Living & Learning Communities

Focused Interest Communities (FICs)

Focused Interest Communities house first year students together based on common academic major, pursuit or interest. These communities are designed to surround residents with other students who share similar goals and focus. By sharing their experiences in a community setting, students participating in the FICs will expand their understanding of special interest areas as well as form lifelong friendships with peers in related fields.

Each FIC is housed with Resident Assistant (R.A.) that has chosen the same major or a major closely related to that Focused Interest Community. A Faculty Fellow from that specific discipline is also connected with the FIC. In addition, FICs make it easier for students to create study groups with peers sharing the same interest and/or classes.

FIC residents have the opportunity for specialized programs geared towards their individual FIC. Students have participated in such programs as the School of Business Networking Dinner, Academia Mania, the Engineering FIC Egg Drop Competition and trips to the Fox Theatre. 

2009 - 2010 Focused Interest Communities

• Business: Pre-majors in the School of Business
• Creative Arts: Pre-majors or minors in Art & Design or Theatre & Dance
• College of Arts & Sciences: Pre-majors in the traditional liberal arts within the College of Arts & Sciences
• Education: Pre-majors in the School of Education and Psychology
• Engineering & Technology: Declared majors and/or pre-majors in the School of Engineering
• Health Sciences & Professionals: Pre-majors in the Pre-Professional program tracks for Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy, or health related sciences
• Nursing: Pre-majors in the School of Nursing
  • Beginning fall 2009 - spring 2010, each student living in the Bluff Hall Nursing FIC will have the benefit of being automatically pre-registered in the fall for 2 of the required classes in the nursing curriculum; CHEM 120A & BIOL 111N and 1 required class in the spring; CHEM 120B. 
  • There is a minimum ACT requirement of 19.
  • All applicants who request the Nursing FIC will receive a letter in the mail outlining the pre-registration process along with an ACT release form that needs to be signed and returned.
    • ACT release form
• Quest: Students looking to explore majors and/or those who are undeclared
  • Residents of the Quest wing will be pre-registered for UNIV 112 Sec QST. This section of UNIV 112 will count towards the required New Freshmen Seminar that all incoming students must enroll in.
• Scholars: University Meridian Scholarship recipients or students participating in the University Honors program.

2010-2011 Focused Interest Communities

• Business
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Education
• Engineering and Technology
• Health Professionals
• Nursing
• Horizons
• Scholars
• Students Improving Society
• Quest

What are students saying about the FICs?

"It's nice to be surrounded by people who are all here for the same reason, and know it."
- Kaydi Legate, 2008-2009 FIC resident

"It's really fun and great living in the Education FIC because you meet so many new people who have the same major and same classes. If you have questions about a class it's easy to find someone to help!"
- Katrina Moss, 2008-2009 FIC resident

"Living in a FIC is great because it's so easy to make friends. Everyone has the same interests."
- Luke Potthast, 2008-2009 FIC resident

New students wishing to become part of a Focused Interest Community should indicate their interest on their University Housing application.

To learn more about the Focused Interest Communities, please contact the Central Housing Office, housing@siue.edu.