UNLV Student and Academic Success (S.A.S.) is excited to announce that the Supplemental Instruction (SI) program is now officially accredited by The International Center for Supplemental Instruction. This significant achievement highlights our commitment to providing students with exceptional academic support and ensuring the highest quality of learning experience.
SI is a learning support intervention for historically challenging courses that utilize peer-led student sessions, which are complementary to the course, through a partnership with the professor. SI leaders are peers who previously completed the course with a strong grade. SI strives to help students improve their understanding of the course content, develop effective learning strategies, and perform well in the course. National data shows that students who attend SI sessions earn higher grades and withdraw from courses less often compared to those who do not participate in SI sessions. UNLV’s SI program mirrors this national data for academic achievement (SI Webpage, 2024), and is continually adding new course partnerships across campus.
By earning accreditation, UNLV is demonstrating that our program adheres to rigorous standards that contribute directly to these positive outcomes.
The accreditation process is robust, ensuring that the SI program follows key components of the University of Missouri-Kansas City “gold standard” model, which was first created in 1973. Below is a more detailed look at the criteria that demonstrates why national accreditation matters and what was needed to be awarded accreditation:
- Trained by the International Center — Two full-time staff team members, Agnes Haynes and Jessica Carr, received training from the International Center for SI at UMKC within the last five years, ensuring we are up to date on the latest practices and strategies for SI success.
- SI Leader Training and Support — SI leaders continually undergo intensive training at the start of each semester and receive continuous professional development throughout the academic year. SI leaders have the opportunity to observe ideal SI sessions and to practice facilitating their own, ensuring they are equipped to support students effectively throughout the semester.
- Strong Focus on Planning — SI leaders carefully create lesson plans for each session, organizing activities and anticipating student needs. Every session is structured with opening, middle, and closing activities, using collaborative learning techniques and other learning strategies. These plans are regularly reviewed and observed to provide constructive feedback.
- Class Attendance & Program Evaluation — SI Leaders attended more than 50% of class sessions, and our program consistently demonstrates strong student attendance and positive academic results. Students who participate in SI sessions show improved grades and lower DFW (D’s, F’s, and withdrawals) rates, supporting the research-backed claim that SI makes a difference.
This accreditation validates the effectiveness of UNLV's SI program and demonstrates dedication to continuous improvement. Our SI program is now part of an exclusive group of programs nationwide that meet these high standards (less than 70 colleges have a nationally accredited SI program), offering students an invaluable resource for academic success.
Agnes Haynes led and spearheaded the accreditation application process (including earning the UNLV accreditation award to support paying for this) with notable contributions from Jessica Carr, Dr. Anne White, and Whitney Heaton.
UNLV’s Student and Academic Success SI program currently partners with Biology, Chemistry, and Math courses and looks forward to continuing to expand its partnerships.
For those interested in partnering with UNLV’s SI program, contact SI@unlv.edu or visit the SI webpage for additional information.