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Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center

Logo: CRLA International Peer Educator Training Program Certification

Supplemental Instruction is an academic assistance program providing regularly scheduled out-of-class, peer-led study sessions for challenging courses. The free sessions, open to all students in targeted courses, are held two or three times each week throughout the semester, and special study sessions are added before exams.

More in-depth than tutoring, and led by students who have mastered the subjects, SI sessions integrate what you're learning in class with essential learning strategies. As a result, SI participants usually earn higher grades and withdraw from classes less often than other students.

Supplemental Instruction Overview

  • What is Supplemental Instruction?
    • Free academic support in some of the most challenging general education and/or gateway courses.
    • Collaborative, engaging, and interactive sessions, hosted by a trained SI Leader.
    • Occurs at least twice weekly, specific to the section/professor.
    • A proactive approach to ensuring student success.
  • What are the qualifications for SI Leaders (SIL)?
    • Students who have completed the course at UAB with at least a B+ and have at least 3.00 GPA.
    • Leaders complete a two-to-three hour training workshop.
      • All training is focused on metacognitive learning strategies and tools, using Bloom's Taxonomy to help students work their way into higher-level critical thinking skills.
    • You can expect your SIL to be well-versed in the subject material and study strategies.
  • Who will hires and trains SI Leaders?

    SILs are employed by the VMASC. Faculty recommend the student; we do the hiring, training, and payroll.

Download overview informationOpens a PDF.

Apply to be an SI

VMASC recruits, trains, and assigns new SI leaders every semester. To apply to be an SI leader, please apply through our online application. Before applying, interested students should pdfread the Position Description.

Supplemental Instruction - Peer Supported Courses

Biology

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
BY 115 AY Human Anatomy
BY 115 1D Human Anatomy
BY 115 2B Human Anatomy
BY 116 2B Human Physiology
BY 116 2E Human Physiology
BY 261 2A Intro to Microbiology
BY 271 2B Biology of Microorganisms
BY 330/530 2G Cell Biology/Graduate Cell Biology

Biology Café

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
BY 123 2D Introductory Biology I
BY 123 2F Introductory Biology I
BY 124 2D Introductory Biology II
BY 124 2E Introductory Biology II

Business

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
BUS 215 QL Foundations in Business Analytics
BUS 215 2E Foundations in Business Analytics

Chemistry

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
CH 105 1G Introductory Chemistry I
CH 105 1D Introductory Chemistry I
CH 105 QL Introductory Chemistry I
CH 107 1F Introductory Chemistry II
CH 115 1C General Chemistry I
CH 115 1E General Chemistry I
CH 115 2B General Chemistry I
CH 115 2D General Chemistry I
CH 115 2E General Chemistry I
CH 115 QL General Chemistry I
CG 117 1B General Chemistry II
CG 117 QLA General Chemistry II
CH 235 1D Organic Chemistry I
CH 235 2A Organic Chemistry I
CH 235 2F Organic Chemistry I
CH 237 2A Organic Chemistry II
CH 245 2B Hon Organic Chemistry I

Computer Science

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
CS 103 2E Introduction to CS in Python
CS 203 1F Object-Oriented Programming
CS 250 2E Discrete Structures

Healthcare Management

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
HCM 316 HP Accounting and Finance for HC
HCM 316 QL Accounting and Finance for HC

Mathematics

SubjectCourseSectionCourse Title
MA 94 QL Basic Mathematics
MA 98 QL Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZN Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZNA Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZND Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZNF Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZNG Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZNI Basic Algebra
MA 98 ZNJ Basic Algebra
MA 102 QL Intermediate Algebra
MA 102 ZN Intermediate Algebra
MA 102 ZNA Intermediate Algebra
MA 102 ZNB Intermediate Algebra
MA 102 ZNC Intermediate Algebra
MA 105 QL Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZNA Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZNB Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZNC Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZND Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZNE Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZN6 Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 105 ZNH Pre-Calculus Algebra
MA 10B QL Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZN Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZNA Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZNB Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZNC Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZND Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 10B ZNE Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
MA 110 QL Finite Mathematics
MA 110 ZN Finite Mathematics
MA 110 ZNA Finite Mathematics