Geology student looks out at the horizon

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out these detailed answers to frequently asked questions.

FIGure it out!

FIG is a Freshman (or First-Year) Iinterest Group -- a community where first-year students live and on the same floor and take some of the same courses while getting to know a faculty member who sponsors the floor. A Living Learning Community (LLC) is when students opt to live together but may not have common courses. There is still a faculty or staff sponsor who gets to know students on the floor through some events or meals.

Yes, you need to take all of the classes in the FIG. If you have prior credit for one of the courses in the FIG, you may not be required to retake that course. All students in a FIG must be enrolled in the faculty-sponsored course and at least one of the two other courses in the FIG. If you have prior credit in a course, have your college send an official transcript, or have an official copy of your AP results documenting your credit sent to the Admissions Office, then notify the FIG coordinator, who will drop you from the class. You must remain enrolled in the classes and sections specified for your FIG.

An LLC might offer recommended classes which you do not need to take.

Floor communities are living and learning communities, so a major component of the program is living on the same floor in the residence halls. FIG students are required to live on the FIG floor, and UW's policy is that all new students live in the residence halls. If you need more information on residence halls, please visit the  Housing website.

The University Studies Program (USP) is the general education program that all University of Wyoming undergraduate students are required to complete. Many of the FIGs have anchor courses that are in the USP. The science courses satisfy the PN. Some FIGs have POLS 1000 which satisfies the V. For more information, check the FIG courses against the USP requirements on the USP website.

NOTE:  Chemistry 1020 requires passing the math placement exam at level 3, or a minimum ACT math subscore of  23.  Biology 1010 requires passing the math placement exam at level 2, or a minimum ACT math subscore of  21.

Probably, as long as the LLC floor has sufficient space and your roommate has not requested a different specialty floor (another LLC, Engineering or Honors).  Each floor in the residence halls will accommodate more students than there are in the LLC.  So while some LLC members will share a room, some LLC members will room with non-LLC students.

LLC members are required to live on the LLC floor, so if you need to be on a different specialty floor (like Honors or Engineering), you will not be able to participate in the LLC .  Be assured that when you join a living and learning community, whether it be a LLC , Honors, or an Engineering Power Group, you receive great benefits.

Fall Bridge students can still be in an LLC or FIG if the course times do not conflict.

Maybe. Because the floor community will be given priority over other living plan choices, you won't be able to move to a different floor to accommodate your request for a single room. However, your request is more likely to be met if your application is received early in the process. 

Definitely. While some floors are for specific majors, others are for areas of broad interest, and others are still more general. A floor community will help you explore various options and doesn't obligate you to any program or major.

The success of the community is dependent on students being in the same courses and sections together, so changes to the schedule are not allowed. If you're having a difficult time working out your schedule, contact  figs@uwyo.edu to talk about your options.

Some LLCs have specific requirements that the department has issued.  

Major Requirements:

Some LLCs require you to have a declared a major in the department which is offering the FIG.

ACT Requirements:

Some floor communities have classes that require students to be at a certain math level. FIGs that contain CHEM 1020 (General Chemistry) or LIFE 1010 (General Biology) require students to be at a certain math level.  You must have a minimum math ACT score of 23 or an MPE (Math Placement Exam) of 3.

In addition, in order to be eligible to join a LLCs, all students must fulfill the general requirements for joining.
Not at all! Living Learning Community members are a subset on the residence hall floor, so you'll still have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of students who are not on the floor. You'll also work with your advisor to choose additional classes to take outside of the FIG to round out your schedule. And your social life will, of course, be your own. FIGs can help get connected during your first semester and can introduce you to opportunities on the UW campus, but you will still have plenty of time for activities outside of your community.  

FIGs are beneficial in many ways. Being in a FIG or LLC helps with adjusting to campus, accessing resources, and connecting to faculty. In addition, FIG students have higher four-year graduation rates compared to their UW peers.

  

LLC (FIG) 

Non-LLC 

Compare 

students starting in… 

Total # 

% Retained 

Total # 

% Retained 

LLC vs. Non-LLC 

Fall 2012 

236 

81.4% 

       1,342 

72.6% 

+8.8% 

Fall 2013 

255 

82.0% 

       1,313 

74.1% 

+7.9% 

Fall 2014 

371 

80.3% 

       1,183 

74.9% 

+5.4% 

Fall 2015 

335 

83.0% 

       1,339 

74.8% 

+8.2% 

Fall 2016 

267 

81.3% 

       1,267 

77.4% 

+3.9% 

Fall 2017 

224 

79.0% 

       1,460 

77.8% 

+1.2% 

Fall 2018 

218 

84.9% 

       1,631 

74.4% 

+10.5% 

Fall 2019 

224 

82.1% 

1,528 

79.0% 

+3.1% 

Fall 2020 

196 

76.5% 

1,205 

76.0% 

+0.5% 

Fall 2021 

218 

78.0% 

1,233 

74.9% 

+3.1% 

AVERAGE 

 

80.9% 

 

75.6% 

+5.6% 

 

As you look through the available FIGs/LLCs, you will notice a few that contain course work that is specific to various majors. These FIGs are a good opportunity for students to build a community with other students with similar interests. You will also live on the same floor in the residence halls, where you will have access to special programming opportunities, designed specifically for your LLC.

The majority of the LLCs are designed around broad themes. They are generally designed to meet University Studies Program requirements, so you can't go wrong! The best strategy is to choose a LLC that sounds interesting. Even if you decide on a different major down the road, most of the courses you've completed as part of the LLC will still count toward your University Studies requirements. You will also live on the same floor in the residence halls, where you will have access to special programming opportunities, designed specifically for your LLC. All freshmen are encouraged to join - whether you're undeclared, have already declared a major, or just want to explore!

To find the current listing of FIGs/LLCs, see Current FIGs at UW.
We would love to have new LLC sponsors. Please take a look at the Floor Community Proposal Form and email figs@uwyo.edu if you have any questions.

 

Faculty Sponsorship of Living Learning Communities

No, we have lecturers and staff who are floor sponsors. You just need to be dedicated to first-year student success.
Sponsoring a floor requires you to attend only two events in the fall and one in the spring as well as a meal in both semesters.

 

First-Year Interest Groups |  Dept. 3334 | 1000 E. University Ave. | Laramie, WY 82071 | Phone: 307-766-2325 | Email: figs@uwyo.edu