Skip to Main Content

Revised 10/30/25

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is frequent and consistent engagement between instructors and online students throughout a course term. This interaction must be proactively initiated by the instructor and focus on guiding haumāna through course content and assessment.

RSI is a requirement for Distance Education (DE) courses at Windward Community College, based on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Windward Community College (WIN) instructors are expected to foster meaningful learning experiences with their online students through personalized interaction, helping to create transformative learning opportunities for students as they navigate through subject matter.

Regular Interaction

Regular interaction between the instructor and students must fulfill two criteria: it needs to be (1) regular and predictable, and must also involve (2) engaging with students and monitoring student progress.

WIN instructors should provide opportunities for substantive interaction at regular intervals and on a predictable schedule that is clearly communicated to students. The minimum expectation for substantive interaction opportunities is that these types of “regular” connections between instructor and student(s) occur at least once per week in a 16-week course, and more frequently in shorter (5-, 6-, or 8-week) courses.

Substantive Interaction

Substantive interaction is directly related to the course subject matter. Substantive interaction contributes to students’ progress towards course, program, and college learning objectives.

WIN instructors must use at least two of the following substantive interaction approaches to engage students in the teaching, learning, and assessment of course subject matter:

  • Providing direct instruction;
  • Providing individualized assessment of or feedback on a student’s coursework;
  • Providing substantive course-related guidance and/or answering in-depth student questions about course content; and/or
  • Facilitating group discussions regarding course content.
    • Discussions should be designed to allow for both student-teacher and student-student interaction; or assigning and facilitating peer feedback, group projects, or student-led instruction (student presentations, student-led discussions, etc.).
APPLY NOW