eLearning Regular Substantive Interaction (RSI)

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) in distance education refers to meaningful, consistent engagement between students and their instructors or course content. RSI ensures that students do more than passively consume information—they are actively participating in a guided learning process.

The U.S. Department of Education mandates that all online courses eligible for Title IV federal financial aid funds "ensure that there is regular and substantive interaction between students and faculty." This applies to all types of online learning environments, including asynchronous, synchronous, and blended/hybrid formats.

To meet RSI standards, interactions must:

• Be with an instructor.

• Be initiated by the instructor.

• Be scheduled and predictable.

• Be academic in nature and relevant to the course.

Substantive interaction includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing pre-recorded lectures or videos contextualizing course content.

• Facilitating group discussions about course material or competencies.

• Hosting live class sessions or synchronous activities.

• Engaging students in interactive activities created by the instructor.

• Facilitating collaborative group projects with instructor guidance.

• Scheduling one-on-one virtual meetings with students.

• Assessing or providing feedback on coursework.

• Responding to questions or providing additional information about the course content.

RSI is vital because it fosters student engagement, promotes a deeper understanding of course material, clarifies uncertainties, and allows instructors to monitor student progress and provide timely support. It also builds active learning communities in online environments.