Frequently Asked Questions

If you are the type of student who likes to learn with others, who wants to explore a potential major or career, or who simply wants to plunge into 360 degree involvement, this is the program for you. Being involved in a LC helps you:

• make a big campus seem smaller - this helps you make an easier transition to college life
• make friends in your area of interest right away
• create a supportive network with other students, peer educators, and professors
• connect your learning in paired classes and understand their relevance in your everyday life
• interact with a Peer Educator who acts as a mentor and campus resource for academic issues

Each LC has a Peer Educator (PE). The PE is an upper-class, undergraduate student who assists with the LC Seminar, serves as an academic resource and helps freshman and trasfer students make the connections that are crucial to college transition.

Students must complete a separate application with the Department of Student Housing (DSH). Once a student is a member of a community, the LC office coordinates with DSH to make the appropriate floor assignments.

Although there is no guarantee, it is possible to request a roommate who is not a member of your community. The earlier this is done, the more likely we will be able to make the accommodation. All roommate requests must be made to the Department of Student Housing, housing@ku.edu, by each of the students.

Your contractual agreement for residence living is for an academic year.

LCs are designed to appeal to students' interests while fulfilling liberal arts requirements. It is not necessary to declare a major related to the community in order to participate. Exceptions: LCs in professional schools.

Only a few of our LCs have eligibility requirements, so most are for any student who is interested in the theme. Speak to your advisor about any of communities of interest and they will be able to advise you about how the courses fit into your major or academic interests. Whether you are undecided or have chosen your major, we have communities that appeal to a variety of interests.

Although a few communities are year-long, most are for one semester. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may take up to four credit hours of the seminar that will count toward graduation, so we encourage students to view our options every semester.

• is not a study hall
• is a one-credit hour elective for which you will receive a grade
• helps you integrate the ideas from your paired courses
• may include visits to KU research facilities, attending theatre rehearsals, touring museums, and interacting with other faculty in your field
• may include an introduction to campus resources and involvement opportunities

You will be pre-enrolled in the LC Seminar course and designated paired courses specific to your LC. During orientation, you will work with an academic advisor to choose other courses that will work as requirements to create a full-time schedule (an average of 15-16 credit hours). If you have received prior credit in either of the paired courses, you will be allowed to substitute the course for another that will help you fulfill credits toward graduation.

All courses required for a community are listed on the respective page for that community. Go to LCs offered page and click the communities of interest to see the courses.

The required credit hours are different for every LC. Go to LCs offered page and click on the communities of interest to view the required number of hours.

You do not have to repeat any course that you have already taken. You do have the option to repeat a course, but this is strictly optional. If you have already taken a course required for a community you are encouraged to join that community to share your knowledge from the course.

Most communities will have 3-4 events or activities required for the entire semester. Social events and study groups are arranged, but most are optional. In order to help students with their time management in their first semester, all out of class events arranged are structured for students? social and academic success.

FSI (Freshman Summer Institute) is a learning community designed for incoming freshmen who would like to begin their first college semester in the summer. The program runs for four weeks and gives students the opportunity to make an easier transition to college. The FSI program is run through the University Advising Center. You may find more information on their website at www.advising.ku.edu/fsi.

Many FSI students also participate in fall and spring learning communities. Go the the LCs offered page for more information about our communities.