Kennesaw State University’s Supplemental Instruction (SI) program has received accreditation from the International Center for Supplemental Instruction (ICSI), making it the largest accredited SI program in the United States.
The SI program at Kennesaw State provides free weekly study sessions to students enrolled in select courses. These sessions are led by trained undergraduate peer leaders who have previously excelled in those courses. The goal is to help students reinforce classroom material, develop effective learning strategies, and improve performance in challenging subjects.
Mandy McGrew, director of supplemental instruction at KSU, described the ICSI accreditation as “the gold standard for Supplemental Instruction programs worldwide,” recognizing excellence in program design, training, and outcomes. She added, “This milestone affirms that our SI team has built a program that not only meets but exceeds international standards for supplemental instruction. We look forward to seeing the impact it will have on KSU students for years to come.”
According to McGrew, Kennesaw State hosts between 60 and 80 SI sessions daily across both campuses and online. In Spring 2025 alone, nearly 3,400 students attended about 14,000 study sessions; more than 13,000 sessions were attended during Fall 2025.
A total of 140 undergraduate students serve as SI leaders—the highest number among ICSI-accredited programs nationwide. These peer leaders facilitate study groups for classes they have mastered with top grades and offer guidance on learning strategies while connecting participants with additional campus resources.
“We try to be holistic and support our students in a way that goes beyond, ‘How do I solve this math problem?’” McGrew said. She noted that data shows students who attend at least one SI session per semester typically finish their classes a full letter grade higher than peers who do not participate.
Accounting major Mellayne Richards shared her experience both as an attendee and later as an SI leader: “The SI Department at KSU has truly transformed my college experience and the experiences of countless other students, and I’m grateful to be part of a program that makes a difference,” Richards said. “Being able to support students, encourage them, and watch them grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at KSU.”
Richards also explained how participating as an SI leader improved her public speaking skills and confidence while reinforcing her academic knowledge each week.
The university receives grant funding from the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to help support these student positions within the SI program.
“SI is having a broad impact for the students who attend these 14,000 sessions each semester, but it’s also having a really deep impact with the students who are working here,” McGrew said.
