SI-PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions)
SI-PASS provides regularly scheduled, peer-led study sessions for difficult courses. SI-PASS sessions focus on using effective study techniques to master difficult course content, so you learn what to learn and how to learn at the same time. SI-PASS is free and available to all students enrolled in courses supported by SI-PASS.
For the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester, all SI-PASS sessions will be hosted online with Zoom. To attend an SI-PASS session for your supported course, open the SI-PASS schedule on this page, and follow the appropriate "Join Meeting" link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students who attend SI-PASS regularly:
- Earn an average of 1/2 to 1 full letter grade higher than those who do not
- Have a better understanding of course material
- Develop effective study skills that can be applied to other courses
SI-PASS Leaders are U of I students who have taken difficult courses and been successful in them. SI-PASS Leaders attend class for the course which they support and provide informal, structured study sessions focused on the most difficult concepts covered in class.
A typical SI-PASS session is an hour-long meeting in a classroom on campus and might include a review of lecture and assigned readings, group work and discussion, problem-solving and critical thinking activities or a mock exam. The SI-PASS Leader’s primary focus is to assist students in understanding the course material while helping them to develop effective study skills that are applicable to the content. The SI-PASS Leaders will never structure SI-PASS sessions as a forum to re-lecture to students who missed class.
A historically difficult course is a course with relatively high rates of students receiving a final grade of D or F or withdrawing from the course. SI-PASS supports courses with 20% or higher DFW rates, which preference given to courses with DFW rates higher than 25%. SI-PASS also considers the average enrollment and student perception of these courses when deciding which courses to support, as well as other support options on campus.