Why Supplemental Instruction

Details about SI

The number one reason to use SI: statistics show that, on average, students who attend SI sessions regularly and are actively involved earn one-half to one full letter grade above the average of students who do not attend SI sessions. By 'actively involved,' we mean that students bring all necessary materials and come prepared with questions/comments about the course material.

SI was designed to assist all students who were enrolled in historically-difficult classes by providing 3 hours a week of regularly-scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated study and review sessions. Following the guidelines developed by the University of Missouri at Kansas City, SUNY Cortland defines a class as 'historically-difficult' as one in which 30% of the students enrolled in that class consistently earn a D or failing grade, or end up withdrawing from the course altogether.

The SI sessions are open to all students in the course and are voluntary. During these sessions, SI Leaders help students understand course content and learn effective study strategies that can be applied to all courses. The SI Leaders are students who have demonstrated competence in the same (or a similar) course, are approved by the professor(s) of that course, and have completed an intensive two-day training session before the beginning of the semester. The SI Leaders model good student behavior by attending all class sessions, taking notes, and reading all assigned material.

The SI Coordinators at SUNY Cortland are also professional tutors in the Academic Support and Achievement Program (ASAP); they implement and supervise the SI program. They are responsible for identifying the targeted courses, gaining faculty support, selecting the SI Leaders each semester, monitoring the quality of SI sessions, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the SI program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I know if my course offers SI?

The first week of classes, an SI Leader will make a short presentation during your class. Alternatively, you can check the current SI schedule to see if your course offers SI. Be sure to check your course section because not all sections will offer SI.

What goes on during an SI session?

During SI sessions, the SI Leader will facilitate an activity related to recent material covered in the lecture. The goal is to have students become involved with the material and also introduce good study skills and habits. Some activities may include a practice quiz, vocabulary building games, creating review sheets, or collectively working on problems on the board. You will be working on course material, so be sure to bring your notes, textbook, and any other resources that you may need.

When do SI sessions start?

SI sessions start the first week of the semester. Check the Class Listings page or listen for your SI Leader to announce the times during your class.

SI is offered three times a week, but should I attend all of the sessions?

SI is free, voluntary, and each session is different, so you should attend as often as you like. In fact, national statistics show that students who attend SI sessions regularly earn better grades than those students who have not attended at all.