Frequently Asked Questions

Learning in communities intensifies the academic experience, increases GPA, fosters faculty-student interaction, and provides students a built-in set of friends for a lifetime.

The La Verne Experience is a set of shared curricular, co-curricular, and community engagement activities for all University of La Verne students—in undergraduate and graduate programs, on the La Verne and regional campuses, and whether they are traditional-age undergraduates or adult learners.

All discipline classes are taught by full-time faculty who have collaborated to ensure common interests and extracurricular activities that complement the courses they teach.

You should select a FLEX Learning Community that corresponds with your chosen (or considered) major. If you are undecided, select a FLEX that will help you explore options. Review our FLEX Offerings section.

There are NO extra costs associated with a FLEX Learning Community beyond the standard tuition & fees & cost of books that are typical of a college budget. Co-curricular activities that are FLEX-sponsored will be free, including any transportation or event ticket fees. The university supports FLEX Learning Community curricular and co-curricular goals to help you succeed.

Your participation in FLEX Learning Communities requires all the rigor of a college education—count on two hours of homework for every hour in class. But also count on outside activities such as study groups, social events, and service learning opportunities. Being part of a community of scholars takes time, but so does being active and involved on campus.  If you want to design a weekly study plan, check out our Study Plan & Study Cycle brochure.

Most individual FLEX courses will grant you subject credit in general education (LVGE) breadth requirements, and in some cases earn major credit.  Take a look at our LVGE overview, Path to Graduation.

Most individual courses are 4 semester hours; some courses might have a Lab for a fifth semester hour.  Most FLEXs have at least 2 courses totaling between 8-10 semester hours (some FLEXs might have slightly fewer).  You will complete your registration by selecting a third and fourth course (2-4 semester hours each) outside your FLEX. You should aim for at least 12 semester hours to maintain a minimum full-time standing–make it a personal goal to register for “16 to Finish“–but not exceed 18 semester hours to remain inside the tuition flat rate fee.

Yes! If you accepted the Honors invitation, select an Honors FLEX of your choice.  Note that instead of taking first semester writing (RCS 110), you should enroll in a section of Honors 111 (which earns equivalent credit for RCS 110 (Writing A) and RCS 111 (Writing B).  Alternatively, look for an Honors FLEX that includes “Honors 111”.

You can start the checklist leading to registration at SOAR by logging in to your application portal and following the items in your checklist.  One of the items includes the option to preview the FLEX curriculum.  Write down your top choice FLEXs and bring them with you to SOAR.  At SOAR, you will register for a FLEX (subject to its availability based on enrollments) and your 3rd and 4th courses to round our your fall course schedule.  Log in to your application checklist to get started now. 

No, you will need to select a FLEX Learning Community from the list that has been carefully developed by faculty.  We ask that you keep an open mind as you enroll in courses that you might not have selected otherwise. However, you will have some choice in selecting the third and fourth course.  All freshman accounts are restricted with Dean’s Holds (or SOAR Holds) to prevent registration in advance of SOAR or without advisor input.

Yes, if you are within the add/drop period you may change to another FLEX Learning Community as long as there are spaces.  The add/drop period is the entire time between late spring semester and the first seven work days of the fall semester; see the academic calendar for key dates and deadlines.  Our registration module is set up so that you MUST drop ALL the courses associated with the “old” FLEX and register for ALL the courses associated with the “new” FLEX.  The Office of Academic Advising Office can assist if you have questions.

No, all changes to your freshman fall schedule will need to be done within the limits and allowance of FLEX Learning Communities.  A Dean’s Hold (possibly a SOAR Hold) is placed in all freshman accounts to prevent individual students ahead of advising and registration.  The Office of Academic Advising can assist if you have questions.

No, you MUST drop the entire FLEX Learning Community block during the “add/drop” period (the first seven work days of the fall semester; see the academic calendar).  Please keep an open mind and give individual courses in your Learning Community a sustained and fair chance before withdrawing from individual courses. Be mindful of Registrar deadlines and fees, and how withdrawing will impact any financial aid you might have or will receive. The Office of Academic Advising can assist if you have questions or concerns.

Yes, you can withdraw from a single Learning Community course after the sixth week of the semester (within the withdrawal period, resulting in a mark of “W” on the record). Be mindful of Registrar deadlines and how withdrawing will impact any financial aid you might have or will receive. The Office of Academic Advising can assist if you have questions.

No, as a transfer student you are not expected to participate in FLEX Learning Communities.  FLEX is only for first-time freshmen.