The SI model
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) model of student academic assistance is aimed at helping students in historically difficult classes master content while they develop and integrate learning and study strategies. Goals of SI include:
- improve student grades in targeted courses
- reduce the attrition rate within those courses
- increase the eventual graduation rates of students.
All students in a targeted SI course are urged to attend SI sessions, and students with varying ability levels and ethnicities participate. There is no remedial stigma attached to SI since historically difficult courses rather than high risk students are targeted.
Since Winter Quarter 2004, we have supported student SI leaders in various sections of Accounting 101 and 102, Biology 191-193, Chemistry 130-134, Chemistry 204, Chemistry 230-234, Economics 105 and 106, Math 130, Math 150-152, and Business Math 125. Overall results indicate, so far, that students who attended SI sessions had higher final course grades and the percentage of students with Ds, Fs, or withdrawals decreased.