Written by Alexandra McClain
UPDATE (March 30):Junior Political Science major Jessica Klein, niece of Lori Klein, decided to continue free Supplemental Instructionsessions next year after Stephanie O’Brian graduates in May.
Although funding was recently cut for the Supplemental Istruction program at Harding, one student instructor decided to continue SI study sessions without pay.
Senior Stephanie O’Brian chose to keep teaching SI sessions for American National Government for free in order to help students.
Supplemental Instruction provides tutoring to students in courses with a high number of D’s, F’s and withdraws, mainly American National Government, International Relations and Chemistry.
Basically, sessions provide the opportunity for students in historically difficult classes to come together and master the material, as well as learn the study skills necessary to succeed in each class.
“When I found out no courses would have SI this semester, my heart truly broke. I cried, and I am not a crier,” O’Brian said.
O’Brian began teaching SI sessions during the fall of her sophomore year after taking American National Government with Lori Klein.
On national average, students who attend sessions usually score half a letter grade higher than students who do not. In O’Brian’s sessions, there is an entire letter grade difference. The national average is 5-10 students in each SI session. However, O’Brian’s sessions usually have around 20.
“My record is 69 students. Some were sitting on the floor. It was a good and hectic time,” O’Brian said.
O’Brian has had to scale back the number of sessions per week from three to one.
“I believe the professors felt guilty for me doing that many sessions with no pay,” O’Brian said.
O’Brian said she has met many of her friends in the sessions she’s led and feels a general sense of accomplishment when she helps students raise their grades.
“The decision to lead sessions without pay was easy, a true no brainer,” O’Brian said.
