Supplemental instruction enthusiasts think that UAF may have found the Holy Grail for helping students succeed early on.

UAF this semester is testing a supplemental instruction program to help students succeed in classes with high failure rates. To do that, the university has recruited students who have passed the classes to teach new students in these extra course sessions.

"Historically, data shows that students who participate in these supplemental instruction sessions get one letter grade higher than they would have otherwise," said academic advisor Lillian Misel.

Classes with a large percentage of underclassmen are especially targeted. This semester, the supplemental instruction sessions are part of Terrence Cole's History 100 class and Peter Schweitzer's Anthropology 100 class, she said.

If this pilot semester goes well, Misel said the university is looking to offer supplemental sessions for Biology 105 and 111, Math 262, and continue it in History 100.

History student leader Karaline Naegele, 19, offers study sessions twice a week, each for one hour. She said supplemental instruction, "ideally, is supposed to be students teaching each other."

"The reasoning is if you can teach someone, then you know the material yourself," she said. "So I simply try and guide the topics and keep conversation on relevant subjects. Of course I can answer questions as well, but mainly we want the students to do the answering."

Like other student leaders, Naegele has taken the class in the past. She uses her prior knowledge of the subject to help answer students' questions, as well as taking notes in class to keep up with where the class is currently at.

According to Naegele, the supplemental instruction leaders are also able to give professors feedback about what students are having trouble with.

Michelle Vieira, one of two student leaders for Anthropology 100, offers office hours in addition to helping to run the study sessions.

"Between Jaqi [the other Anthropology student leader] and me, there are four sessions a week," said Vieira, a junior anthropology major. "There are also three days where we have office hours."

Students do not get credit for attending the sessions as part of the supplemental instruction program, but professors are free to set up credit as they wish, Vieira and Naegele said. Cole offers extra credit to students who attend a session, while those in Schweitzer's class are offered the chance to better understand exam material.

Naegele said she has had a fairly consistent stream of students at her sessions. While Vieira's sessions have had fewer participants, both feel that the program is benefiting those who take advantage of them.

"The few students that actually come to the sessions say that it helped them," Vieira said.

"As a bonus, they've already begun studying for the exam," said Naegele. "This leaves less cramming for the end."

In addition to helping students perform more successfully in their classes, Misel said the program hopes to teach students study skills that they can use all throughout college.

According to Misel, this is not the first time supplemental instruction has been tried at UAF. The program was used for a short time in 2003, but wasn't continued for logistical reasons.

The program began at the University of Missouri- Kansas City more than 30 years ago. Since then, it has been adopted at college campuses across the US, Misel said.

This time around, it was inspired by Dana Thomas, assistant provost for general studies, who revisited the idea, Misel said.

"Really, it's one of the best ways to reach out to students without having to charge them," Misel said. "It's a cost-effective way to increase student success."