The University of Iowa’s Supplemental Instruction (SI) program experienced its most successful year to date in 2024–25, with more than 22,000 visits to its space in the Iowa Memorial Union and 3,054 unique participants in the program.
SI pairs trained student leaders with students in historically challenging courses to facilitate collaborative study sessions. These free sessions are voluntary, open to all students in the supported course, and proven to have a measurable impact on learning outcomes.
Students who attended SI sessions once per week earned final course grades 5 percentage points higher than peers who didn’t participate. Those who attended 20 or more sessions in a semester saw an 8-point increase in final course grades.
“Our SI leaders are not only helping students learn the material, but also how to learn effectively,” says Stephanie Huntington, director of the Office of Student Learning. “We’ve found that students who participate in the program are able to gain confidence in their academic skills and carry that throughout their time in college.”
What’s next for SI
To better integrate SI with other campus learning supports, most SI sessions moved to the Main Library at the start of the fall 2025 semester. Sessions will be held in a temporary second-floor space (LIB 2024) during the 2025-26 academic year, with plans to relocate to a permanent location in the library in the future.
“By offering Supplemental Instruction at the Main Library, we’re making it even easier for students to get the academic support they need, right alongside the resources they’re already using to learn and study,” says Tanya Uden-Holman, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of University College.
John Culshaw, Jack B. King University Librarian adds, “Offering SI sessions in the same building where students go to study and find research support will help establish the Main Library as a campus hub for academic success, aligning with the UI’s strategic plan efforts to increase student retention and graduation.”