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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) involves utilizing a model student-peer who has recently and successfully completed a course to attend the course a second time and lead peer-facilitated study sessions over the course content outside of regular class hours. Since 1973, the data supporting the effectiveness of SI has remained consistent; on average, students who regularly attend SI sessions earn half to a full letter grade higher and earn D’s, F’s, and withdraw from courses less frequently than students who do not attend SI sessions (Dawson, 2014).  Additionally, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, after years of implementing their supplemental instruction program, reported a 7.8 percentage point overall increase in retention and $1.6 million return on investment (Civitas Learning, 2019). 

SI sessions are beneficial because they help students:

  • Improve their understanding of basic concepts
  • Compare notes with others
  • Build relationships with classmates
  • Develop study and learning strategies
  • Test their knowledge before the professor does

SI sessions start the first or second week of class. Each SI leader will hold one review session per week. SI sessions are free. Students are encouraged to attend as many as they'd like; however, statistics show that the more students attend, the better their grades at the end of the semester. 

SI Leaders:

SI leaders are current students who have been recommended by faculty that have previously earned a high grade in the course they have been hired to support. They attend class lectures, take notes, and are prepared to coach students on how to effectively study. SI leaders receive training and ongoing supervision from the Coordinator of Academic Support Services to enhance their skills on how to be an effective facilitator. During each SI session, SI leaders guide students through course concepts and shares strategies to enhance their success in the course. 

Nankling Andrew

Nankling Andrew
BIOL 200: Introduction to Cellular Biology (Section 01) - Dr. Tony Greenfield

Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria

Major: Biology

Classification: Junior

Sessions: Every Tuesday from 1:00pm - 2:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

Office Hours: Every Friday 2:00pm - 3:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

Madi Foutz

Madi Foutz
BIOL 201L: Introduction to Biodiversity and Evolution Lab (Section 31) - Dr. Shelby Flint

Hometown: Commerce City, CO

Major: Environmental Science

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Monday from 11:00am - 12:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

Office Hours: Every Wednesday 2:00pm - 3:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

kaelyn-deroche

Kaelyn DeRoche
CHEM 232: General Chemistry II (Section 01) - Dr. Benjamin Tokheim

Hometown: Superior, WI

Major: Biology

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Monday from 5:30pm - 6:30pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

Office Hours: Every Wednesday 5:30pm - 6:30pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC) 

 

Martin Olsen

Martin Olsen
COMP165: Fundamentals of Programming (Section 01) - Dr. Kourosh Mortezapour

Hometown: Marshall, MN

Major: Computer Science

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Thursday 6:00pm-7:00pm SM274

Office Hours: Every Wednesday 10:00am-11:00am Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Kyra Kusnierek

Kyra Kusnierek
ENG251: Writing in Professions (Section 02) - Dr. Lisa Lucas

Hometown: Eagan, MN

Major: Elementary Education 

Classification: Junior

Sessions: Every Wednesday 2:00pm-3:00pm PE214

Office Hours: Every Tuesday 3:00pm-4:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Shelby Lawrence

Shelby Lawrence
ENG251: Writing in Professions (Section 01) - Professor Jessica Hennen

Hometown: Cottonwood, MN

Major: Elementary Education

Classification: Junior

Sessions: Every Tuesday 3:00pm-4:00pm BA235 (except for March 5th which will be held in CH204) 

Office Hours: Every Tuesday 4:00pm-5:00pm location BA 211

Photo of Alyssa Engels

Alyssa Engels
MATH 150: Calculus I (Section 01) - Dr. Heather Moreland

Hometown: Ivanhoe, MN

Major: Applied Computational Math and Chemistry

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Tuesday 4:00pm-5:00pm BA233

Office Hours: Every Wednesday 4:00pm-5:00pm BA233

Photo of Taylor Haberman

Taylor Haberman
MGMT 101: Introduction to Business (Section 01) - Dr. Heather Rickgarn

Hometown: Brewster, MN

Major: Management

Classification: Junior

 

SI Sessions

 

Office Hour

Wed, Jan 17th 3:00pm - 4:00pm  

 

Mon, Jan 15th from 10:00am - 11:00am

Mon, Jan 22nd 10:00am - 11:00am 

 

Wed, Jan 24th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Wed, Jan 31st 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

 

Mon, Jan 29th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

Mon, Feb 5th 10:00am - 11:00am 

 

Wed, Feb 7th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Wed, Feb 14th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

 

Mon, Feb 12th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

Mon, Feb 19th 10:00am - 11:00am

 

Wed, Feb 21st from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Wed, Feb 28th 3:00pm - 4:00pm

 

Mon, Feb 26th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

Spring Break: No Session or Office Hour

 

Spring Break: No Session or Office Hour

Mon, March 11th from 10:00am - 11:00am

 

