Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions are free, peer-facilitated group study sessions for certain historically difficult courses.
- SI sessions are led by trained peer facilitators, SI leaders, who have already taken the course and earned a 'B' or better.
- Sessions are offered multiple times each week.
- SI is voluntary, free of charge, and available to students on a drop-in basis.
- SI is part of an international program that helps to boost student success in courses with more than a 30% rate of D, F, and withdrawals.
Announcements about SI are made in targeted classes during the first week of classes, and sessions continue throughout the semester. SI sessions provide students with course-specific learning and study strategies, note taking and test taking skills, and the opportunity to study with peers.
SI Statistics
1,929
Total Student Attendance
2,096
Number of Session Hours Held
+.33
Course GPA increase for SI students vs non-attendees
17.1%
DFW Rate compared to 25.8% for non-SI attendees
What is SI?
For Students
Why attend SI?
- SI is dedicated study time led by a peer who has excelled in the course
- SI Leaders create structured activities that help students learn course content in a low-stakes environment
- SI helps you to combine “what to learn” with “how to learn”
- Regular attendance at SI sessions is proven to increase students grades by half to a whole letter grade
- Allows attendees to work collaboratively with peers
- SI is fun and FREE!
What’s the difference between SI and Tutoring?
| SI | BOTH | Tutoring |
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For Faculty
- The SI program fits best with large lecture-style courses that have high fail/withdrawal rates. SI has supported a wide range of courses, including those in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. We always welcome feedback to improve the SI Program. If you are interested in adding SI support to any of your courses, please complete the Faculty Interest Form.
- Faculty interest form to add SI to their course(s)
- Link for faculty to recommend an SI Leader
- Role of faculty in SI
- Faculty can support SI each semester by regularly encouraging students to participate in sessions
- Allow SI Leaders make brief weekly announcements during course lectures to remind students about upcoming SI sessions
- Regular communication with SI Leader to discuss sessions, course content and areas that students may need further assistance
For Future SI Leader
- Have you done well in one of the courses that SI supports? Do you enjoy helping your friends study and learn? Are you interested in a leadership experience? If so, consider applying to be an SI leader. SI Leader positions are posted in Handshake each semester. See our for-student employment page a full description and application, or email siprogram@kent.edu with questions.