What exactly is a FIG?
A First-Year Interest Group (FIG) is a "learning community" of about 20 students who are enrolled in a cluster of three classes that are linked by a common theme. The main seminar course of each FIG enrolls only those 20 students and is taught by a faculty member who integrates into that class appropriate content from the other two classes linked to the cluster. The integration of courses in a FIG helps students discover how disciplines relate to one another, creating a richer educational experience.

What are the advantages of being in a FIG?
There are a number of advantages to enrolling in a FIG:

• It makes registration easy: you can register for most of your classes all at once.
• You will meet other new students with interests similar to your own.
• You will have the opportunity to connect with a faculty member in a small class environment.
• FIG students often create study groups that not only allow for the sharing of ideas and insights, but also lead to academic success. Generally, students in FIGs earn higher GPAs than their peers who are not enrolled in FIGs.

Do FIG courses meet graduation requirements?
Yes, all FIG courses carry credit and can be counted toward graduation. Depending on your specific program or major, your FIG courses may count toward meeting specific prerequisites or requirements for your major.

Do I have to take all three classes in a FIG?
Yes, you will need to enroll in all three classes to be in a FIG.

How do I enroll in a FIG?
Some FIGs are available to all new freshmen; other FIGs are assigned to various campus "residential neighborhoods" that include the privately managed residence halls. When you get your housing assignment, you will also receive information about the FIG options that are available to you. Then when you come to SOAR during the summer, you will receive more information about FIGs, and if you want to enroll in a FIG, you will do that at SOAR.

Will I be able to take classes other than those in my FIG?
All students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours to be considered full time; most first-year students enroll for 12 to 15 credits during their first semester. Generally, your FIG schedule will provide you with between 8 and 13 credits, so most FIG students enroll in one or two more courses outside of their FIG.

What if I want to drop a course in my FIG?
Each FIG is a carefully designed cluster of courses. To take full advantage of this opportunity, it is necessary for you to be enrolled in all three courses in the cluster. If you decide to drop a FIG course prior to the beginning of the semester, you will need to drop all the courses in that FIG. Once classes begin, if you feel you need to drop one of the FIG classes, you should first confer with either the FIG Director, Greg Smith, or the FIG Coordinator, Kari Fernholz.