Description of SI Program

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The SI Program

Supplemental Instruction is a non-remedial, institution-wide approach to retention. Developed by Deanna C. Martin, Ph.D. at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1973, Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that increases student performance and retention. The SI program targets traditionally difficult academic courses--those that have a high percentage rate of D or F grades, withdrawals and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer facilitated sessions. SI does not identify high-risk students, but rather identifies high-risk courses.

SI Leaders

The SI leaders are the key people in the program. They are presented as model "students of the subject." As such, they present an appropriate model of thinking, organization and mastery of the discipline. All SI leaders take part in an intensive two day training session before the beginning of the academic term. This training covers such topics as how students learn as well as instructional strategies aimed at strengthening student academic performances. SI leaders attend all class sessions, take notes, read all assigned material, and conduct three or more 50 minute SI sessions each week.

SI Sessions

The SI session integrates how-to-learn with what-to-learn. Students who attend the SI session discover appropriate application of study strategies as they review content material, note taking, graphic organization, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, and test preparation. Students have the opportunity to become actively involved in the course material as the SI leaders use the text, supplementary readings, and lecture notes as vehicles for learning skill instruction. SI sessions normally occur in or near the course classroom instead of in a learning center. SI sessions are attended on a voluntary basis and no effort is made to segregate students based on academic ability. Since SI is introduced on the first day of classes and is open to all students in the class, SI is not viewed as remedial.

SI Supervisors

The SI supervisor, an on-site professional staff person, implements and supervises the SI program and SI leaders. This person is responsible for identifying the targeted courses, gaining faculty support, selecting and training SI leaders, monitoring the quality of the SI session, evaluating the program and reporting results to campus administrators.

SI Results

SI students earn higher course grades and withdraw less often than non-SI participants. Also, data demonstrates higher re-enrollment and graduation rates. Faculty and staff from nearly 500 institutions in the US and abroad have been trained to implement SI. Programs from the field report similar results.