Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI)

Distance Education Definition Clarification

Per U.S. Department of Education regulations (34 CFR 600.2), all distance education courses must incorporate "regular and substantive interaction between the students and instructor" (RSI) to remain compliant. 

RSI compliance distinguishes the status of courses between distance education and correspondence courses. Correspondence courses are not eligible for financial aid. Institutions risk losing access to student financial aid if the institution is audited by the US Department of Education’s (DoE) Office of Inspector General, or as part of a periodic Departmental financial aid program review, and found to be out of compliance. Institutions may be required to repay financial aid associated with the correspondence courses and students.

Although RSI is a federal regulation, it aligns with effective instructional practices. RSI is essential because it keeps students engaged, helps clarify uncertainties, promotes deeper understanding of the material, and allows instructors to gauge student progress and provide necessary support. In online teaching and learning environments of any kind, (asynchronous, synchronous, blended/hybrid), regular and substantive interactions must:

• Be with an instructor as defined by the institution’s accreditor.

• Be initiated by the instructor.

• Be scheduled and predictable.

• Be academic in nature and relevant to the course.

• Be a substantive interaction, which (assumes instructor-initiated academic interaction that is scheduled and predictable and) engages learners in teaching, learning, and assessment, consistent with the content under discussion, and also includes at least two of the following:

  • Providing direct instruction (i.e., live synchronous online interactions where instructor and learners are present online at the same time);

  • Assessing or providing feedback on a student’s coursework;

  • Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency;  

  • Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency; or,

  • Other instructional activities approved by the institution’s or program’s accrediting agency.