Students who regularly participate in the Academic Resource Center's Supplemental Instruction (SI) program can expect to score between 0.20 and 0.30 grade points higher in the class for which they use SI compared to students in the same class who do not seek such help. This is one of the main findings of a recent report by Interim Director of Evaluation and Assessment Gary Coyne and Graduate Student Researcher Michaela Curran. The full report and the findings generally show a positive impact on course grades for students who regularly participate in SI and, moreover, the impact remains when factors that often relate to student grades (such as high school GPA and class level) are accounted for.

SI provides additional coverage of course material in hour long sessions lead by trained undergraduates. SI has typically been offered for lower division courses in math and the sciences, and the full report suggest ways SI could be expanded to benefit more students. Additional information about the Academic Resource Center and Supplemental Instruction can be found on those programs' websites.