What is SI?

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses.  SI is offered to students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.

At each session your SI leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course, will guide you through the class material.  Attendance at sessions is voluntary.  For you, it’s a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying the subject, and test yourselves before your professor does.  SI is a way for you to be ready for the challenges of the course.  

What is an SI leader?
SI leaders are students themselves and are prepared to share with you what they have learned over the years about how to study.  They know the course content and want to help guide you through it.  They'll be in class with you every day, hearing what you hear and reading what you read.  What they won't do is lecture; their job is to help you think about the lectures you hear and the books you read, and then put it all together into some kind of perspective during the SI sessions so you can learn the material more efficiently.

When do SI study sessions start?
The SI sessions begin the first week of class.  Each SI leader will set up three sessions a week at times that are best for the majority of students.  The time and location of the SI sessions will be posted in your classrooms.  You may attend one, two or all three SI sessions (the choice is yours).  Each session will be different because you'll have new material to discuss.

See the SI Courses page for a list of SI Sessions and SI Leaders.

What is in it for me?
If you attend SI sessions regularly, national and LAVC statistics indicate that you'll earn a better grade in the class.  You'll have developed a greater understanding of the course as well as more effective ways of studying.  Bring your notes.  Bring your textbook.  Bring your questions.  And get ready to have a whole new learning experience!

For classes offering Supplemental Instruction, look for the footnote indicating SI in the Schedule of Classes .