Have you heard the phrase, “Supplemental Instruction” (or “SI”) being used and you’re not sure what it is? Have you overheard students discussing topics from classes outside of class time? THAT is the main idea behind Supplemental Instruction.
SI is a time set aside for students to get together outside of class and discuss the ideas and concepts that faculty present in class. It is facilitated by a student who has previously taken the class and achieved success. During the SI session, the SI leader encourages interaction among students about the topics and concepts that faculty have discussed during class. Using a variety of innovative group study techniques, the SI Leader facilitates conversations about the course subject matter. Attendance is voluntary and anonymous (faculty are not notified about who attends so as not to affect grading).
Fall 2022 SI Schedule:
Course |
Title |
Instructor |
SI Leaders |
Session Time |
Room |
BIOL 100C-03 |
Bio for Non-Maj |
Maribel Arias (Lecture) |
Wyland Nicholson |
M 2p-3p |
Heath 103 |
BIOL 111C-01 |
Princ of Bio I |
Itzel Calleja-Macias (Lecture) |
Jar Raw |
M 8p-9p |
Scott 227 |
BIOL 220-01 |
Cell Bio |
Dr. Michael Hanna (Lecture) |
Heritage Mgbam |
M 4p-5p |
Heath 108 |
CHEM 121-01 |
Gchem II * |
Dr. John P. Terhorst (Hybrid) |
Jennifer Chan |
M 1p-2p |
Layne 127 |
CHEM-304-HYB01 |
O Chem |
Dr. John P. Terhorst (Hybrid) |
Dyane Velazquez |
T 3p-4p |
Scott 220 |
MATH-180C-HYB01 |
Calc I |
Sarah E. Nguyen |
Eliana Pettijohn |
Th 5p-6p |
Heath 107 |
We have SI available for 21 of our Math and Science courses. Why just those courses? Because SI takes the stigma off students and/or professors and puts it on the traditionally difficult courses, of which math and science courses have been shown to be nationally. What about other subject areas? For now, we are focusing on courses with the highest percentage of students who earn Ds, Fs, or Withdraw from the course (aka, the DFW Rate).with the intention of including other courses in the future.
Grade improvement data from the past five semesters since the program launched reveal that students who attend SI earn from .5 to as much as 2 letter grades higher than students who do not attend, and the DFW rates of students who do not attend SI is at least twice as high as those who do attend. Bringing up students’ GPAs and lower the DFW Rates leads to higher retention and graduation rates!
Appointments are available in person or virtually.