Academic Resources Center

Supplemental Instruction for Teachers

An overview of the SI program

Developed by Dr. Deanna Martin in 1973 at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that increases student performance and retention.

1. The SI program targets traditionally difficult academic courses--those that have 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 a learning center.
5. SI sessions are open to all students in the course and are attended on a voluntary basis free of charge.
6. The SI leaders are the key people in the program. SI leaders are students who have demonstrated competence in this or in a comparable course.
7. SI sessions are comprised of students of varying abilities, and no effort is made to segregate students based on academic ability. Since SI is introduced on the first day of classes and is open to all students in the class, SI is not viewed as remedial.

Copyright, The Curators of the University of Missouri, 1996

Call Dr. Dee Bost at the Academic Resources Center (501-279-4220) for additional information.