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Freshman Interest Groups

Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) are special academic programs for first-time freshman students in which small groups of no more than 20 students live together within a learning community (LC) or designated residence hall floors and are enrolled together in at least two academic courses, including an exclusive small seminar class. FIGs are designed to assist first year students with their academic and social transitions to college during the first semester through greater involvement in activities.

Some FIGs are linked to a Community Academic Mentor (CAM) who lives in the learning community or residence hall floors with the students. The CAM assists in teaching the seminar class and provides specialized programming and academic services to students.

Extensive research has shown that students are more successful in college when involved both inside and outside of the classroom and able to integrate their experiences into a seamless learning environment such as a Freshman Interest Group.

FIGs...
  1. Support students' achieving higher GPAs by creating smaller groups of students who share a common experience of living in the LC and attending the same classes together - your friends in the learning community can be the same people you study with!
  2. Encourage students' engagement and involvement in academic majors and programs, helping persistence to graduation by maintaining a consistent major throughout their college career.
  3. Provide academically-focused peer groups who can challenge and support diverse learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

Most Freshman Interest Groups require students to have been accepted into particular majors, minors, or programs consistent with the focus of the FIG. Please refer to each FIG’s description for more information about the criteria for application. Space is limited and assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Freshman Interest Groups offered for Fall 2009:

College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources (CASNR) FIG

Location: CASNR Learning Community in Stangel/Murdough Halls
Criteria: Admitted student in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

  • AAEC 2305 - Fundamentals of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Sec 003: 9:00am - 9:50am MWF
  • AGSC 3301 - Agricultural Leadership Principles, Sec 002: 11:00am - 12:20pm TuTh
  • PSS 1411 - Principles of Horticulture, Sec 001: 10:00am - 10:50am MWF
  • PSS 1411 - Principles of Horticulture (Lab), Sec 507: 1:30pm - 3:20pm Tu or Sec 514: 12:00pm - 1:50pm W
  • I S 1100 - Freshman Seminar, Sec AGF: 3:00pm - 4:50pm M

DISCOVERY! FIG

Location: DISCOVERY! Learning Community in Chitwood/Weymouth Halls
Criteria: Admitted student registered in the DISCOVERY! Program through TTU Advising Center

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

Engineering FIG

Location: Engineering Success Learning Community in Bledsoe Hall and Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Learning Community in Knapp Hall 
Criteria: Admitted student in the Whitacre College of Engineering eligible to enroll in MATH 1351

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

Ethical Issues in the Global Marketplace FIG

Location: Business Learning Community in Chitwood/Weymouth Halls
Criteria:Admitted Pre-business student in the Rawls College of Business

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

Prelaw FIG

Location: Prelaw Learning Community in Chitwood/Weymouth Halls
Criteria: Admitted student registered in the TTU Prelaw Program through the TTU Advising Center

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

Visual & Performing Arts FIG

Location: Fine Arts Learning Community in Wall Hall
Criteria: Admitted student in the College of Visual & Performing Arts

Required Courses for Fall 2009 (subject to change):

 

Additional information on all residence halls can be found here.

The South Plains Mathematics Scholars Program also has a residential component and is housed on the 1st & 2nd floors of Hulen Hall.