Supplemental Instruction

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 is 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 & New Student Engagement.

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 Coordinator of Academic Support & New Student Engagement.

SI Leaders are often recommended to the Coordinator of Academic Support & New Student Engagement 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 who 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 Coordinator of Academic Support & New Student Engagement 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. 

Achieving Level One Certification from The International Tutor Training Program means that the SMSU student leaders have met The College Reading & Learning Association’s (CRLA) high standards for tutor selection, training, direct service, and evaluation as an integral part of their overall tutoring program. SMSU peer Tutors and SI Leaders are held to a high standard in order to provide quality academic support.