Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is a federal requirement for distance education. It refers to consistent, instructor-initiated engagement with students that is academic in nature. RSI ensures that online courses are not just content delivery systems, but spaces for meaningful teaching and learning. 

RSI is essential for: 

• Federal compliance (Title IV financial aid eligibility) 

• Accreditation standards (ACCJC) 

• Student success and retention 

Courses that lack RSI may be classified as correspondence education, which can impact funding and institutional standing. Just as importantly, RSI ensures students engage with you, not just the materials — and that engagement is what drives persistence and success. 

Designing for RSI means intentionally building in elements such as: 

• Instructor-initiated communication (e.g., announcements, check-ins) 

• Timely, personalized feedback (gradebook comments, feedback in announcements) 

• Interactive discussions with instructor participation 

• Multimedia content with instructor guidance 

• Live instruction or office hours (for synchronous classes only) 

The goal is to ensure students regularly engage with you, not just the course materials. 

RSI is usually confirmed through documentation that is visible in the LMS. Keep in mind that external tools (LTIs) may not clearly display your interaction to reviewers, so it is important to make sure key examples are also visible within the Canvas itself.  

Reviewers may consider any visible evidence of regular, instructor-initiated interaction, looking for patterns across multiple forms of documentation. Common examples include: 

• Syllabi and module plans that show when and how interaction will take place 

• Activity logs in the LMS 

• Instructor feedback and communication (discussion boards, announcements, grading comments, etc.) 

• Instructor created or curated content embedded in the course (lecture videos, content pages, etc.) 

• Recorded live meetings of instruction or office hours (only for synchronous courses) 

For accreditation, it is important that RSI is visible to reviewers, who are looking for a regular, predictable pattern of at least two substantive interaction methods (such as providing instruction or information, facilitating discussions, and offering personalized feedback).

The DEC recommendations are provided to make it simple for you to achieve this standard and easy for reviewers to see the good work you are doing. 

Quick Takeaway: Make sure your presence is visible in more than one place — in your syllabus, in Canvas, and in your direct feedback to students. 

Your course homepage and communication plan are the first things students see when they enter the course. Your communication plan should also be included in the syllabus so that students and reviewers can clearly see when and how you will be present and responsive. This makes them powerful tools for establishing instructor presence. A welcoming homepage sets the tone for engagement, while a clear communication plan helps students know when and how they will hear from you. Together, they set the groundwork for regular and substantive interaction from the very beginning. 

Norco DEC Recommendations 

• Welcome & Presence  
  • A personalized welcome message (video or text) 
  • Instructor contact info and availability 
• Structure & Expectations  
  • Weekly rhythm or schedule of activities 
  • Clear expectations for communication (e.g., response times, feedback windows) 
  • Communication & Monitoring Plan included in the syllabus so students (and reviewers) know when and how you will be present and responsive 
• Support & Resources  
  • Links to important resources (syllabus, tech support, tutoring, etc.) 

Even small touches—like a friendly greeting or a note about when you check messages—can go a long way in helping students feel connected. 

Template Pages & Examples 

These template pages are designed to help you create a welcoming homepage and a clear communication plan—two key tools for building instructor presence and setting expectations. You can even download them from Canvas Commons and customize them to fit your course.

• Communication & Monitoring Plan + Homepage 
• How to Import Content from Canvas Commons

Video (Coming Soon) 

Quick Takeaway: Think of your homepage and syllabus as your first handshake with students: show them who you are, how to reach you, and when they will hear from you. 

Delivering course content is more than uploading readings or videos. It is about guiding students through the material in a way that reflects your presence and expertise, so students stay engaged with you, not just the course files. RSI requires that instruction be instructor-initiated and academically focused. This area highlights ways to make your teaching visible and interactive, even in asynchronous formats. 

Norco DEC Recommendations

• Delivering Content  
  • Instructor-created or curated materials with commentary or guidance 
  • Multimedia lectures with embedded questions or reflection prompts 
• Guiding Learning  
  • Weekly instructional announcements that preview or review content 
  • Clarification of complex topics through instructor posts or short videos 
• Responding to Students  
  • Opportunities for students to ask questions and receive instructional responses 

Template Pages & Examples (Coming Soon) 

Video (Coming Soon)

Quick Takeaway: Your voice is what turns content into instruction. That is what helps students feel taught, not just assigned work.  

Feedback is one of the most impactful ways instructors can support learning and maintain a strong presence in online courses. To meet RSI standards, feedback should be timely, clear, and academically focused. Each comment or note is an opportunity for students to engage with you, not just their grades or rubrics. This includes both individual responses and whole-class feedback that helps students understand expectations, improve performance, and stay engaged.  

Norco DEC Recommendations

• Whole-Class Feedback  
  • Announcements summarizing common strengths and areas for improvement 
  • Instructor commentary on discussion trends or assignment themes 
• Individual Feedback  
  • Personalized comments on assignments, quizzes, and projects 
  • Rubrics with detailed criteria and instructor notes 
• Multimedia Feedback  
  • Audio or video feedback to add a personal touch and clarify key points 

Template Pages & Examples (Coming Soon) 

Video (Coming Soon) 

Quick Takeaway: Remember, feedback is more than grading — it is how students hear your voice and know you are engaged in their learning. 

Facilitating discussions is one of the most effective ways to build instructor presence and foster meaningful engagement in online courses. To meet RSI standards, instructors should actively guide conversations, respond to student ideas, and provide academic feedback that deepens learning. When students see you engaging in their discussions, they feel like they are interacting with you, not just with each other or the posted content.  

This area focuses on strategies for making your voice and presence felt in discussion spaces. 

Norco DEC Recommendations 

• Instructor Engagement  
  • Instructor responses that extend or clarify student thinking 
  • Follow-up questions that encourage deeper analysis or reflection 
• Discussion Summaries  
  • Weekly wrap-ups or synthesis posts that highlight key ideas 
  • Whole-class feedback on discussion trends or common themes 
• Modeling Quality Engagement  
  • Highlighting exemplary contributions to reinforce expectations 
  • Setting the tone for respectful, thoughtful dialogue 

Template Pages & Examples (Coming Soon) 

Video (Coming Soon) 

Quick Takeaway: The heart of any discussion is presence. When you join the conversation, students know they are learning with you, not just each other.

The self-check phase is an opportunity to reflect on how Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is embedded throughout your course. This step supports continuous improvement and helps ensure that your instructional practices are intentional, consistent, and clearly visible to students and reviewers. This is not a formal evaluation, and your course does not have to be perfect. These recommendations from DEC are designed to help you reflect on your own teaching and identify opportunities for growth.  

How to Perform a Self-Check 

• Review Your Course Design 
  • Use a checklist or rubric aligned with RSI standards 
  • Scan your modules for visible instructor presence and interaction 
• Reflect on Your Practices 
  • Consider how often you initiate communication and feedback 
  • Think about where students see your instructional voice  
  • Ask yourself: are students engaging with me, or only with the posted materials? 
• Plan for Adjustments 
  • Identify one or two areas to enhance or simplify 
  • Make small changes that support consistency and clarity 

Self-Check Rubric (Coming Soon) 

Video (Coming Soon) 

Quick Takeaway: The best self-check is simple. Look at your course through a student’s eyes and notice where your presence is visible.