Academic Success Center

• Application Documents
• What is Supplemental Instruction?
• Responsibilities of SI Leaders
• Benefits of Being a SI Leader
• Qualifications
• FAQs and Special Circumstances
• Training and Support
• Schedule of SI Courses and Open Positions

How can I apply to be an SI Leader?

To apply to be a SI Leader, submit the following typed documents via e-mail attachment (to czywicki@iastate.edu) or in-person at the Academic Success Center (1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center):

• .doc | .pdf Application Form (Required)
• .doc | .pdf Reference Form (Minimum of One written reference required; additional references accepted.)
• Current Resume (Not required, but strongly preferred to support your application. Please include work experiences, colleges/universities attended, and extracurricular activities.)

What is Supplemental Instruction?

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic support program utilizing peer-assisted study sessions to assist students with traditionally difficult academic courses. SI sessions are an opportunity for students to work together with other classmates to ask questions, prepare for examinations, compare notes, discuss readings, and develop organizational tools.

What are the SI Leaders' responsibilities?

SI Leaders are peer students responsible for leading a minimum of three 50-minute peer-facilitated sessions per week for his/her assigned course. Primary SI Leader responsibilities include:

• Facilitating at least 3 SI sessions every week using collaborative and active learning strategies.
• Sitting in on the lectures for the assigned class every week.
• Taking notes on the material covered in the lectures.
• Making announcements in class about when and where SI sessions will be held.
• Developing a working relationship with the professor/TA for the course.
• Attending a training session at the beginning of the semester.
• Generally publicize the program.
• Attending all staff meetings/training.
• Additional administrative responsibilities.

All SI Leader responsibilities typically take about 10 hours per week, which leaves time for other employment or leadership experiences. We require SI Leaders to ensure those 10 hours per week are dedicated to SI.

What are the benefits of being an SI Leader?

The SI Leader is a paid, professional opportunity ideally for student leaders who want to:

• Build rapport with an academic department.
• Develop facilitation and teaching skills.
• Review an academic discipline in preparation for an advanced degree.
• Help peer students develop study skills.

SI Leaders earn a stipend for the semester that varies according to experience. New SI Leaders are paid $1360 during their first semester ($8.50 per hour, 10 hours per week, for 16 weeks).

Minimum Qualifications Needed to Apply:

Qualifications are listed below. For special circumstances, please follow the links provided after each qualification. Students interested in the SI Leader position who do not meet all general qualifications are encouraged to contact the SI Coordinator to discuss your circumstances.

Minimum General Qualifications:

• Must be enrolled as an Iowa State University student, undergraduate preferred.
  • Graduate students, please read
  • Transfer students, please read
  • International students, please read
• Meet the following GPA conditions:
  • Must have an established ISU minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Must have a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher for the most recent semester completed. (Exceptions for study abroad, co-ops, and other experiential opportunities.)
• Must be an enrolled Iowa State University student while an SI Leader.
• Must be able to attend all SI meetings and training sessions.
• Must be friendly and enjoy working with people.

Minimum Course-Specific Qualifications (Qualifications apply to each course for which you are interested in being a Leader):

• Must have completed the course at Iowa State University, earning a B+ grade or higher; Special exceptions:
  • Did you test out of the course, or complete credit for the course at another institution? Please read.
  • Are you currently enrolled in the course? Please read.
  • Completion of higher level coursework is also acceptable. Please read.
• Must be willing and able to attend all scheduled lectures for the course.
• Must be able to plan and facilitate at least three 50-minute SI sessions per week.
• Must have demonstrated content knowledge in the subject area of the course.

Frequently Asked Questions and Exceptions

I am still enrolled in a course for which I want to apply to be a Leader. Can I apply?
You can apply to be an SI Leader for the upcoming semester if you are still enrolled in the course. If your final grade has not been determined by the time you apply, please have your current instructor complete the Current Grade Form (.doc or .pdf). This form will be used to gauge your current progress in the course. If you are offered a future SI Leader position prior to completion of the course, your offer will be conditional until your final grade in the course can be verified.

