Interested?
Think you may be interested in participating in SI or just want to get more information?Ìý
Contact Us
Academic Success Center
Location: TECH Building, 2nd Floor
Phone:Ìý(813) 257-5757
Email:Ìýehicks@ut.edu
Supplemental Instruction or SI, created at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1973, is an internationally recognized programÌýdesigned to increase performance and retention through its use of peer-led collaborative learning. SI is a non-remedial approach toÌýlearning that guides students toward academic success.
SI Program Structure
Courses selected to participate in Supplemental Instruction must have a 20% or above DFW rate (Ds, Fs, Withdrawals) at leastÌýtwo (2) consecutive semesters. Instructors will receive an email to participate in SI for the upcoming academic year.
Courses selected to participate in SI will remain in the program for the full academic year even if a course is only taught duringÌýone semester of that academic year.
Key Components of Supplemental Instruction
- SI supplements learning for students in courses that participate.
- SI is a proactive approach to learning. Sessions are scheduled at the beginning of the semester and SI leaders cover content from that week.
- SI sessions are peer-led. Sessions are held 1-2 times a week with opportunities for additional support by attending the SI leader's drop-in hours.
- SI leaders teach a variety of learning strategies to help students retain and apply concepts.
- The SI leader attends all class meetings and can communicate with students in the class via Canvas.
How SI Works
SI leaders attend each class for their assigned SI course. During class, SI leaders work closely with the course instructorÌýto support learning outcomes. Then SI leaders host two (2) 45-minute sessions each week. During weekly sessions, SIÌýleaders facilitate discussion related to concepts discussed in class, by utilizing the dynamics of peer-to-peerÌýengagement. Students participating in SI sessions are expected to engage during discussions and bring questions aboutÌýcourse content to weekly sessions. SI leaders also incorporate different learning strategies to help students retain andÌýapply information.
- Instructor Information
- SI Leader Information
- Important SI Information
- Hiring Process
The Instructor Role
- Recommend students who have received an AB or better and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA to serve as the SI leader for your identified class section.
- Please provide 2-3 recommendations for every section that you wish to have SI in. This will increase the chances of having an SI leader in your course.
- Allow SI Leaders to contribute to the classroom in a manner that the instructor sees fit.
- Add SI Leaders to Canvas as a Course Communicator.
- Allow the SI leader an opportunity to schedule out-of-class sessions during the first week of class.
- Throughout the semester encourage students to participate in scheduled, weekly SI sessions.
- Support the SI leader by providing materials and development if requested.
- Provide formal feedback on the SI leader throughout the semester provided by the SI program lead.
SI Instructors are NOT permitted to do the following:
- Issue grades for any assignments, including homework.
- See material that will be graded before it is administered.
- Review assignments that will be graded and provide feedback to the instructor.
- Teach the class in the absence of the course instructor.
- Host more than two (2) 45-minute sessions each week.
- Assign homework or additional tasks to students during lectures or ÌýSI sessions.
SI Leader Role
- Attend all class meetings and utilize Canvas course site to communicate with students.
- Schedules weekly sessions at the beginning of the semester for the entire semester using polling software i.e., Google forms, Qualtrics, Doodle Poll.
- Reports attendance and complete appointment summaries for each session in Navigate.
- Attend training with the SI program coordinator and/or SI Lead.
- Works closely with the course instructor and SI supervisor.
Ìý
SI Leaders are NOT permitted to do the following:
- Issue or provide grades for any assignments, including homework.
- See or review graded materials before it is distributed.
- Review assignments that will be graded and provide feedback to the instructor.
- Teach the class in the absence of course instructor.
- Host more than two (2) 45-minute sessions a week.
- Assign homework or additional tasks to students during SI sessions.
- Expressing interest in the SI program does not guarantee participation.
Courses participating in SI must have a 20% or above DFW rate (Ds, Fs, Withdrawals) for at least two (2) consecutive semesters. Even if this requirement is met, there are other factors that can prevent your course from participating: - Instructors that express interest in the program after it is at capacity for the semester.ÌýInterest in the SI program has increased each semester since it began in Fall 2021. While this is great news, it also means that some instructors may not be able to participate.
- Instructors that express interest in the SI program after the start of week 1.ÌýThe International Supplemental Instruction program recommends that SI sessions begin at the beginning of the semester so that students view SI Leaders as a component of the course rather than a supplement to it. Additionally, the more sessions students attend, the more likely they are to improve their overall course grade. Starting at the beginning creates better opportunities for this.
- Not recommending students for the SI leader position. Instructors are encouraged to provide at least 2-3 recommendations for the best possible chance to have an SI Leader in their course.ÌýIn some cases, other course instructors may recommend students that can attend an instructor’s class, but that is not guaranteed.
- Class schedule conflicts.ÌýSI Leaders must be able to attend the assigned course section and unfortunately sometimes students recommended by instructors have courses that conflict with the class time.
- Hired students that do not complete the hiring and onboarding processes.ÌýTo become an SI leader, students have to complete Workday and Canvas tasks. Students that fail to complete requirements will not be able to work.
Hiring Process
- After an instructor provides recommendations, students are contacted via email and encouraged to apply. Instructions on how to apply are provided in the email.
- If the candidate meets the grade and GPA requirements and does well during the interview, an offer letter will be sent via email.
- If the candidate does not meet these requirements, the instructor who provided the recommendation will receive an email explaining the reason that an offer was not extended.
- Once the candidate accepts the offer, they will be asked to provide to the Academic Success Center.
- This part of the process can take time, depending on the student’s citizenship status and how quickly they provide documentation. It is important to note that students cannot move to the next step of the hiring process until their 1-9 information is submitted.
- Once documents are received, the candidate will receive onboarding tasks, and the SI Instructor will be notified.
- Once all tasks are completed, the SI leader will receive a start date along with course information and steps to determine SI weekly session times. Students CANNOT begin working until all onboarding steps are completed.
