Supplemental Instruction receives pair of awards
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program at the University of North Georgia (sa国际传媒官网网页入口) received the Exemplary Veteran SI Program award Jan. 5. A committee formed by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction (ICSI) determined sa国际传媒官网网页入口's program excelled in development, adaptability, collaboration, and integration.
In addition, Dr. Clay Kitchings, assistant dean of the College of Science & Mathematics and associate professor of mathematics, received an ICSI award, earning the SI Campus Champion award.
Supplemental Instruction is a teaching tool that helps students approach learning in a new way, by focusing on what and how to learn. sa国际传媒官网网页入口's program has seven SI associates whose work has helped lower sa国际传媒官网网页入口's DFW rates, which refers to the letter grades D, F and W (withdraw), by 19% since 2016.
"We have worked hard to make SI at sa国际传媒官网网页入口 a program that others can look to as an excellence standard, and this award just solidifies that," Sarah Dean, director of Supplemental Instruction said. "It's nice to receive the recognition for the work our students have done over the years. Our student leaders over the years are the only reason we could be considered for this award. They deserve all of the recognition."
Kitchings said his award testifies to the fact that sa国际传媒官网网页入口 offers high-quality training to student facilitators, as one of four programs in the state, and is a place where students can feel supported in multiple aspects of their academic training.
"I was humbled and honored to learn that I was selected for this award. I am so proud of the work our Supplemental Instructor facilitators do for our students across our campuses," Kitchings said. "I likely received this award because of the strengths of the phenomenal facilitators I have had the privilege to work with over the last several years."
It's nice to receive the recognition for the work our students have done over the years. Our student leaders over the years are the only reason we could be considered for this award. They deserve all of the recognition.
Sarah Dean
director of Supplemental Instruction
Kitchings also shared how SI helps grow student leaders like facilitator Charity Hefner, a junior from Loganville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in mathematics.
"The SI community is a huge cornerstone of my life, as they aren't just my coworkers, but my closest friends, who support me. The encouragement and shared experiences have had a major impact, from helping me navigate challenges to celebrating my successes," Hefner said.
Students place at national ag event
Students from sa国际传媒官网网页入口 turned in a litany of strong performances at the National Professional Agriculture Student Organization Conference in Branson, Missouri.
Crow earns Georgia health informatics scholarship
Recent sa国际传媒官网网页入口 graduate Tara Crow earned the Georgia HIMSS 2026 David Cowan Scholarship to support further education as she pursues a health informatics career.
Students present at regional biology event
Four students and six faculty members from the Biology Department presented their research at the March 25-28 Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Mobile, Alabama.
Alum presents cyber research at conference
sa国际传媒官网网页入口 alumnus Kian Esmaeili took his Honors Program thesis to the next level and presented it at IEEE SoutheastCon in Huntsville, Alabama.