Meeting 15: September 15, 2026

Opener: 

• Share in the chat one win you've had this fall so far!

  • Taylor: a lot of training!

  • Sara: all SI leaders (except 2) attended the first monthly meeting (an improvement from usual attendance)

  • Jackie: a lot of training!

  • Heather: used AI to create strategy cards

  • Kalli: moved offices and services to another building and have seen an increase in traffic

Discussion #1: 

• Zoom Poll - who's here!

  • Chanté launched a Zoom poll for people to fill out to indicate where they are.

    • All members introduced themselves and their institutions:

      • Laine: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; noted camera issues; identified as a Planning Committee member who maintains the website and takes notes.

      • Kaili: Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa.

      • Christine Huang: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Planning Committee member.

      • Heather Camp: Minnesota State University, Minnesota.

      • Sara Keenan: Rockhurst University, Missouri (four-year private); Planning Committee member.

      • Candy: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska; noted the institution's non-traditional mix of undergraduate through postgraduate programs.

      • James: Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota.

      • Chante: University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC); Planning Committee member and meeting facilitator.

    • Participants represented Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

    • The Planning Committee (Chante, Christine Huang, Sara Keenan, Laine) was acknowledged for organizing meetings and maintaining resources.

• Past Meeting Structure:

  • Meeting Topics:

    • Meeting 1: Leadership & Coaching - PD presentation

    • Meeting 2: Program Management & Operations - open convo

    • Meeting 3: Faculty & Campus Partnerships - panel discussion

    • Meeting 4: Data, Assessment & Reporting - open convo

      • Chanté reviewed what was discussed in meetings in the previous year and the general structure that the group has had for the past year 

  • Meeting Days:

    • Fridays - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

• What should the Fall 2026 meetings look like?

  • What should be prioritized this fall?

    • Sara Keenan: Suggested focusing on attendance and engagement — getting students to come to sessions and engage once there, based on feedback from her own SI leaders.

    • Kaili: Expressed strong interest in online SI sessions — how to structure them, drive engagement, and what tools/platforms to use; noted her institution is piloting online sessions this semester with limited success.

    • Taylor: Seconded Kaili's interest in online sessions, noting that in-person attendance is low for nursing prerequisite courses and Zoom sessions are being considered.

    • Chante: Highlighted data storytelling — what data programs collect and how it is shared with students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

    • Heather Camp: Requested discussion on combined SI and tutoring program models, as her institution is currently restructuring to merge the two offices.

    • Christine Huang: Confirmed Wayne State University operates a combined SI, tutoring, co-study group, and academic skills development model; offered for others to shadow their online SI sessions via Zoom.

    • Taylor: Confirmed Missouri Western State University also combines SI and content tutoring, with SI leaders offering content tutoring hours as a backup for students.

  • What should the meetings look like?

    • Taylor mentioned that the open conversation structure should work well since it allows the option to share ideas

    • Kalli noted that she liked the idea of a mix since we might get more out of that

    • Christine mentioned that she would like to see more collaboration among the group (Midwest SI Directory)

  • When should the meetings be scheduled?

    • The group was unable to reach a consensus regarding the meeting time, so Chanté stated that she would send out another poll so that we can decide when to meet.

  • Fall Meeting Schedule (Topics)

    • Four core topic areas were identified:

      • Hiring, marketing, and recruitment (tentatively scheduled for October)

      • Program structure and combined services (partially discussed today; to be continued)

      • Professional development and online session tools/engagement (tentatively November)

      • Data storytelling and end-of-semester review (tentatively December)

    • Open discussion format was preferred, with guiding questions available if conversation stalls.

    • Guest speakers from participants' own institutions are encouraged when relevant to the topic

Discussion #2: if time permits

• What's top of mind for you right now?

  • Recruitment and Hiring: Participants shared how and when they recruit and hire SI Leaders for upcoming semesters.

    • Chante shared that UMKC opens its spring hiring application the following week, typically receives at least 60 applicants, keeps applications open throughout the spring semester, and conducts interviews before the semester begins.

    • Christine Huang explained that Wayne State opens hiring in October when registration begins. SI Leaders receive priority registration, allowing them to confirm availability before course assignments are finalized.

    • Taylor noted that Missouri Western begins hiring in November, relies heavily on faculty recommendations, sends offers directly to recommended students, and averages about five applicants per semester.

    • Kaili shared that Hawkeye Community College experiences similar recruitment challenges and addresses them through early instructor outreach, classroom visits, and interviews conducted after Thanksgiving break.

    • Conclusion:

      • Hiring timelines vary significantly based on institution size and structure.

      • Faculty referrals remain a valuable recruitment method, particularly for smaller programs.

      • Early outreach to instructors and students appears to improve applicant awareness and interest.

      • Participants agreed recruitment and hiring practices would be a strong topic for continued discussion during the October meeting.

• • Marketing Strategies: Participants discussed strategies for marketing SI services, recruiting leaders, and promoting services across campus.

