Supplemental Instruction (SI)

What is SI?
SI offers weekly study sessions to students taking courses considered to be "historically" difficult.

SI Participants meet with their classmates outside of class to compare notes, discuss challenging concepts, and develop study strategies.  As a result, they develop a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways of studying.  Strategies learned through SI can help students become more successful in other classes.  They also learn how to effectively test themselves on course content.

SI IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR ATTENDING COURSE LECTURES OR READING COURSE MATERIAL.

Who leads the SI study sessions?
SI study sessions are led by students who have excelled in the targeted course(s).  SI leaders attend course lectures, participate in classroom activities, and even take course exams.  During the study sessions, they teach learning and study strategies while working with students to interpret what has been read or heard, generate new ideas, and put content-related concepts into perspective.  What SI leaders do NOT do is re-lecture or go beyond the content covered in class.

Each SI leader generally offers on to two weekly study sessions.  Each session is informal and lasts approximately 50 minutes.  Because new material is covered each day of class, no two SI study sessions are alike.  Consequently, students are encouraged to attend one or more study sessions per week, if possible, in order to increase their chances of mastering course material.

How do students know if study sessions are being offered for their classes?
SI leaders make announcements about study sessions on the first day of class.  They also post the times and locations for these sessions.  Classes with SI may include:

Not all of the listed courses will have SI and additional classes may be available.

Will SI work for you?
SI has been proven to be successful in increasing student academic performance nationwide.  Research shows that studens who attend SI sessions on a regular basis can earn on average a full letter grade to a grade and a half higher than their peers who do not attend SI.

When are student sessions held?
Times and locations for the study sessions will be announced in class at the beginning of the semester.  For a complete list of SI courses and schedule for study sessions, please see the tutoring schedule.