Supplemental Instruction (SI)

Students who would like to apply to be an SI leader can stop by the 4140 Woodland Avenue building for an application.

Program Overview
SI is an academic enrichment program that utilizes peer assisted study sessions. SI targets historically difficult academic courses and offers to all enrolled students regularly scheduled, out-of-class, review sessions. SI study sessions are informal seminars in which students form a learning community to compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and reasoning skills. The SI sessions are directed by “SI Leaders,” usually graduate students or students who have previously and successfully taken the course. The SI Leader acts as a model student of the discipline.

Key Elements
• SI provides a vehicle for developing essential academic and learning skills in regular credit bearing courses;
• Participation in the SI program is voluntary and open to all students in the course;
• The SI Leader attends at least one lecture a week for the course;
• The SI Leader is trained in specific teaching/learning theory and techniques;
• The SI program is supervised by Student Academic Support Services (SASS);
• The program is offered only in classes in which the faculty member invites and supports SI;
• Assistance begins at the beginning of the semester before students encounter academic problems;
• The SI leader facilitates and encourages the group to process the material rather than acting as an authority figure who lectures the participants.

SI Leader Job Description
SI Leader Qualifications
1. Graduate standing is preferred; junior or senior standing is acceptable.
2. An overall GPA of 3.0 or above.
3. A grade of 3.0 or above in the selected course in preferred; prior enrollment with the professor who is to teach the selected course is preferred.
4. Demonstrable content-competency.
5. Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Primary Activities – Time commitment of 2 hours a week minimum
1. Attend at least one class lecture of the selected course a week; take notes, become familiar with assigned materials including text(s) and/or labs.
2. Conduct at least two hours per week of Supplemental Instruction study sessions throughout the semester using strategies learned through the SI leader training workshop and as identified in The Leader’s Guide.
3. Regularly meet with the SI supervisor for debrief sessions.
a. Discuss observations.
b. Discuss the creation and use of SI session handouts.
c. Discuss the planning of SI sessions and use a wide variety of learning strategies.
d. Notify supervisor about problems or potential problems.
4. Perform all maintenance activities as listed below.

Secondary Activities
1. Assist SI supervisor in training other SI leaders.
2. Provide extra SI sessions as necessary.
3. Provide handouts for use during SI sessions.
4. Ascertain course requirements and maintain contact throughout the term with course professor or designated representative.
5. Attend any SI leader meetings.
6. Other duties as assigned.

Maintenance Activities
1. Complete necessary personnel paperwork; hand in timesheets and attendance forms by noon Mondays.
2. Attend SI leader training workshop prior to the beginning of employment.
3. Work with the SI supervisor and other Academic Support staff to select appropriate times and scheduling of SI sessions.
4. Make periodic announcements about the availability of the SI sessions to the students.
5. Ensure that student evaluations are distributed and collected at the end of the semester.
6. Collect attendance data for every SI session.
7. Maintain a professional attitude about matters such as class standards, grades, and student complaints.
8. Model appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors to staff, students, and others.
9. Provide the SI supervisor with an up-to-date schedule of SI sessions.
10. Notify the SI supervisor in advance to cancel a session.
11. Maintain regular working hours.