Give to What You Love: First-Year Experience Program
Why does first-year experience matter?
A new Lute’s first year at PLU is the launching pad to their PLU experience. Whether it’s getting rooted in community (finding the people and places where you feel you belong) or setting yourself up for academic success by building connections with faculty and developing habits of utilizing PLU resources, the first-year sets the tone for a new Lute’s experience at PLU. After all, you can’t complete your degree and get to graduation unless you persist through your first year. So, we want to make it the best it can be, in- and out-of-the-classroom!
How Can I Support First-Year Students?
Donate for Bjug Day &/or Partner with FYEP!
Give to What You Love
PLU’s Bjug Day of Giving
On October 13-14 please support FYEP!
Donated funds support:
- Keeping class supplies free for PLUS 100
(e.g., course workbook, handouts, pencils) - Providing snacks in PLUS 100 to meet basic needs
(e.g., many classes early morning or over lunch) - Support for external presenters and community guests in classes
- Linked co-curricular programs & field trips
- Professional development for faculty & instructors
- Micro-grants for future curriculum development
Other FYEP Support
Want to get involved with FYEP?
There are many ways to support
and collaborate all year!
For example:
- Speak in a class
- Host a co-curricular program
- Collaborate on a field trip
- Donate supplies (e.g., snacks, class materials)
To learn more about supporting FYEP, contact:
Dr. Paul Sutton (suttonps@plu.edu) for FYEP 101/102
Dr. Jes Takla (jes.takla@plu.edu) for PLUS 100
Learn More about PLU's First-Year Experience (In- & Out-of-Class)
PLU’s First-Year Experience Program (FYEP) supports Lutes from arriving to thriving at PLU.
FYEP 101 & 102
In their first semester, new Lutes enroll in FYEP 101 (writing seminar) and continue the FYEP course sequence in their second semester or term with FYEP 102 (inquiry seminar rooted PLU’s values of diversity, justice, and sustainability). These courses are a launching pad to academic success, including developing critical inquiry and literacy in the first year and beyond!
PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU
PLUS 100 is a one-credit course designed to support new Lutes from arriving to thriving as they transition to PLU. PLUS 100 helps new Lutes set goals, use campus resources, build college success skills, and explore personal wellness all within the context of PLU’s core values of diversity, justice, and sustainability (DJS).
Beyond the Classroom
New Lutes’ connections to community, faculty, and resources begin before the first day of classes through connections with peers leading their new student orientation groups (LuteGuides) who continue as their teaching assistants (TAs) in their first PLU class: PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU. Through PLUS 100, key out-of-class experiences support new Lutes’ transition, such as getting to know faculty through office hours, attending events, and using campus resources (e.g., Knack Tutoring and TimelyCare). These student success strategies are assignments in PLUS 100 so that new Lutes get support for starting these habits and credit for doing them!