Do I have to take all of the classes assigned to the FIG?

You will need to take all the classes in order to maximize the benefits of participating in a FIG. However, if you have prior credit for one of the courses in a FIG, you will not be required to take that course. Do not request a FIG if you will have prior credit for at least two of the classes assigned to the FIG.

Do I have to live in the residence hall where the FIG is housed?

Yes, you must live in the designated residence hall in order to participate in the FIG. (exception for commuter students) Studies show that students who take classes together but don't share the same housing assignment do not derive the same benefits from this program. Keep in mind that your Learning Community may offer several different FIGs. This will give you the opportunity to make friends outside your FIG group as well.

Will my roommate be a member of my FIG?

Your roommate may be in your FIG or they might choose to be in a different one within the Learning Community. Though roommate preferences will be taken into consideration when making room assignments.

What if I've requested a specific roommate?

Be sure that you and your preferred roommate have requested the same Learning Community and complete your applications early. Minimally you and your preferred roommate must select the same Learning Community. You both don’t have to select the same FIG options for the Learning Community to be able to live together. One or both of you can be in the FIGs offered for the preferred Learning Community. If you and your preferred roommate are planning to pursue different majors, consider requesting a Learning Community that is not focused on a specific area of study-for instance, the Careers and Majors Exploration Learning Community and the many others listed on the website that are not academic major specific. These options can best accommodate roommates with different interests.

I'd like to participate in a Learning Community. How will that affect my FIG choices?

Simply limit your preferences to those FIGs housed within the communities of your choice. For instance, if you're interested in the Heath Sciences Learning Community, select one of the FIGs that is part of this community. Keep in mind that the FIGs are attached to Learning Communities. You can not select a FIG that is assigned to a different Learning Community that you have not selected as a preference on your application.

Do I have to participate in a Learning Community if I select a FIG?

Yes, the FIGs are assigned to specific Learning Communities that are in specific residence halls.

I’m a commuter student – can I participate in the FIGs and Learning Communities?

You bet! There will be a separate application for commuter students that are interested in participating with the Learning Communities and FIGs. If placed with a FIG or Learning Community you will be associated with the floor(s) where the FIG or Learning Community is located in the residence halls. If you are placed in a FIG you will also be co-enrolled in the classes associated with the FIG.

Can I take any classes other than those in my FIG?

All students must be enrolled for 12 credit hours to be considered full-time at the university. Generally, your FIG schedule will provide you with anywhere from 5 to 9 credits depending on the selected FIG; when you meet with your academic advisor during your SLU 101 visit, you'll select additional courses to complete your schedule.

I don't have a major--should I still think about participating in a Learning Community?

Absolutely! Most of the courses offered for co-enrollment through FIGs will work toward satisfying the General Education requirements or Elective requirements for graduation. The Careers and Majors Learning Community offers an additional opportunity to take advantage of programming geared toward helping you select a major or career. If you have an idea of what you might like to major in, you might select a Learning Community which focuses on that field and you'll have the chance to find out if this is a career you're interested in pursuing. There are other Learning Communities that are not major specific such as the Micah Program - Faith & Social Justice, CLASSIC Leadership, American Challenges, and Honors.

What if I want to change my FIG or Learning Community preferences?

You can simply edit your housing application until May 1 to change your preferences for the FIGs and Learning Commuinities. If you are a commuter student your application will also be due May 1. Please keep in mind that a few of the Learning Communities have supplemental applications as stated in the Learning Communities descriptions. After May 1, we will begin assigning students to FIGs and Learning Communities. For those students that have selected a FIG option they will be pre-registered for the FIG classes during May. This will be completed before SLU 101 visits begin in June. If you want to make changes after May 1, you can contact us directly or let us know during your SLU 101 visit. We can not guarantee that we can accommodate all changes but will take your new preferences into consideration.

What if I changed my mind and don’t want to participate in the FIG or Learning Community?

Please let us know if you want to be removed from the FIG or Learning Community as early as possible. We will then select students from the waiting lists for those options. Your housing assignment will be adjusted and you will be given a new assignment. If there isn’t sufficient time to do this based on when the request was received prior to school starting then you may have to keep the same assignment. If you choose to do a room change after moving into the halls there will be a room change night after the first two weeks of classes.

I requested a FIG, but I wasn't placed in one--why not?

The most common reason why students are not placed in a FIG is that their application materials are received after the placement deadline of May 1. A completed housing application must be submitted prior to May 1 in order for a student to be placed in a FIG. After initial FIG placements have been made in May, any remaining openings in FIGs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis during SLU 101 or from the initial waiting lists. FIGs are filled on a date-priority basis and are limited to about 20 students each, so getting your materials in early gives you a better chance of being accepted into the FIG of your choice.

Students are given priority for FIG placement based on the date their housing application was received, so it's important to apply for housing as early as possible. Furthermore, some students request FIGs that have already been filled by the time their housing application is received.

Why is the number of students in each FIG limited? And why don't you make more FIGs, if so many students want to participate?

There are only 20 to 22 students in each FIG. Research has shown that FIGs of more than 22 students do not enjoy the same quality of experience. We want the co-enrollment experience to assist students in their transition and making the FIGs larger than 22 would be difficult from a registration point of view but also takes away the intimacy of the experience. Also, there is a finite amount of space in each residence hall available to new students. We will be assessing the FIGs offered and make decisions each year on what will be offered for the following year.

How will I know if I was admitted into a FIG and accepted into a Learning Community?

Students will receive confirmation by the beginning of June of which FIG and Learning Community they have been enrolled in for the fall. Remember, if placed in a FIG part of your class schedule will have been completed for you before you arrive for your summer SLU 101 orientation session.

What if the offered FIGs don’t necessarily fit my preferred major?

The majority of courses offered in the FIGs will take care of most graduation requirements or electives for many majors. Feel free to explore Learning Communities and FIGs that fit your interests but not necessarily your major.

Updated February 14, 2008