It’s Complicated Stretching the Boundaries of SI Partnerships to Better Serve Students It’s Complicated Stretching the Boundaries of SI Partnerships to Better Serve Students Presented May th Regional Conference on Supplemental Instruction Maggie Floyd, Director SI Tomás Rivera Center

Campus Partnerships: Goals Overview of UTSA Campus PartnershipsOverview of UTSA Campus Partnerships Description of Expanded Partnership with Department of AccountingDescription of Expanded Partnership with Department of Accounting Discussion: Benefits, Challenges & StrategiesDiscussion: Benefits, Challenges & Strategies Overview of UTSA Campus PartnershipsOverview of UTSA Campus Partnerships Description of Expanded Partnership with Department of AccountingDescription of Expanded Partnership with Department of Accounting Discussion: Benefits, Challenges & StrategiesDiscussion: Benefits, Challenges & Strategies

Overview of UTSA Public research HSI offering 158 degree programsPublic research HSI offering 158 degree programs 28,628 Students in Fall ,628 Students in Fall % of UTSA students come from groups underrepresented in higher education.58% of UTSA students come from groups underrepresented in higher education. 55% are first-generation55% are first-generation college students. Public research HSI offering 158 degree programsPublic research HSI offering 158 degree programs 28,628 Students in Fall ,628 Students in Fall % of UTSA students come from groups underrepresented in higher education.58% of UTSA students come from groups underrepresented in higher education. 55% are first-generation55% are first-generation college students. View our VSA page at

Tomás Rivera Center Supplemental InstructionSupplemental Instruction Tutoring ServicesTutoring Services –Quantitative Skills Tutoring Lab –Course Prep & Non-Course Based Developmental Learning Assistance – study skills workshops and academic coaching for both undergraduate and graduate studentsLearning Assistance – study skills workshops and academic coaching for both undergraduate and graduate students Access College and Excel Program (ACE) – Scholarship program for students from low income school districts in San AntonioAccess College and Excel Program (ACE) – Scholarship program for students from low income school districts in San Antonio Supplemental InstructionSupplemental Instruction Tutoring ServicesTutoring Services –Quantitative Skills Tutoring Lab –Course Prep & Non-Course Based Developmental Learning Assistance – study skills workshops and academic coaching for both undergraduate and graduate studentsLearning Assistance – study skills workshops and academic coaching for both undergraduate and graduate students Access College and Excel Program (ACE) – Scholarship program for students from low income school districts in San AntonioAccess College and Excel Program (ACE) – Scholarship program for students from low income school districts in San Antonio Visit the TRC online at:

Supplemental Instruction at UTSA Support for historically difficult core courses at UTSA since 1996Support for historically difficult core courses at UTSA since Courses & 294 Course Sections (158 F-2014 & 136 SP-2015)34 Courses & 294 Course Sections (158 F-2014 & 136 SP-2015) 9,987 SI Students & 41,056 Contact Hours AY ,987 SI Students & 41,056 Contact Hours AY Full-time Staff & ~ SI Leaders6 Full-time Staff & ~ SI Leaders SI Operations largely funded by Student Fee on Supported Core Curriculum CoursesSI Operations largely funded by Student Fee on Supported Core Curriculum Courses Support for historically difficult core courses at UTSA since 1996Support for historically difficult core courses at UTSA since Courses & 294 Course Sections (158 F-2014 & 136 SP-2015)34 Courses & 294 Course Sections (158 F-2014 & 136 SP-2015) 9,987 SI Students & 41,056 Contact Hours AY ,987 SI Students & 41,056 Contact Hours AY Full-time Staff & ~ SI Leaders6 Full-time Staff & ~ SI Leaders SI Operations largely funded by Student Fee on Supported Core Curriculum CoursesSI Operations largely funded by Student Fee on Supported Core Curriculum Courses

SI Partnerships at UTSA: Faculty Faculty consent to have an SI Leader assigned to their course section.Faculty consent to have an SI Leader assigned to their course section. Between faculty each semesterBetween faculty each semester –TT to NTT –Full-time to Part-time –Graduate Teaching Assistants Faculty consent to have an SI Leader assigned to their course section.Faculty consent to have an SI Leader assigned to their course section. Between faculty each semesterBetween faculty each semester –TT to NTT –Full-time to Part-time –Graduate Teaching Assistants

Faculty Resources New Faculty Outreach Letter New Faculty Outreach Letter What to Expect from Your SI Leader Handout What to Expect from Your SI Leader Handout Sample Communications with Faculty Sample Communications with Faculty

