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), beginning with your in-tact or affinity groups:

  • Athletics Team (all first-year athletes take PLUS 100),
  • Social Identity Affinity Group (e.g., PLUS 100 sections for Students of Color, First Generation Students),
  • Intended Academic Major (e.g., Intended Nursing Students PLUS 100), or
  • Learning Community (all first-year residential and commuter students take PLUS 100; see LCs for detail)

Student getting picture taken in front of PLU LUTE sign.

Athletics Sections of PLUS 100

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for 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. Sections for fall 2023 include:

Academic Sections of PLUS 100

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 Music Majors

Incoming, first-year students who have identified music as their intended major will take a special PLUS 100 course connected with the Community for Creative Expression (both for Hinderlie residents and non-Hinderlie residents) designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are transitioning into the music program.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Running Start Students

Incoming, first-year students who participated in Running Start and are entering PLU with college-level credits can take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are transitioning into PLU.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for Automatic Admission Program Students

Incoming, first-year students who participated are part of the Automatic Admission Program fall 2022 cohort can take a special PLUS 100 course designed to support your academic success in your first year as you are transitioning into PLU.

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. This course is being instructed by Nicole Jordan who works in the Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability. She/they is a PLU alumni and is passionate about finding ways for students of color to navigate and thrive in a dominantly white college campus culture.

Transitions to PLU (PLUS 100) for First in Family

This one credit course is designed to be an exclusive space for incoming first in the family college 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. Your instructor for this course is Magdalena Stickel, who works as Assistant Director and Confidential Advocate in the Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability. They/she is a PLU alumna and is passionate about helping students survive and thrive amid capitalism and higher education institutions.

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. Your instructor for this course is Alanna Rathkopf, who works as PLU’s Assistant Director for the Center for Military Support. Alanna is a PLU alum.

Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS 111) Interconnections

This one credit course open to all new and continuing PLU students meets weekly to discuss progress, challenges, and the intersection of our experiences as learners and leaders at PLU. In a community learning environment, we will share stories and success strategies honoring native frameworks.  This course is taught by Nicole Juliano (Kanaka Maoli), Director of the Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability.  Nicole is in her 10th year at PLU and finds joy in working with students as they learn and advocate for diversity, justice, and sustainability.

Learning Community Sections of PLUS 100

CAVE Commuter Community PLUS 100 Section

The CAVE Commuter Community PLUS 100 section is specially designed for commuter students as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the CAVE Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability Community PLUS 100 Section

The Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability Community  PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Ordal residents as they navigate transitioning to PLU. The DJS LC includes the following wing themes:

This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

Women's Empowerment & Gender Equity PLUS 100 Section

The Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equity PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Harstad residents as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equity Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

Hong Global Community PLUS 100 Section

The Hong Global Community PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Hong residents as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the Hong Global Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

Community for Creative Expression PLUS 100 Section

The Community for Creative Expression PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Hinderlie residents as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the Community for Creative Expression Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

STEM House PLUS 100 Section

The STEM House PLUS 100 section is specially designed for STEM House residents (in Tingelstad) as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the STEM House Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

Wellness House PLUS 100 Section

The Wellness House PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Wellness House residents (in Tingelstad) as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the Wellness House Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.

First-Year Communities PLUS 100 Section

The First-Year Communities PLUS 100 section is specially designed for Pflueger and Tingelstad residents as they navigate transitioning to PLU. This section will be linked with co-curricular opportunities connected with the First-Year Learning Community, beginning with your LUTE Welcome New Student Orientation group.