What is Supplemental Instruction?
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program provides academic support to traditionally difficult courses through peer-led study groups. This service is provided at no cost to students and faculty, and studies have shown that students who regularly participate in SI sessions perform on average a full letter grade better than students who don’t take advantage of the service. These study groups are led by an SI Leader, a student who previously performed well in a course and was nominated by a faculty member to support the class for future semesters. The SI Leader gets paid to attend class, take notes, and assist students with regular collaborative study group sessions, usually before or after class.
How do SI sessions help me as a student?
In addition to improved grades, students also have the opportunity to bond with their peers in an academic setting and gain a better understanding of not only course content, but the resources available to students at ACC.
At each collaborative study session, the SI Leader will guide you through course concepts in a fun and engaging way. The goal of these sessions is to help you process the information from class, answer questions, and overall improve your understanding and navigation of the class materials.
The SI Leader collaborates with your professor to create exclusive study content and develop unique activities and problem sets to reinforce course material, but they do not re-lecture or provide answers.
How do I know if SI is offered in my class?
Before registering for classes, be sure to view the updated list of courses supported by SI on the SI website. You can also search “Supplemental Instruction” in Self-Service under Academics->Course Catalog->Course Type. If you are in a class supported by SI, during the first week of class the SI Leader will make an announcement about SI. SI supports classes at every campus, as well as courses that are in-person, hybrid, and online.
SI sessions are typically held before or after your class. They are held 2-3 times a week and are scheduled based on the availability of the students in the class, and the availability of the SI leader.
SI Leaders are students themselves who successfully completed the course and are model students. They’ll be in class with you every day, hearing what you hear and reading what you read. They take notes and participate in the class, just like you. Their job is to help you understand and navigate the lectures and readings effectively.
When do SI review sessions start?
The SI Leader attends class from the very beginning, but the SI study sessions begin during the second week of the semester. The SI Leader will set up two or three study sessions a week at times that are best for the majority of students in the class.
SI support is completely FREE to students and faculty. You can attend as many SI sessions as you’d like 100% free of charge.
How can I become an SI leader?
If you are interested in becoming an SI Leader, we encourage you to talk to a faculty member for a course you performed well in. Students must earn an A or a high B in the course and be nominated by an ACC faculty member. If your faculty member is unfamiliar with SI, you can provide them with information from our website.
Any other questions? Contact us!
Paul Price, Manager, Supplemental Instruction
Office: East View Campus P-108
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512-223-5303
Travis Moore, Specialist, Supplemental Instruction Recruiter/Advisor
Office: Round Rock Campus 2232.11
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512-223-0174