SI Partnerships at UTSA: Faculty What we ask of our faculty: Class time to conduct 1 st week survey and to promote SI sessionsClass time to conduct 1 st week survey and to promote SI sessions Weekly “meeting” with SI leader who is prepared to share plans and learning resourcesWeekly “meeting” with SI leader who is prepared to share plans and learning resources Sessions attendance endorsements to studentsSessions attendance endorsements to students Communication with SI Director if concerns ariseCommunication with SI Director if concerns arise Recommend students for SI Leader positionsRecommend students for SI Leader positions What we ask of our faculty: Class time to conduct 1 st week survey and to promote SI sessionsClass time to conduct 1 st week survey and to promote SI sessions Weekly “meeting” with SI leader who is prepared to share plans and learning resourcesWeekly “meeting” with SI leader who is prepared to share plans and learning resources Sessions attendance endorsements to studentsSessions attendance endorsements to students Communication with SI Director if concerns ariseCommunication with SI Director if concerns arise Recommend students for SI Leader positionsRecommend students for SI Leader positions

SI Partnerships: The Departments Department chair meeting prior to beginning SI for a new course:Department chair meeting prior to beginning SI for a new course: –Information gathering / insight on factors driving high DFW rates –Informal gauge of administrative support Report program assessment results to Department administration - Chair, Assistant Chair or Course Lead Instructor annually.Report program assessment results to Department administration - Chair, Assistant Chair or Course Lead Instructor annually. Department chair meeting prior to beginning SI for a new course:Department chair meeting prior to beginning SI for a new course: –Information gathering / insight on factors driving high DFW rates –Informal gauge of administrative support Report program assessment results to Department administration - Chair, Assistant Chair or Course Lead Instructor annually.Report program assessment results to Department administration - Chair, Assistant Chair or Course Lead Instructor annually.

ACC 2013: Principles of Accounting I Required for all College of Business Students – Not part of Core CurriculumRequired for all College of Business Students – Not part of Core Curriculum 1,500 students enroll each year1,500 students enroll each year Taught primarily by Ph.d students and part-time NTTTaught primarily by Ph.d students and part-time NTT Standardized curriculum, common exams, homework, and course projectsStandardized curriculum, common exams, homework, and course projects course sections each Fall and Spring semester10-11 course sections each Fall and Spring semester Required for all College of Business Students – Not part of Core CurriculumRequired for all College of Business Students – Not part of Core Curriculum 1,500 students enroll each year1,500 students enroll each year Taught primarily by Ph.d students and part-time NTTTaught primarily by Ph.d students and part-time NTT Standardized curriculum, common exams, homework, and course projectsStandardized curriculum, common exams, homework, and course projects course sections each Fall and Spring semester10-11 course sections each Fall and Spring semester

ACC 2013: Principles of Accounting I History of student and faculty requests for SIHistory of student and faculty requests for SI Department was providing tutoring through Teaching AssistantsDepartment was providing tutoring through Teaching Assistants DFW rate ~ 50% with average section enrollment of studentsDFW rate ~ 50% with average section enrollment of students History of student and faculty requests for SIHistory of student and faculty requests for SI Department was providing tutoring through Teaching AssistantsDepartment was providing tutoring through Teaching Assistants DFW rate ~ 50% with average section enrollment of studentsDFW rate ~ 50% with average section enrollment of students

ACC 2013: Principles of Accounting I Department Chair proposed combining resources to provide SI support to all sections of ACC 2013Department Chair proposed combining resources to provide SI support to all sections of ACC 2013 TRC SI leaders & Departmental Teaching AssistantsTRC SI leaders & Departmental Teaching Assistants Department provided:Department provided: –Teaching Assistants to serve as SI Leaders –Textbooks –Learning Resources (drill sheets) –Access to Online Homework Software –Faculty Meeting (beginning of each semester) Department Chair proposed combining resources to provide SI support to all sections of ACC 2013Department Chair proposed combining resources to provide SI support to all sections of ACC 2013 TRC SI leaders & Departmental Teaching AssistantsTRC SI leaders & Departmental Teaching Assistants Department provided:Department provided: –Teaching Assistants to serve as SI Leaders –Textbooks –Learning Resources (drill sheets) –Access to Online Homework Software –Faculty Meeting (beginning of each semester)

ACC 2013: Principles of Accounting I SI Program provided:SI Program provided: –Training for all Teaching Assistants and SI Leaders –Supervision of TA & SI –Assigned Study Rooms for ACC SI sessions –Promotion of SI sessions on campus –Assessment of Program outcomes.... basically everything we already do for supported courses. SI Program provided:SI Program provided: –Training for all Teaching Assistants and SI Leaders –Supervision of TA & SI –Assigned Study Rooms for ACC SI sessions –Promotion of SI sessions on campus –Assessment of Program outcomes.... basically everything we already do for supported courses.

