Supplemental Instruction (SI)

Supplemental Instruction was made available in specific classes during the fall '09 semester.  We will be expanding the SI program in the future to support more classes on the Truman campus.  Check back for a listing of SI discussion groups.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a nationally recognized, non-remedial student assistance program aimed at improving student performance and increasing retention¹. SI targets historically difficult entry-level courses by offering students regularly scheduled discussion sections led by specially selected and trained students. According to the department of Higher Education, Students who attended Supplemental Instruction sessions earned higher grades in their courses than those who did not². These discussion sections are designed to help students master the concepts of an academic course and, at the same time, increase their competency in the learning strategies relevant to the course. In the majority of courses, attendance at SI discussions is voluntary; in a few instances discussion sections may be mandatory. SI sessions are regularly scheduled informal reviews in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, solve problems, and predict test items.

The goals of SI include the following: improving student learning, lowering attrition rates in targeted historically difficult courses, raising student grades, and increasing student learning outcomes.