SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION (SI)

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an educational initiative of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, working in conjunction with the Learning Center. Its purpose is to help students succeed in challenging courses by providing an additional tier of academic support that is developed by the instructor and conveyed by qualified upper-division students. Typically, SI leaders will be in charge of several weekly classroom-style sessions which cover both course content and study skills. Supplemental Instruction may also incorporate small-group, one-on-one, and online interactions.

SI sessions offer course-based academic support and differ from traditional “study groups” in several ways. Supplemental Instruction is based in the academic departments, and faculty are integrally involved in the program. The qualifications for SI leaders are set by the departments, and often the faculty are engaged in the hiring of their SI leaders. As part of their job, SI leaders attend all course lectures and meet regularly with the faculty teaching the course to make sure that the materials they are using in their SI sessions are consistent with what the instructor is teaching. The overall result is an enhanced educational experience which is integrated with all elements of the course. Typically students participating in SI will show significant improvements in their final grades.