Other responsibilities can be assigned to designees. That, of course, is what SI does, i.e., becomes the professor's designee and does for the professor what he or she would like to do if time in the classroom were more abundant. In the SI model, mentorship stands at the center of students' relationship with the SI leader, a peer or near-peer who has previously done well in the class. The leader assumes the mantle of the model student who attends all lectures, takes exemplary notes, and in every way demonstrates the qualities which will assure success in the course. The leader convenes sessions outside class hours.
Students attend voluntarily.
SI produces the most dramatic results in the traditional high risk classes where assistance is available to all students in the class. Improvement in student performance and reduction in attrition rates attest to the overall success of the SI model and the mentorship it embodies. Martin, D.C., Arendale, D., and Associates. Noel, L., Levitz, R., Saluri, D., and Associates. Effective Programs and Practices for Reducing the Dropout Rate.