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Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) aims to boost student success by providing weekly, structured review sessions for historically difficult classes.

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Students meet for a supplemental instruction session

Not your average study group

Supplemental Instruction is a set of weekly review sessions run by students. for students. Each student leader has completed a historically difficult course with a high grade. Students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. National statistics on these sessions at other universities show students achieve higher grades.

There is no fee to attend Supplemental Instruction, and all UM students enrolled in these classes are encouraged to participate regularly.

Student Information

Get to know more about supplemental instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. It is for all students who want to improve their understanding of the course material and improve their grades. SI sessions are open to everyone enrolled in the respective course and there is no cost to attend.

You meet with people in your class to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying, and test yourselves before the professor does.  An SI leader is there to help guide the weekly sessions and extra test review sessions.

SI leaders are SI-trained students who have taken the course you are taking now. Their professors recommended them for SI because they used good strategies to do well in this course. SI leaders attend the class lectures with you, then prepare something for review sessions to help you study and learn the material efficiently (no lectures, no tutoring, but something everyone can do together).

On average, students who attended SI earned higher grades than those who did not attend. If you attend SI regularly, chances are you’ll earn a better grade, you’ll develop a better understanding of course content, and you’ll discover more and effective ways to study. Including SI in your schedule is a sure way to avoid night-before test cramming, which can yield unpleasant results emotionally, physically, and academically.