Components of TA Agreement Implement SI model demonstrating commitment to the facilitator’s peer relationship with studentsImplement SI model demonstrating commitment to the facilitator’s peer relationship with students Complete mandatory pre-semester SI leader trainingComplete mandatory pre-semester SI leader training Attend weekly in-service meetings with Accounting teamAttend weekly in-service meetings with Accounting team Full participation with SI supervisory structure – session observations and peer observationsFull participation with SI supervisory structure – session observations and peer observations Submit session plans, sign-in sheets and any other necessary paperwork by established deadlinesSubmit session plans, sign-in sheets and any other necessary paperwork by established deadlines Comply with all SI program policies and proceduresComply with all SI program policies and procedures Implement SI model demonstrating commitment to the facilitator’s peer relationship with studentsImplement SI model demonstrating commitment to the facilitator’s peer relationship with students Complete mandatory pre-semester SI leader trainingComplete mandatory pre-semester SI leader training Attend weekly in-service meetings with Accounting teamAttend weekly in-service meetings with Accounting team Full participation with SI supervisory structure – session observations and peer observationsFull participation with SI supervisory structure – session observations and peer observations Submit session plans, sign-in sheets and any other necessary paperwork by established deadlinesSubmit session plans, sign-in sheets and any other necessary paperwork by established deadlines Comply with all SI program policies and proceduresComply with all SI program policies and procedures

Campus Partnerships: Benefits Meeting expectation from UTSA administration for interdepartmental collaborations.Meeting expectation from UTSA administration for interdepartmental collaborations. Teaching Assistants receive professional development that the department does not offer in the form of structured feedback and coaching.Teaching Assistants receive professional development that the department does not offer in the form of structured feedback and coaching. Department administration has deeper understanding of the SI model and are now among our strongest advocates.Department administration has deeper understanding of the SI model and are now among our strongest advocates. Meeting expectation from UTSA administration for interdepartmental collaborations.Meeting expectation from UTSA administration for interdepartmental collaborations. Teaching Assistants receive professional development that the department does not offer in the form of structured feedback and coaching.Teaching Assistants receive professional development that the department does not offer in the form of structured feedback and coaching. Department administration has deeper understanding of the SI model and are now among our strongest advocates.Department administration has deeper understanding of the SI model and are now among our strongest advocates.

Partnership Agreement: Benefits Increase student satisfaction. We are serving a broader student population at UTSA – meeting student needs and providing outstanding service.Increase student satisfaction. We are serving a broader student population at UTSA – meeting student needs and providing outstanding service. 30% student engagement in ACC 2013 SI sessions (Five percentage points above our student engagement in Core courses)30% student engagement in ACC 2013 SI sessions (Five percentage points above our student engagement in Core courses) Increase student satisfaction. We are serving a broader student population at UTSA – meeting student needs and providing outstanding service.Increase student satisfaction. We are serving a broader student population at UTSA – meeting student needs and providing outstanding service. 30% student engagement in ACC 2013 SI sessions (Five percentage points above our student engagement in Core courses)30% student engagement in ACC 2013 SI sessions (Five percentage points above our student engagement in Core courses) Positive Impact on Student Grades Positive Impact on Student Grades

SI Partnership: Challenges Initial buy-in from experienced Teaching AssistantsInitial buy-in from experienced Teaching Assistants –Meet individually with Director of SI –Sign Graduate Teaching Assistant “Agreement” –Expectation for full integration into SI team – no Us vs. Them Accountability of Teaching AssistantsAccountability of Teaching Assistants –Managing performance –Celebrating success Faculty blurring lines between SI and TA rolesFaculty blurring lines between SI and TA roles Availability of Teaching Assistants during Spring semesters (internships)Availability of Teaching Assistants during Spring semesters (internships) Initial buy-in from experienced Teaching AssistantsInitial buy-in from experienced Teaching Assistants –Meet individually with Director of SI –Sign Graduate Teaching Assistant “Agreement” –Expectation for full integration into SI team – no Us vs. Them Accountability of Teaching AssistantsAccountability of Teaching Assistants –Managing performance –Celebrating success Faculty blurring lines between SI and TA rolesFaculty blurring lines between SI and TA roles Availability of Teaching Assistants during Spring semesters (internships)Availability of Teaching Assistants during Spring semesters (internships)

Campus Partnerships: Challenges Let’s Collaborate Form Small Discussion Groups (2 to 3 people) Identify 1 or 2 Challenges Pass Index card to next group Develop Strategies (Poster Paper) Share & Discuss Let’s Collaborate Form Small Discussion Groups (2 to 3 people) Identify 1 or 2 Challenges Pass Index card to next group Develop Strategies (Poster Paper) Share & Discuss

Contact Information & Website Maggie Floyd, Director Supplemental Instruction University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas (210) utsasimaggiefloyd.weebly.com Maggie Floyd, Director Supplemental Instruction University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas (210) utsasimaggiefloyd.weebly.com