Regular Substantive Interaction

At Cerritos College, all faculty teaching online courses are required to engage in Regular Substantive Interaction (RSI) with students throughout the entire course.  Just as “presence” is vital in face-to-face classrooms, RSI is the foundation of student success in the online environment.

RSI training is not just about compliance, it’s an opportunity to refine and strengthen your craft as an online educator. Even the most experienced faculty can discover new strategies to foster engagement, build connections and enhance student learning. Teaching is a profession of lifelong growth, and RSI provides a pathway to continue learning while enriching the student experience.

Faculty Responsibility 

  • Consistent interactions through regular and predictable communication to promote academic engagement
  • Timely feedback to support student learning and also address concerns promptly
  • Creates active student engagement that fosters meaningful participation and academic success

CTX Quick Guides

RSI Communication Plan

RSI Announcement Examples

RSI Feedback Examples

RSI Third-Party Tools

RSI Checklist

RSI Training and Accreditation

Cerritos College is currently in the midst of its campus-wide accreditation cycle. As part of this process, accreditors from the ACCJC will randomly select online courses and evaluate them for evidence of Regular Substantive Interaction (RSI). Ensuring that every course meets these standards is essential, not only for accreditation, but more importantly, for supporting student success.

To help faculty succeed, the Distance Education (DE) Team has created the RSI Training Hub and the Self-Assessment RSI Form. These resources are designed to guide instructors in understanding RSI requirements and aligning their courses with the College’s high standards.

The College requires 100% faculty participation from all full-time faculty and also part-time faculty teaching online in this process. By engaging fully, we demonstrate our collective commitment to quality online teaching and to the success of every Cerritos College student.

How to Complete Your RSI Training Requirements

Step Description
Step One Improve RSI knowledge: Navigate through the RSI Faculty Training Hub
Step Two Verify training: a) Complete two RSI quizzes on the RSI Training Hub, b) Fill out a Self-Assessment RSI Form for one course and c) Upload it in the RSI Faculty Training Hub.
Step Three For accreditation: Upload Self-Assessment RSI Forms to each online course you teach Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026

Deadline

All part-time and full-time faculty teaching online instruction (Asynchronous, Remote, Hybrid, or HyFlex) must complete all three required steps by November 10, 2025.

All full-time faculty, regardless of teaching modality, must complete all three steps by June 30, 2026.

Direct Questions regarding RSI to:

Angela Hoppe-Nagao, Accreditation Faculty Liaison

Terrance Mullins, Faculty Senate President

For more information: visit the RSI page on the Cerritos Online web page     

For assistance with RSI: please contact DE Coordinators