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The Holman Learning Center The Holman Learning Center

Supplemental Instruction...

An opportunity for faculty to provide additional academic assistance to students enrolled in their classes

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic support service available to all faculty at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) through Holman Learning Center (HLC). SI provides an opportunity for faculty to develop a professional relationship with a student who has successfully completed their course, while providing another learning tool for their students. The success of SI hinges on the faculty members' endorsement and support of the service.

Supplemental Instruction Leaders (SIL) are students interested in providing assistance to other students at EMU. They have achieved academic excellence through hard work and dedication to their studies.

Qualifications for SIL include:
  • Successfully completed the course they would like to SI in with a B+ or better and have achieved a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average
  • Referred by a professor to become a SIL
  • Enrolled in six credits (undergraduate students and four credits (graduate students) during fall and winter semesters
  • Demonstrate a sincere interest in working with students
SIL job responsibilities include:
  • Attend SI class to take notes and model positive student behavior
  • Meet weekly with SI professor to develop a positive working relationship
  • Develop study guides and other aids to facilitate collaborative learning
  • Provide two to three SI sessions each week
  • Continue training through weekly meetings with their SI Team Leader and utilize other tools such as WebCT to develop session plans
SI professor's responsibilities include:
  • Provide course materials such as textbook, course pack, etc. to SIL
  • Meet weekly with SIL to develop a relationship and to review course materials
  • Send the survey link to students enrolled in course to assist in identifying the availability of students to attend SI sessions
  • Demonstrate support of SI to students and how it relates to their academic success
  • Include information related to SI in course syllabus
  • Provide SIL time to provide updates and information regarding the session days/times/locations during class time
Benefits of SI to students include:
  • Achieve higher grades than students who do not participate in SI sessions
  • Improve their academic skills such as time management, note taking, test preparation and test taking strategies
  • Develop improved study skills through collaborative learning
  • Use study time more effectively through attendance at sessions

If you are interested in referring a student to work with you as a SIL, please note the following time guidelines for each semester:

Semester

Semester

Recruiting/Referrals

Interviewing/Hiring

Training (2 days)

Fall

Early Mar. to mid April

April to late June

Prior to Labor Day

Winter

Mid-Oct. to late Nov.

Mid-Nov. to mid-Dec.

Prior to holiday break

Spring and Summer

Early Mar. to mid-April

Late Mar. to late April

Thurs./Fri.prior to start of spring semester
Please include this information in your course syllabus

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a free academic support program which provides two to three fifty-minute collaborative study sessions every week.

SI sessions are designed to help students understand how to learn and be successful students.

The SI sessions are guided by a student who has been trained to facilitate these sessions, has successfully completed the course and has been recommended by your professor.

SIL attend the class and meet weekly with the professor to review the material and its presentation in the sessions. The sessions are focused on the specific needs of the course. During these sessions, the SIL will review the course content, and present effective academic skills such as time management, note taking, test preparation and test taking strategies.

The benefits of Supplemental Instruction include:
  • Proactive and participative study sessions
  • Efficient use of study time
  • Potential to earn higher grades
  • Opportunity to improve academic skills
  • Stimulate interest in the subject

For more information regarding Supplemental Instruction and the benefits of providing additional academic assistance to your students, contact:

Judy Mack , Supervisor at 734.487.3187 or Judy.Mack@emich.edu.