Focused on student success, OU’s Tutoring Center earns national certification

Focused on student success, OU’s Tutoring Center earns national certification
Tutoring
Oakland's Tutoring Center was recently recognized as a Certified Supplemental Instruction Program by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Oakland University’s Tutoring Center was recently recognized as a Certified Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

 

This distinction, which is held by less than 20 universities nationwide, is awarded to universities that meet four core requirements:

 

  • The program coordinator is trained by a certified SI trainer from the International Center for SI
  • The program requires and provides intensive training and support for SI Leaders
  • The program includes intensive focus on SI Leaders planning sessions
  • The program requires that SI Leaders attend class sessions, that the program demonstrates robust student attendance at SI sessions and that the end of semester data indicates that SI students earn a higher grade in the course than non-SI students do.

 

What is Supplemental Instruction?

 

SI Certificate

Supplemental Instruction is a free program that provides organized study sessions two to three times per week for students enrolled in traditionally difficult courses. Sessions are conducted by SI leaders who have successfully completed the course and are trained by The Tutoring Center.

 

SI training covers various topics, including an overview of the SI Program, relationships with students, faculty and supervisors, methods for interactive sessions, learning styles and study strategies, and leadership skills.  SI Leaders also learn how to conduct the ideal SI session with an emphasis on fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

 

Since each SI leader is assigned to a specific section, they can provide instruction that is tailored to students in the section. This makes SI sessions an efficient investment of students’ time, according to Beth DeVerna, director of The Tutoring Center.

 

“The SI leaders attend class with the students, so they know exactly what material is being presented,” DeVerna said. “Students can get questions answered and concepts re-explained. They can also work on practice problems and get different perspectives on the material.”

 

DeVerna added that the smaller group, peer-to-peer setting can make students feel more at ease.

 

“Students often feel more comfortable with an SI Leader. They can ask questions that they may have hesitated or may not have had a chance to ask during a professor’s lecture,” she said. “The SI leaders plan the sessions around different learning styles, and we find that the collaborative focus helps students feel more engaged and supported throughout the learning process.”

 

Do I Have SI in My Class?

 

Oakland’s Fall 2017 Supplemental Instruction schedule includes 41 sections of courses in Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Music Theory and Physics. The sessions run throughout the semester and are open to students on a walk-in basis at any time during the semester. View the full schedule of SI sessions here.

 

In addition, The Tutoring Center also offers individual and group peer tutoring sessions for most courses 2999 level and below. For a complete listing of those offerings, visit oakland.edu/tutoring.