Wed, March 13th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Wed, March 20th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

 

Mon, March 18th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

Mon, March 25th from 10:00am - 11:00am

 

Wed, March 27th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Wed, April 3rd from 3:00pm - 4:00pm

 

Mon, April 1st from 10:00am - 11:00am

Mon, April 8th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

 

Wed, April 10th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Wed, April 17th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm

 

Mon, April 15th from 10:00am - 11:00am 

Mon, April 22nd from 10:00am - 11:00am 

 

Wed, April 24th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm

All sessions and office hours will both take place in the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Kiley Hillemeier

Kiley Hillemeier
MGMT221: Computer Concepts and Application (Sections 01, 02 and 88) - Dr. Marsha Grimes-Rose and Professor Heather Earl

Hometown: Olivia, MN 

Major: Finance

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Wednesday 2:00pm - 3:00pm BA319

Office Hours: Every Tuesday 10:30am - 11:30am Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

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Arianna Urch
MKTG301: Principles of Marketing (Section 02) - Professor John Rickgarn

Hometown: Courtland, MN

Major: Marketing

Classification: Sophomore

Sessions: Every Tuesday from 12:00pm - 1:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Office Hours: Every Friday from 11:00am - 12:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Photo of Macie Langstraat

Macie Langstraat
PSYC 101: General Psychology (Section 01) - Dr. Laura Koenig

Hometown: Ankeny, IA

Major: Psychology

Classification: Senior

Sessions: Every Tuesday at 10:30am (Jan 30, Feb 13, Feb 27, March 12, March 26, April 9 and April 23) OR 1:30pm (Jan 23, Feb 6, Feb 20, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 16, April 30).
All sessions will be held in IL214 except for March 26, April 9 and April 23 which will be held in IL210.   

Office Hours: Every Tuesday 6:00pm-7:00pm Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (DGSSC)

Frequently Asked Questions:

At each SI session, the leader will guide the students through the most difficult course concepts. SI Leaders will help students make good use of their time and share strategies that they used to be successful in the course. SI Leaders will not re-lecture, give out copies of their notes, help students with assigned homework, or encourage last minute test cramming. The overall goal of SI sessions it to incorporate a deeper understanding of course content with study skills that can be used with other coursework. 
SI Leaders are students themselves, who have previously taken the course and earned a high grade. Faculty typically recommend students to become an SI Leader. SI Leaders attend the same class sessions with students, take notes, and listen closely to the professor so they are prepared to share with students how to effectively study for the course. SI Leaders are supervised by SMSU's Coordinator of Academic Support Services. 
A team at SMSU meets to review DFW data and courses with equity gaps to determine which courses to target for SI support. The DFW rate for a course is the percentage of students who received either a D, F, or withdrew completely. Once a course has been selected by the team, support from the faculty member will be requested by the designated SI Faculty Liaison. 
SI Leaders are often recommended to the Coordinator of Academic Support Services by faculty within the department of the targeted course. Students can fill out an SI Leader application by clicking on the following link: SI Leader Application  
Faculty members can recommend an SI Leader by filling out the following form: SI Leader Nomination 
A faculty member that is offering SI in their course(s) will be asked to meet routinely with their assigned SI Leader to discuss material and strategies to be reviewed during SI sessions. The faculty member will also be asked to assist with the promotion of SI in their course. This could include introducing the SI Leader to the class to assist with building connections with peers, adding content in their course syllabus, and/or allowing the SI Leader to make announcements during class regarding upcoming SI sessions. 
The faculty member should include an informational statement that their course is offering SI. The faculty liaison for the SI program has a sample statement that can be used. The faculty member should also encourage students to attend the SI sessions with the SI leader to enhance their success in the course. 
For more information about Supplemental Instruction (SI), please visit: https://info.umkc.edu/si/faq/


If you have any questions or are interested in participating in SMSU's Supplemental Instruction program, please contact:

Hannah Kuno 
Coordinator of Academic Support Services 
Hannah.Kuno@SMSU.edu  
507-537-6820 

Dr. Laura Koenig 
SI Faculty Liaison 
Laura.Koenig@SMSU.edu 
507-537-7315  

References: 

Civitas Learning (2019). Measuring Supplemental Instruction Direct Impact on Persistence. https://media.civitaslearning.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/Civitas_Learning _University_Missouri_Kansas_City_CASE_STUDY_Impact.pdf 

Dawson, P., van der Meer, J., Skalicky, J., & Cowley, K. (2014). On the effectiveness of supplemental instruction: A systematic review of supplemental instruction and peer-assisted study sessions literature between 2001 and 2010. Review of Educational Research, 84(4). https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654314540007 

University of Missouri-Kansas City FAQ. The International Center for Supplemental Instruction. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2022, from https://info.umkc.edu/si/faq/ 

 

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