student questions
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FIG stands for Faculty-led Interest Group (formerly First-Year Interest Group). A FIG centers around shared courses students who live near one another are enrolled in. A faculty member sponsors the group. A Living-Learning Community (LLC) is when students opt to live together but may not have common courses. There might still be a faculty or staff sponsor who gets to know students on the floor through some events or meals.
Unless you have already taken a course within the FIG, you must remain enrolled in the classes and sections specified for your FIG. If you have prior credit for 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 manager at figs@uwyo.edu. They will drop you from the class.
Floor communities are living and learning communities, so a major component of the program is living near one another in the same residence hall. 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: General Biology and General Chemistry require passing the math placement exam at level 3, or a minimum ACT math subscore of 23.
There are two ways you can keep your roommate and join a FIG. Your roommate could select "no preference" on the Housing application, or they could select the same FIG/LLC. If you both want to join different communities, then you cannot be roommates because the communities may not be in the same vicinity.
Yes, usually. It depends on the availability of single rooms in the location of the FIG/LLC.
Joining a FIG is more than exploring a major. It's a great way to form a community! There are only a few FIGs that are major-specific, but for the most part, they include classes all students should take to graduate.
Some FIGs have specific requirements that the department has issued.
Some FIGs require you to have a declared a major in the department which is offering the FIG.
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.
In addition, in order to be eligible to join a LLCs, all students must fulfill the general requirements for joining.
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.
FIGs are beneficial in many ways. Being in a FIG or LLC helps with adjusting to campus, accessing resources, and connecting to faculty and staff across campus. In addition, FIG students have higher four-year graduation rates compared to their UW peers.
FIGs are beneficial in many ways. Being in a FIG or LLC helps with adjusting to campus, accessing resources, and connecting to faculty and staff across campus. In addition, FIG students have higher four-year graduation rates compared to their UW peers.
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!
Faculty and Staff Questions
Have a question that is not here? Email figs@uwyo.edu and we will answer it and add it to our collection!
Go to our Past FIGs website.
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.
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 two events in the fall and one in the spring as well as a meal in both semesters.
