Faculty/Staff Resources

Supplemental Instruction (SI) at Texas Woman’s University is a university-wide, non-remedial academic support program aimed at improving student performance and retention through peer-assisted study sessions.

Developed in 1973 by Dr. Deanna Martin at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Supplemental Instruction (SI) targets challenging gateway and bottleneck courses—those with high rates of D, F, or W grades. Rather than identifying high-risk students, SI focuses on high-risk courses, offering regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated study sessions. These sessions help students deepen their understanding of course material, improve study strategies, and succeed in academically challenging courses.

The success of the SI program relies heavily on the support of faculty across all colleges. We are here to support you and your students. Faculty should feel comfortable reaching out to SI staff with questions, comments, and concerns.

Key program elements

SI identifies traditionally difficult academic courses rather than high risk students.
SI provides an opportunity for students to learn how to learn while learning what to learn.
Participation in SI is voluntary, free, and open to all students in the course.
SI Leaders attend all lectures for the targeted course.
SI Leaders are trained in group facilitation methods, student learning theory, and study techniques.
SI Leaders help students process course material; they do not re-lecture to participants.
The SI program is supervised by trained professional staff members.
SI is only offered in classes in which the academic department supports the SI program.

Current faculty partners

Dr. Karen Goodwin – ZOOL 2013

Dr. Nathaniel Mills – ZOOL 2023

Dr. Samanthi Kottegoda – ZOOL 2023 & BACT 1003

How faculty can support SI

We ask faculty to promote SI in the following ways:

In-class announcements
Including our syllabus statement in your syllabi
Adding our SI Promotion Slide to your lecture slide deck
Encouraging ALL students to attend SI sessions
Supporting SI Leaders in promoting SI in your classes
Adding your SI Leader to Canvas as a Non-Grading TA for SI announcements
Adding SI staff to your Canvas as a TA to pull exam grades for assessment purposes

Sample Syllabus Statement

This course will be supported by a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader—a student who has previously taken the course. The SI Leader will facilitate three 50-minute review sessions each week outside of class. SI is beneficial for all students, with the most impact for those who attend regularly throughout the semester. These sessions are free and offer a chance to review course material, collaborate with peers, and deepen your understanding of key concepts.

During the first week of class, the SI Leader will share their session schedule with the class. The SI Leader will also post the SI session schedule on Canvas and begin hosting sessions during the first week of class. The comprehensive SI session schedule is posted on the Pioneer Center for Student Excellence website (https://twu.edu/supplemental-instruction/).

SI Leaders do not have administrative authority in this class. For questions about grades or grading standards, contact your professor or TA/GA.

Sample Canvas Announcement

Did you know this class will be supported by an SI Leader? [Insert SI Leader’s name here] is our SI Leader, and they will plan and facilitate FREE (and fun!) group review sessions each week that will help you to deepen your understanding of course material and improve your final grade. The days/times of these sessions will be: [insert schedule].

Relevant resources

Questions?

For additional questions or more information about partnering with SI, please contact Dr. Elia Tamplin at etamplin@twu.edu.

Page last updated 3:37 PM, January 6, 2025