Do I have to take all three of the classes in a FIG?
To maximize the benefit of the FIG, you will need to take all three classes listed (plus the proseminar – listed as INTDSC 1001). If you have (or anticipate) credit for one of the courses in a FIG, you can still select that FIG. You will not be registered for the class you have (or anticipate) credit for. Bottom line, in order to select and stay in a FIG you must be enrolled in the FIG Proseminar (INTDSC 1001) and at least two of the other three classes. Do not select a FIG if you have earned (or anticipate) credit for more than one the courses it includes. Students who do not remain enrolled in the Proseminar and two of the three courses listed will be assigned a different space in housing outside of a 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. Our experience shows 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 you will be living among students who don't belong to a FIG. This will give you the opportunity to make friends outside the group as well.
Will my roommate be a member of my FIG?
Usually. FIG students are placed together as roommates whenever possible. Occasionally, however, space constraints in particular halls or the number of students in a FIG make that arrangement impossible. In these cases, a FIG student will share a room with a member of another FIG, a freshman who has not been assigned to a FIG, or a returning student.
What if I've requested a specific roommate?
Be sure that you and your preferred roommate have similar interest in the FIG. If not, and you want to be in a FIG, try to find a FIG that interests both roommates. Then, when going online to select your room in ROAR (Residents' Online Access to Rooms) you can select that you have a particular roommate in mind and then go on to select from available FIG spaces. Your roommate will receive an email about the space that you reserved for up to 24 hours. If he or she does not select that space before the deadline, the reservation will be removed.
I'm thinking about joining a fraternity/sorority. Can I still be in a FIG?
Yes. Most sorority women live in residence halls their first year on campus, so participating in a FIG does not pose a conflict for them. Each FIG may include up to three fraternity men who live in their fraternity houses rather than in the residence hall, so a limited number of Greek men may also participate in the program. Being in a FIG and a Greek organization involves careful time management and a commitment to both groups.
I'd like to participate in a learning community. How will that affect my FIG choices?
Simply limit your choice to those FIGs housed within the communities of your choice. For instance, if you're interested in the World of Business Learning Community, select one of the FIGs that is part of this community. Keep in mind that you must be eligible for the options you've requested; some FIGs and Learning Communities have specific requirements that students must fulfill before they can be placed in these communities.
What is the FIGs Proseminar (Interdisciplinary Studies 1001)?
The proseminar is a one-credit course which all FIG students must take. About half of the material you'll cover in the proseminar is developed by the FIGs Program planning committee; this material will help you make a smooth transition from high school to college and introduce the resources available to students at MU. The other half of the course will focus on the particular subject area of your FIG and will be determined by your peer advisor and the faculty advisor for your FIG. So, for example, the proseminar for a pre-medicine FIG might include sessions devoted to medical ethics, schedule planning for students intending to attend medical school, and volunteer opportunities in the health care field.
Will I have homework for the proseminar?
Yes. You will receive one academic credit toward graduation for this course, so you will have an appropriate amount of homework for the course each week. Assignments will include short writings and discussion of readings. All assignments will be graded on a pass/fail basis, and you will receive a grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory for the course.
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. Generally, your FIG schedule will provide you with about 10 credits; when you meet with your academic advisor during Summer Welcome, you'll select one or two more courses to complete your schedule. Most first-year students enroll for 12 to 15 credits in their first semester.
I don't have a major–should I still think about participating in a FIG?
Absolutely! Most of the courses offered for co-enrollment through FIGs will work toward satisfying the General Education requirements for graduation. The Pathway Learning Community offers an additional opportunity to take advantage of programming geared toward helping you select a major. If you have an idea of what you might like to major in, you might select a living-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.
Why is the number of students in each FIG limited to 20?
And why don't you make more FIGs, if so many students want to participate?
Our research has shown that FIGs of more than 20 students do not enjoy the same quality of experience – students don't get to know each other, and the peer advisor has a difficult time meeting everyone's needs. Also, there is a finite amount of space in each residence hall available to new students; in most cases, adding even one more student to a FIG isn't physically possible. We create new FIGs whenever possible, but each FIG has a complex set of requirements: a qualified student staff member to lead the FIG, a faculty member in the appropriate discipline to work with the FIG and, of course, 20 available spaces in one community of a residence hall!
Why is the FIG I'm interested in not available in ROAR?
There are two common reasons for this. The first is that the FIG you are interested in has filled. Each of our FIGs has a maximum of 20 spaces, once that limit is reached we no longer allow students to select that FIG. We do not keep a waiting list, but you are encouraged to check back often as a space in that FIG may become available.
Another common reason is that you may not meet the requirements for that FIG. Some FIGs, such as the Tomorrow's Teachers FIGs require you to be in a certain academic major. Other's require that you have a minimum ACT score, previous college credit, or be Honors Eligible.
Updated January 19, 2008
Produced by the Department
of Residential Life, Copyright 2001, 2004, 2005
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