    • Taylor asked whether anyone felt behind in marketing efforts due to the significant time devoted to training. During the discussion, Chante asked about training practices at Missouri Western, and Taylor explained that SI Leaders train together while tutors do not. Their SI Leaders also create their own recruitment flyers as part of training.

    • Participants discussed where recruitment and promotional materials are most effective, including residence halls, academic advising offices, classroom buildings, campus bulletin boards, bathrooms, digital displays, and targeted student communications.

    • Taylor shared that SI Leaders create their own flyers and day-one classroom presentations during training. Flyers are distributed across campus through the Center for Student Involvement, classroom spaces, residence halls, bathrooms, campus television displays, and faculty Canvas pages.

    • Christine Huang noted that Wayne State has largely moved away from physical flyers, instead relying on faculty Canvas announcements and large posters displayed in residence halls throughout the semester.

    • Kaili highlighted advisor partnerships as an effective outreach strategy, with advisors sharing SI information directly with students who may benefit from additional support.

    • Chante described UMKC's targeted email strategy, which includes communications to campus partners, students, faculty, service users, and recruitment candidates at specific points throughout the semester. Messages include service information, events, hiring opportunities, and social media promotion.

    • Conclusion:

      • Institutions continue to utilize a combination of physical and digital marketing strategies.

      • Targeted communication efforts appear more effective than frequent mass messaging.

      • Residence hall outreach, advisor partnerships, and leader-created marketing materials were identified as particularly valuable recruitment tools.

• • SI Leader and Tutor Appreciation: Participants shared how their institutions recognize and celebrate peer educators.

    • Chante asked participants whether they were planning any activities for SI Leader Appreciation Week. Responses varied, with some institutions planning celebrations during appreciation weeks and others recognizing leaders collectively at the end of the semester.

    • Chante shared that UMKC celebrates SI Leaders and Tutors during separate appreciation weeks with an off-week in between. Activities include canvas goodie bags, custom-designed stickers created through Canva, donuts, and appreciation notes collected from students, faculty, and staff through a Google Form. Submitted notes are shared with leaders and highlighted on social media.

    • Sara Keenan explained that Rockhurst combines SI and Tutor Appreciation into one celebration due to operating as a unified program, including activities such as unusual Oreo taste-testing events.

    • Laine noted that the University of Arkansas celebrates all peer support staff, including SI Leaders, tutors, and writing consultants, together at the end of each semester.

    • Christine Huang shared that Wayne State holds appreciation activities in November and December, with this year's recognition including fleece vests funded through a budget surplus.

    • Conclusion:

      • Programs with integrated peer support services often combine appreciation events into a single celebration.

      • Creative, low-cost recognition efforts such as appreciation notes, custom stickers, themed activities, and small gifts continue to be popular and impactful.

      • Canva was highlighted as a useful and affordable tool for creating customized appreciation materials and merchandise.

ICSI Updates:

• 2027 Global SI Leader Summit virtual conference

  • Early Bird Registration: August 31, 2026 - January 1, 2027

  • By SI Leaders, For SI Leaders (and other peer educators)

  • Proposals & Keynote windows will be open soon!

• Peer Leader Webinar Series

  • Still looking for a few peer leader presenters!

  • Peer leaders that attend 3+ webinars will qualify for the Commitment to SI Leadership Development Certificate 

• Community Catch-Ups

  • 10/7 - Hiring, Marketing, & Recruitment

  • 11/18 - Data & Analysis

  • 12/9 - SI Supervisor Toolkit

Closer: 5-8 minutes

• What is one challenge you'd like to address this Fall?

  • Sara shared that her primary challenge is trying to keep attendance thriving. This aligned with the broader discussion around student attendance and engagement in SI sessions.

  • Taylor identified getting more students to attend SI sessions as her biggest concern. Later in the meeting, she also asked whether anyone felt behind on marketing efforts due to the time required for training and discussed how SI Leaders at her institution create their own recruitment flyers.

  • Jackie highlighted a need for better student numbers, emphasizing a desire to increase participation and utilization of SI services.

  • Christine shared that one of her major goals this year is hiring two staff positions. She also discussed Wayne State's hiring timeline and marketing strategies, including faculty partnerships and residence hall advertising.

  • Kaili indicated that her focus is to expand SI to additional subjects and courses, increasing the reach of the program across campus. She also described recruitment efforts involving instructor outreach, classroom visits, and advisor partnerships.

  • Laine identified managing faculty expectations as a key challenge within her program. She later shared that the University of Arkansas celebrates peer educators collectively at the end of each semester.

• Common Themes:

  • Increasing student attendance and engagement.

  • Recruiting and hiring qualified SI Leaders.

  • Expanding SI services into additional disciplines.

  • Balancing marketing efforts with training and onboarding responsibilities.

  • Managing faculty relationships and expectations.

  • Demonstrating program impact through meaningful data and effective storytelling.

  • Navigating online SI implementation and engagement challenges.

  • Addressing operational complexities in combined SI and tutoring programs.