SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION

While we would like to offer SI for every course that is requested, we are unfortunately limited to how many courses we can support. To accommodate these requests, we have a set criteria that we adhere to when deciding to support a new course. This criteria includes:

• 20 or more students enrolled in the course
• Historically difficult course, new content and/or D/F/W rate of 30% or above
• High percentage of first-year student enrollment
• Required Major Course or Required Pre-Requisite
• Faculty and Department support of SI program
• High student attendance, 30% students attend at least once (determined in first 2 years of SI sessions)
• Qualified SI leader recommendation (determined by faculty/department)

One thing to note: An SI Leader’s job is to help students and not necessarily to help a professor with a course that has a heavy work load or is in high demand.  Their primary job is to create opportunities for students to learn the course material through group work and creative session strategies in an informal environment.  Please keep in mind the needs of the course when considering a request for SI support. If you are interested in requesting a SI Leader for your course, please contact the SI Supervisor.

SI Leader’s SHOULD:

• Act as a model student, attend class regularly unless other arrangements have been made by the faculty member and SI Supervisor (demonstrate good note-taking, attention, etc.).
• Maintain a professional attitude by effectively communicating and refraining from criticizing the faculty member to other students.
• Prepare handouts, learning aides, and informal quizzes for the SI sessions in addition to organizing various learning strategies, methods, and skills.
• If possible, share materials with cooperating faculty members before use.
• Provide feedback to cooperating faculty member if requested to do so.

SI Leaders SHOULD NOT:

• Go beyond the actual content of the course as presented in class or assigned in reading materials.
• Grade papers, tests, or be involved in constructing test items (though they may help distribute handouts in class if requested).
• Fill in for faculty in their absence unless it is to hold an extra SI/study/review session.
• Suggest SI attendance is a substitute for attending class.

If faculty EVER have any concerns about their SI Leaders’ performance of their duties, please contact the SI Supervisor immediately.