Can I be a Leader for a course while I am enrolled in the course?
No.

Can I apply to be a Leader for a course that I have tested out of or will not take at ISU?
For some courses, we will consider you as a candidate for a course you will not take at ISU, if you have already completed related, higher-level coursework. For example, an applicant who has completed MATH 166 can still be considered for the following positions: MATH 150, 151, 165, and 166.

You may also apply for SI Leader positions for courses you completed at another institution, assuming you understand that the course content at ISU may differ from your own experience. You may be asked to provide a transcript showing the grade received in the course.

Can I be a Leader for a course that is not in my major?
Yes. Many courses for which SI is offered are required for a variety of majors, which means you will have the content knowledge needed for the course for which you will be a Leader.

Can I apply anytime? --or-- What if I miss the deadline?
We accept applications at any time from individuals who want to be considered for any future SI Leader openings. It is generally best to apply as soon as you are interested.

We will establish a "priority deadline" each semester for the upcoming term. SI positions are for one semester at a time. The priority deadlines coincides with the reapplication process for experienced Leaders who want to return for another semester. Applying by the priority guarantees all qualified applicants an interview, and first consideration for open positions.

Priority Deadlines are:

• November 15 (for Spring SI Leader positions)
• April 15 (for Fall SI Leader positions)

Although the priority deadline has passed for fall 2009 positions, we will accept and review applications for positions that remain open on an on-going basis. Hence, we suggest that you submit an application at any time as an expression of your intent, and we will follow-up with you as we have openings fitting your interests.

Can I apply if I am a graduate student?
Yes. Overall, we do want to hire the best candidates possible. There are a few reasons why we prefer our Leaders to be undergraduate students, but we will accept applications from any currently enrolled ISU student, regardless of classification. If you are a graduate student, you should recognize the following:

• Being a Teaching Assistant and SI Leader for the same course/section is likely a conflict of interest.
• The SI Leader position does not qualify as an assistantship, and does not include the benefits of an assistantship.
• SI Leader's commitments consume 10 hours of work per week, which counts towards the limit of hours that could be worked.

We recommend that graduate students secure a graduate assistantship first, and discuss possible hour commitments for additional work on campus with their faculty advisor. If at least 10 hours is available for SI and there are no conflicts of interest, then please apply to be an SI Leader. Graduate students with less than 10 hours of available time are encouraged to apply to be a tutor.

Can I apply if I am an international student?
Yes, if you have "work eligible immigration status." To check on your status, please contact the International Students and Scholars Office (3248 Memorial Union, 294-1120). Please verify your work eligibility before applying.

Can I apply if I will be transferring to Iowa State University, or if I transferred to ISU?
Yes. Transfer students should submit a copy of their transcript from their current institution to demonstrate their academic ability, based on GPA and grades in specific coursework. Since differences may exist between your prior course content and the course(s) for which you want to be an SI Leader, also be prepared to demonstrate how your prior course content relates to the Iowa State University course content. You can refer to the University Catalog for comparison of courses.

Training and Support of SI Leaders

We provide new SI Leaders with an initial training and orientation to the position and program, which is scheduled for the Saturday and Sunday before classes begin each semester. Throughout the semester, all Leaders experience on-going training designed to help Leaders develop strategies to strengthen skills. We believe every skill Leaders develop is transferable to numerous future careers. We do not provide SI Leaders with training in any content area, which is why this knowledge is expected prior to application.

Which courses will have SI?

Courses are typically determined one semester in advance. The schedule for fall 2009 will be finalized in July, 2009. On your application, please list all courses for which you are interested in being an SI Leader and you feel qualified, including courses that are not currently listed in our schedule.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Academic Consulting, Academic Intervention, Psych 131, Supplemental Instruction, and Tutoring Services
1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, Ames, Iowa 50011
(515) 294-6624

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