What is PLUS 100?

FYEP

PLU’s First-Year Experience Program

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PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU

What is PLUS 100?

As you transition to college, PLUS 100 helps you establish goals and develop a plan for success during your first year at PLU. Affirming and utilizing your past experiences (i.e., what you bring with you to PLU), you will identify resources, develop strategies, and hone skills and capacities for college success, including understanding the roles and responsibilities of university students, faculty, and staff, and alumni/community partners. Community connections, academic support, and personal wellness will be explored within the context of the PLU values of diversity, justice, and sustainability (DJS).

PLUS 100 is Required for all First-Year Students

PLUS 100 is a one-credit course designed for new first-year students to support their transition to PLU. PLUS 100 is part of the First-Year Experience Program (FYEP), along with other courses, such as FYEP 101 (writing seminar) and FYEP 102 (diversity, justice, and sustainability seminar).

PLUS 100 is required for all first-year students as part of PLU’s general education core curriculum.

Sample Fall 2026 Section + Plenary Schedule

How is PLUS 100 structured?

PLUS 100 has a unique structure that varies depending on which semester you take the class. However, even though the structure changes from fall to spring, the core content is the same for all PLUS 100 classes.

Fall Sections: A 2/3-Term Class Meeting 2 Times/Week

In the fall, PLUS 100 …

  • has ~15 class meetings
  • has TWO (2) parts, and attendance at both section and plenary meetings is required:
    • (1) themed-section: meets ~8 times (with your instructor, TA, and ~24 peer classmates); this is your primary class section.
    • (2) plenary: meets ~7 times (with Dr. Jes Takla and TAs/students [~175-200] from several sections joining together); this class is similar to a required lab in which you are co-enrolled that complements your primary class section
  • offers themed sections organized by major, affinity (identity), or topic-based connections (see themes below!)
  • classes start the first week of fall semester and end ~early November (with a break the whole week of Fall Mid-Semester break)

Spring Sections: A 1/2-Term Class Meeting 2 Times/Week

In the spring, PLUS 100…

  • has ~13 class meetings
  • has only section meetings (no plenary)
  • classes start the first week of spring semester and end in March (before Spring Break)

PLUS 100 Fall Section Themes

Intended Major Sections of PLUS 100

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended Music Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified music as their intended major will take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are transitioning into the music program.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended Business Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified business as their intended major can take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year:

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended Education Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified education as their intended major can take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year:

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended Nursing Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified nursing as their intended major will take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are applying to the nursing program.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended Pre-Professional Health Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified pre-professional health (e.g., pre-med, kinesiology) as their intended major will take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are applying to the nursing program.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Intended STEM Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified a STEM intended major can take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year:

Social Identity Affinity-Based Sections of PLUS 100

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Students of Color

These one credit courses are designed to be an exclusive space for incoming Students of Color to establish goals and develop a plan for success during their first year at PLU. This course is designed to identify and overcome unforeseen barriers in adjusting to college academic and social life. You will build community connections, academic support and personal wellness skills within the context of PLU values of diversity, justice and sustainability. 

International Students

This one credit course open to students who self-identify as International Students to establish goals, develop a plan for success, and identify and overcome unforeseen barriers during their first year at PLU. You will build community connections, academic support, and personal wellness skills within the context of PLU’s values of diversity, justice, and sustainability. 

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for LGBTQIA+ Students

This one credit course is designed to be an exclusive space for incoming LGBTQIA+ students to establish goals, develop a plan for success, and identify and overcome unforeseen barriers during their first year at PLU. You will build community connections, academic support, and personal wellness skills within the context of PLU’s values of diversity, justice, and sustainability. 

Neurodivergent Students

This one credit course open to students who self-identify as Neurodivergent to establish goals, develop a plan for success, and identify and overcome unforeseen barriers during their first year at PLU. You will build community connections, academic support, and personal wellness skills within the context of PLU’s values of diversity, justice, and sustainability. 

Topic-Based Sections of PLUS 100

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Varsity Athletes

All incoming, first-year student athletes take PLUS 100. Your PLUS 100 course will be co-taught by an Athletics staff member or coach and another PLU staff member.

Creativity PLUS 100 Sections

This section is for students who would like to explore creativity in their first year and is open to all first-year students, regardless of where you live on- or off-campus.

Outdoor Experience PLUS 100 Section

This section is for students who would like to explore outdoor experiences in their first year and is open to all first-year students, regardless of where you live on- or off-campus.

Becoming a Lute

This section is for any new first-year student who is transitioning to PLU to support their success (i.e., does not have an additional specific major, affinity, or topic-theme).

Wellbeing Services & Resources (WSR) College Readiness Experience (CREd)

This section is for students who identify as first generation, homeschooled, out-of-state, international, neurodivergent, anxious about college, and/or anyone who would like additional support in their transition to PLU from Wellbeing Services & Resources (WSR)

Running Start & Transfer Students

This section is for new Lutes who are Running Start and/or Transfer students, specifically designed for students with previous college experience to support their transition to and success at PLU.

Student testimonial with headshot picture by former PLUS 100 student & TA Kayla

Why is PLUS 100 Required?

PLUS 100 is a Foundational FYEP Course

PLUS 100 is required for all first-year students as part of PLU’s general education curriculum. PLUS 100 is one of THREE (3) classes you’ll take in the First-Year Experience Program (FYEP), along with: (1) FYEP 101: The First-Year Writing Seminar; and (2) FYEP 102: The Discipline-Based DJS Seminar. PLUS 100 is a unique course designed specifically for new students to support their transition to PLU and progress from their first-semester to their second semester.

PLUS 100 Course Design

  1. ROOTING: Helping new Lutes get rooted in community at PLU by connecting with peers, faculty, staff, and campus resources
  2. REFRESH: Building on your previous experiences, you’ll get to try-on strategies and opportunities to refresh your skills, habits, and practices that support your wellbeing and progress toward your self-authored goals for success.
  3. REFLECT: Weekly, new Lutes will reflect on your transition to PLU and, at the end of the course, synthesize your reflections into a final creative project/presentation.

Learn more about PLU’s First-Year Experience Program (FYEP) and PLUS 100 on the All Things FYEP Podcast with FYEP Director, Dr. Paul Sutton.