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Micah FAQ

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Saint Louis University's Micah program.

Micah students leave for a retreat

Micah first-year students prepare to leave for their retreat.

Academics

Can I be in the University Honors program and the Micah program?

Yes. Each year the Micah program accepts students into our first-year community who are also in SLU's Honors program.

Do I have to be a certain major to be a Micah student?
Micah students can be any major. More than 30 majors are represented in the Micah program.
Can I study abroad as a Micah student?
Many Micah sophomores and juniors study abroad for a semester or even a year. 
Are there special courses for Micah students?
Micah first-year students take at least three Micah sections of core courses together. When appropriate, the courses focus on social justice issues, connecting students' studies to their experiences in their community service.
Do I have to take more courses as a Micah student?

Micah classes can count toward students' graduation requirements. The Micah program does not add more academic requirements.

 

Faith

Can I be a Micah student if I’m not Catholic?

Yes. The Micah community is interfaith and includes students from a variety of religious backgrounds, denominations, and non-faith backgrounds.

What role does faith play in the Micah program?
 All first-year Micah students must attend weekly community-hour meetings that often include interfaith discussions to build a community of shared concern and support. You will also find some interfaith-related activities while attending the Micah retreats. SLU students from all faiths and all areas of study are invited to apply.

 

Service

Where do Micah's first-year students do their service?
 

We work at service sites in urban communities near SLU's campus. This service focuses on building relationships with the people working at the organizations, those being served and other Micah students.

My scholarship requires service hours. Can my service for the Micah program count toward my scholarship requirement?

Most service-related scholarship requirements on campus can be fulfilled through the Micah program.

How do I get assigned to a service site?

You will receive a schedule of service opportunities and choose your top three preferences based on your interest and your availability. Micah program staff will try their best to give you your top choice.

How will I get to my service site?

The Micah program provides vans for weekly service and other Micah events. Students in the program who are verified by the University drive the vans. There are no additional costs to Micah students for this transportation. As long as you complete the driver's verification process and follow all guidelines,  SLU's insurance will cover you.

Are the places where you serve safe?

Our highest priority is to ensure that everyone stays safe. Although no American city is without potential dangers, the neighborhoods where we serve are stable and our sites are well-run. We do, however, focus on having an older and experienced student in each service group, ask first-year students to never go to service sites alone, and require them to always take the vans directly to service sites and back.

What other service opportunities does Micah offer?

In addition to weekly service, many first-year students volunteer for special monthly events with older Micah students, faculty and staff. These events involve engaging with children at special events, renovating houses, beautifying city neighborhoods, or fixing up facilities at underfunded schools.

 

Living on Campus

Where do Micah students live?

First-year Micah students and their Micah sophomore mentors live on the fifth through eighth floors of Marguerite Hall in the Micah Learning Community.

What do I do if I apply for other housing and am accepted into the Micah Program?

Once you have been accepted into the Micah program, our program coordinator will inform the Department of Housing and Residence Life to move your housing assignment to one of the floors in the Micah Learning Community.  You should also contact the Department of Housing and Residence Life by email and ask to be switched.

 

History

What is the history of the Micah program?

In the mid-1990s, Michael Garanzini, S.J., SLU’s academic vice president at the time, proposed strengthening students' connections between residence halls, classrooms, the University and the surrounding urban neighborhoods. The program celebrated its 20th anniversary during the 2017-18 school year.

In 1997, the Micah program accepted its first class of students under the direction of its first director, Donald Stump, Ph.D. Stump served as director for over 20 years. In 2018, Olga Arbeláez, Ph.D., became the program director. In 2021, Emily Komos, the first staff director, was named.