Supplemental Instruction Program (SI)

1. The SI program targets traditionally difficult academic courses--those that show a high rate of "D" or "F" grades and withdrawals--and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated sessions.
2. SI does not identify high-risk students, but rather identifies historically difficult classes.
3. Assistance begins the first week of the term. 
4. SI sessions normally occur in classrooms near the course classroom instead of in the Department of Academic Learning area. 
5. SI sessions are open to all students in the course and are attended on a voluntary basis--free of charge. 
6. SI leaders are students who have demonstrated competence in the course.
7. SI sessions are comprised of students of varying abilities. No effort is made to segregate students based on academic ability.  SI is introduced on the first day of classes and is open to all students in the class. SI is not viewed as remedial. 
8. SI leaders are trained.  This training covers such topics as how students learn as well as instructional strategies aimed at strengthening student academic performance, data collection, and management details. 
9. SI leaders attend all class sessions, take notes, read all assigned material, and conduct three or more 50-minute SI sessions each week.  SI sessions integrate how-to-learn with what-to-learn. 
10. Students who attend SI session discover appropriate application of study strategies as they review content material, e.g. note taking, graphic organization, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, problem solving, and test preparation.
11. Students have the opportunity to become actively involved in the course material as the SI leaders use the text, lecture notes, and supplementary readings as the vehicle for refining skills for learning. 
12. The SI Supervisor is responsible for identifying the targeted courses, gaining faculty support, selecting and training SI leaders, monitoring the quality of SI sessions, and evaluating the program. 
13. SI participants earn higher course grades and withdraw less often than non-SI participants.  Also, data demonstrate higher re-enrollment and graduation rates for students who participate in Supplemental Instruction.  Again, this service is free to all BYU-Idaho students.