Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) – Faculty Guide

Why RSI Matters
Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is a federal requirement by the Department of Education that ensures online courses are classified as distance education rather than correspondence courses.
RSI requires meaningful, instructor-initiated engagement that supports student learning. Compliance is critical for maintaining federal financial aid eligibility, meeting accreditation standards, and enhancing student success in online learning.

Reference: As outlined in 34 CFR §600.2 (Distance Education).

Distance Education Overview

Definition:
Distance education is instruction where students and instructors are separated by location but connected using approved technologies and supported by regular and substantive interaction.

Approved Technologies Include:

  • Internet (Canvas, Zoom, online learning platforms)
  • One-way or two-way transmissions (broadcast, cable, satellite, wireless)
  • Audio conferencing
  • Other media used in conjunction with the above

Instructor Qualification:
An instructor must be responsible for delivering course content and meet the qualifications set by the institution’s accrediting agency using the approved technologies.

Definitions – What is “Regular” and “Substantive”?

Substantive Interaction means engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment. You must do at least two of the following:

  1. Provide direct instruction (lectures, demonstrations, guided activities)
  2. Assess or provide feedback on coursework
  3. Provide information or respond to content-related questions
  4. Facilitate group discussions on course topics
  5. Conduct other instructional activities approved by the accrediting agency

Regular Interaction means you:

  • Provide opportunities for substantive interaction on a predictable schedule
  • Monitor student engagement and progress
  • Proactively reach out when a student is struggling or requests help
  • Maintain consistent instructor presence throughout the course

Tip:
Substantive = what you do
Regular = when/how often you do it

Examples – Meets vs. Does Not Meet RSI

Meets RSI

  • Posting weekly announcements that guide students through content
  • Providing personalized, rubric-based feedback on assignments
  • Hosting scheduled live sessions (Zoom/Teams), if applicable to your course modality
  • Actively facilitating and engaging in discussion boards
  • Sending targeted outreach to students who fall behind
  • Recording short videos to address common questions or misconceptions

Does Not Meet RSI

  • Auto-graded quizzes without feedback
  • Posting content with no follow-up or engagement
  • Responding only when students reach out
  • Generic “Good job” comments without connection to learning objectives or course content

Watching recorded lectures without instructor engagement

Faculty Action Steps

  • Build RSI activities into your course calendar.
  • Use a combination of asynchronous and, if applicable, synchronous engagement.
  • Incorporate interactive elements into recorded lectures, such as embedded quizzes or discussion board follow-ups.
  • Monitor student progress and initiate outreach as needed.
  • Document your RSI activities in Canvas for compliance purposes.