provides a straightforward way to ask for help, schedule appointments, and track your progress—all in one place.
You can access Starfish anytime by logging into myPennWest.
Connect to Support
Starfish helps you find the people and services that can guide you—whether you have questions about coursework, time management, or getting settled on campus. Your Success Network shows who to contact and how to reach them.
See Your Progress
Faculty and staff use Starfish to raise academic concerns or send compliments (Kudos) to recognize milestones or positive steps. These messages help you understand what’s going well and keep your momentum strong.
Ask for Help Early
If something is affecting your progress, the "Raise Your Hand" feature lets you share a concern and request support. Choose a topic, add a brief note, and someone from the university will follow up.
Built to Support Your Goals
You bring your own strengths and experience. Starfish helps you use them by offering timely information and simple tools to stay organized and move forward.
Who is in Your Success Network?
Your Success Network brings together your instructors, advisors, librarians, and Success and Career Coaches. They are your primary contacts for academic support, guidance, and resources. It also includes support offices connected to your campus life, such as Athletics, Greek Life, Global Education, and Military and Veterans Services. These connections help ensure you have what you need to move forward academically and personally.
Benefits Include:
Getting Started
Getting started is straightforward. Use the Starfish login link in myPennWest to access your personal dashboard.
In Starfish, set up your Starfish profile to receive notifications:
- Click the menu (top left)
- Click your name, the "Edit Profile"
- Under "Contact Information," add your cell phone
- Select "Send text notifications to my cell phone"
See the services and people connected to your academic progress, and learn how to reach them.
From the Starfish menu (top left), select "My Success Network."
Your progress matters. If something is getting in your way, use the Raise Your Hand feature in Starfish and choose the option that best describes your concern. Someone
will follow up during business hours, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- From the Starfish menu (top left), select "Raise Your Hand"
- Select an option from the "Type of Help" drop down
- Add your question and click "Submit"
Watch the one‑minute video below for a quick overview.
Use Starfish to schedule time with tutors, instructors, advisors, or other support staff.
Instructor/Advisor/Success Coach/Writing Center
- From the Starfish menu (top left) select "My Success Network"
- Search or select your faculty, advisor, success coach, or the Writing Center from the "My Connections" drop down
- Select the appointment time that is best for you form the list of available options
Note: Not all faculty/staff use Starfish for appointments. If no times are available, please reach out directly.
Tutoring
If you need help with a course, tutoring services connects you with trained peers who can answer questions and reinforce what you’re learning.
- Log in to Starfish and open the menu (top left).
- Select Courses and choose the course you want to schedule tutoring for.
- Select "Schedule an Appointment" under "Peer Tutoring."
Your feedback helps us understand how to support your progress. Use Starfish surveys to share what you need and how you’re doing.
You can begin with the Starfish Survey link, or sign in through myPennWest. Once in Starfish, select Student Surveys from the menu and follow the steps provided.
Resources
Starfish FAQs (pdf)
Starfish Student Demo Series (videos):
Have Questions?
Contact us: starfish@pennwest.edu