Thank you for your interest in Supplemental Instruction. Faculty are invited to request supplemental instruction for their courses. Please click through the FAQ below to see if SI is right for you. Note: SI availability is dependent on CAS budget and availability of resources.
What is the SI program?
SI or Supplemental Instruction is an academic assistance program designed to improve student academic performance and increase retention in traditionally difficult courses. The Writing Fellows and History Fellows programs fall under the SI umbrella.
Partnering faculty are paired with highly qualified peer tutors who support enrolled students in achieving course learning outcomes and provide students with invaluable skills and strategies necessary for success.
How are courses selected?
The Supplemental Instruction program targets challenging courses that, over time, have demonstrated difficulty for students, regardless of the faculty or the materials used. Traditionally difficult courses, which are courses with high rates of D, F, W, & I grades, are typically only considered for selection.
The Writing Fellows program targets ENGL 110, an introductory writing-intensive course that is required for most incoming students, who many times don’t have a strong foundation in written communications or are not adequately competent in college-level writing.
The Writing Fellows program targets introductory core-curriculum writing-intensive courses that are critical for college-level reading and writing proficiency.
New courses are considered for selection on an annual basis while current partnering courses are re-evaluated on a semester basis. Budgetary constraints are an additional factor for consideration in selecting new courses or continuing with partnerships.
Who are the SI Leaders/ Writing Fellows? What can I expect from them?
SI Leaders and Fellows are peer tutors, employed by the CAS, who have previously completed the targeted course with at least an A-.
SI Leaders and Fellows attend class once a week, meet with partnering faculty regularly, and facilitate weekly study group sessions. In addition, Fellows host individual writing consultations weekly for students that need more tailored assistance. Over the course of a semester, SI Leaders and Fellows integrate course content with appropriate and effective study skills.
Note: SI Leaders/Writing Fellows are not course assistants or teaching assistants. They should not receive requests to teach classes, grade assignments, administer exams, or for any other responsibilities typical of a course assistant.
What are the expectations of faculty interested in partnering with the program?
The role partnering faculty play in the success of students is critical as we examine a team approach to producing positive learning outcomes for students who participate in supplemental instruction. In order to maximize the effects of the program, we ask the following of partnering faculty:
- Include SI Leader/Fellow program information in syllabus and on Moodle
- Allow the fellow to make brief periodic announcements
- Regularly meet with the SI Leaders/Fellows to provide mentorship, support, and coaching to guide the structure of the sessions
- Provide relevant course materials
- Provide feedback to the CAS Academic Support Manager in the form of occasional surveys
- Collaborate with CAS administration on program assessment initiatives
- Nominate stellar students to apply when the application opens
Syllabus Statement Example
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is offered for this course. SI provides you with an opportunity to participate in weekly group study sessions facilitated by an SI Leader. SI Leaders are current MU students who have passed the course with at least an A-, attend the course weekly, and prepare session content based on class lectures & discussions.
You are highly encouraged to attend SI sessions to ask questions about course content and to develop learning/study strategies relevant to this course. Students who participate in SI sessions typically earn higher course grades than students who do not participate in SI. SI attendance is voluntary, and it is not a substitute for class attendance.
For more information, contact your SI leader: Name, email address
Writing Fellows is offered for this course. Writing Fellows provide you with an opportunity to participate in weekly group study sessions or tailored writing consultations facilitated by a Fellow. Fellows are current MU students who have passed the course with at least an A-, attend the course weekly, and prepare session content based on class lectures & discussions.
You are highly encouraged to attend group sessions to ask questions about course content and to develop learning/study strategies relevant to this course. Students who participate in group sessions typically earn higher course grades than students who do not participate. Attendance is voluntary, and it is not a substitute for class attendance.
For more information, contact your Writing Fellow:
