students with teacher

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) offers academic support through peer assisted study sessions. This free program targets traditionally difficult courses and provides scheduled, out-of-class review sessions you can attend.

What is Supplemental Instruction?


Supplemental Instruction (SI) study sessions are informal group seminars that are offered with specific courses. During sessions you can compare notes, discuss readings, and even predict test items. Sessions are led by an SI leader, and can also help you develop your own organizational and study tools. 

Supplemental Instruction Students

Who Are Your SI Leaders?

SI leaders are other students who have taken the class before and earned a high grade. They’re able to share skills and strategies that worked for them while they were studying. Faculty members recommend students to become SI leaders. These students are then trained to run sessions and supervised by the SI coordinating team. SI leaders attend the same classes as you and take notes so they can share how to effectively study for the course.

The Specifics on SI

 

What’s in it For You?

SI can help you improve your grades. Research shows that students who go to SI sessions regularly average one half to one full letter grade higher than their classmates who choose not to attend. You can also use the skills you learn here when you study for other classes that do not offer SI support.

What Happens During an SI Session?

At each session, the SI leader guides the group through the course concepts and shares strategies they used to be successful in the course. SI leaders are not tutors. They don’t re-lecture, give out copies of their notes, help with assigned homework, or encourage last minute test cramming.
 

How Will I Know if SI is Offered in My Class?

SI leaders make announcements at the beginning of the semester. If you miss the first day of class, ask your instructor about SI and other opportunities. If your class does not offer the SI program, you can find free tutoring and additional support through our Student Success Center.

When do SI Sessions Start?

At the beginning of the semester, SI leaders will have everyone fill out a survey about their schedule and availability. Based on these, the SI leader will determine session times and announce them in your next class. They typically schedule three or more sessions each week that start by the second week of class.

Contact Us

Have questions? No problem. Email us at SSCTutoring@sjcd.edu or reach out to a faculty member directly.