Developing and Supporting SI Leaders in a Large SI Program
Trista O’Connell, M.A., Assistant Director, Supplemental Instruction
Ashley Thune-Aguayo, M.A., Lecturer, Mathematics
Helen Tran, Graduate Assistant
Holly Becker, Christine Deeb, and Christian Garia, Senior SI Leaders
May 26th, 2016
Session Agenda
• History of SI at CSU Fullerton
• Challenges of a large program
• Developing our leaders
– SI Internship
– SI leaders
– Senior SI leaders
• Support Systems
Supplemental Instruction at
California State University, Fullerton
• Peer facilitated sessions that integrate course content and learning skills (“what to learn”
with “how to learn”).
• Targets key bottleneck and gateway courses
with historically high non-pass rates.
• The SI leader attends the lectures, serves as
a model student, and facilitates the regularly scheduled sessions.
• SI leaders are trained (using the UMKC model) and supervised by a Faculty Liaison and the SI Supervisor (Assistant Director).
• Partnership between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.
History of SI at CSU Fullerton
• In 2007, began as small pilot program in Biology and Math
• Program grew steadily each year, funded through grants
• In 2009, the ULC began parallel SI program, targeting classes in Humanities and Social Sciences
• 2013-2014 SI Program centralized and institutionalized
• 2014 Student Success Initiative; students recognize SI as HIP
• Spring 2016: 37 courses across 16 departments, & 5 colleges
SI Leaders 2015-2016
Challenges of Running a Rapidly Growing, Large SI Program:
• Basic Challenges: – Running the program
– Identifying and recruiting good SI leaders
– Training and monitoring SI leaders
– Finding good usable space
Challenges of Running a Rapidly Growing, Large SI Program:
• Go beyond the basic challenges—our goal is to: – Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and
support
– Aid in their development as SI leaders, students, and mentors
– Overall, maintain close ties with our SI leaders
Planning for Success
• Have a clear vision of the UMKC SI model
• Create Program Support Networks
• Collaboration between Academic Departments & Student Affairs
Training SI Leaders
• Pre-semester Training – Two day training
• Weekly Meetings – With Faculty Liaisons
or SI Supervisor
• Observations – Peer
– Supervisor
SI Program Tiers
• 130 SI Leaders – SI Interns
– SI Leaders
– Senior SI Leaders
– Graduate Assistant
SI Leaders • Attend pre-semester orientation and training
• Attend weekly meetings/trainings with department faculty liaison
• Attend all scheduled class lectures with students; acts as model student
• Preparation for SI sessions
• Facilitates regularly scheduled, SI sessions for duration of semester
• Perform additional administrative duties as necessary
SI Leaders: Benefits • Paid, professional opportunity to help other students
• Build strong relationships with SI leaders & students
• Develop report with faculty & administrators
• Further develop & deepen knowledge of course content
• Develop understanding of learning styles & strategies
• Develop leadership, public speaking, organizational, problem solving & critical thinking skills
• Priority registration
• Resume builder
• Being part of a great team!
SI Interns • Same minimum qualifications of SI
leaders
• Internship consists of 5 hours a week:
– Attend pre-semester orientation and training
– Attend weekly meetings/trainings with department faculty liaison
– Observes and assists the SI leader in facilitating SI sessions for the associated course
– Perform additional administrative duties as necessary
SI Interns: Benefits
• Build relationships with SI leaders and students enrolled in the course
• Build rapport with faculty and administrators
• Develop skills in being a facilitator of learning
• Great experience to discuss during interviews and put on resume
Senior SI Leaders
• Qualifications • Trainings & Meetings • Observations & Evaluations • Additional & Administrative Functions
– Assist with collection and dissemination of materials
– SI leader events/activities – Serve on Implementation Team
Senior SI Leaders: Benefits • Further develop and deepen:
– Knowledge of course content – Leadership skills – Public speaking skills – Organizational skills – Problem solving skills – Critical thinking skills
• Part of the cross campus dialogue with administrators and faculty
• Peer mentor at the same time they are be challenged to develop their own skill sets as leaders
SI Graduate Assistant • Former SI leader
• Assists with assessment of program; runs comparison reports
• Provides assistance in the pre-semester SIL Orientation & Trainings
• Attends and assists weekly SIL meetings
• Helps with marketing and promotion of the SI program
• Benefits: – Leadership and professional development
Program Support Networks • SI Supervisor (Assistant Director)
• Faculty Liaisons
• Implementation Team
• Collaboration between Academic Departments & Student Affairs
SI Supervisor
(Assistant Director) • Provide leadership in developing,
implementing and promoting an exemplary & comprehensive SI program
• Coordinates & promotes program
• Assesses program & makes recommendations for improvement
• Work closely with administrators and faculty liaisons in various colleges across campus to implement SI in targeted, high-risk & bottleneck courses.
• Brings together the divisions of Academic Affairs & Student Affairs to meet the needs of the greater campus community
Faculty Liaisons
• Why they’re important – Excited and passionate about SI!
– Weekly meetings with SI leaders in their department
– Provide subject/department specific skills, trainings, issues
– Assist SI Supervisor in collection of materials and dissemination of information to students, faculty, & chairs
– Part of the on-going dialogue between Academic Departments and Student Affairs
Implementation Team • Collaboration Between Academic Departments
and Student Affairs – Administrators
– Staff
– Faculty
– Senior SI leaders
Importance of Support Networks & SI Leader Tiers
• Able to meet and go beyond challenges of running a large SI program
• Provide multiple opportunities for growth – Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and
support
– Aid in their development as SI leaders, students, and mentors
– Overall, maintain close ties with our SI leaders
• Cross campus collaboration
Support and Recognize your SI leaders
Questions & Additional Information
Website: www.fullerton.edu/SI