Frequently Asked Questions about the Leadership Scholars Program
What does the time commitment look like?
The time commitment is different per year based on each cohort, but typically students are expected to engage in around 14 hours a semester with LSP between meetings and events.
Will academic advising take place at orientation?
LSP has access to early registration in the summer. Students will meet with the LSP academic advisor in May/June to review the class registration process.
Are there certain academic standards for being in LSP?
There is no GPA requirement for acceptance to the program or throughout program outside of maintaining good academic standing, which means having at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA each semester. If a student were to fall below a 2.0 GPA, they would work with the LSP Assistant Director as their academic advisor to get back on good academic standing. Please note that each college has their own GPA requirements and the LSP AD can meet with them about that over the summer. Also, students must be a full-time student which means enrolling in at least 12 credits each semester.
Do LSP Scholars have different classes than other students?
LSP Scholars will be part of the LSP Living Learning Community (LLC). With this, they will take three classes with fellow LSP Scholars during their first year while also living in St. Joseph’s Residence Hall together. The three classes are all part of students’ overall degree progression at Loyola.
- Fall semester: UNIV 101(1 credit) – required for all LUC students, introduction to college. LSP section also embeds leadership learning
- Fall semester: Core class (3 credits) - required for all LUC students, will be chosen based on program plans for the year ahead. Most likely will be a philosophy class tied to leadership development
- Spring semester: UNIV 102 (1 credit) - introduction to students’ career development journeys at Loyola and beyond
Can students be in LSP and the Honors Program?
Students are unable participate in the Honors Program in their first year but can do so in their second year. Both programs have first-year requirements that overlap, which includes residency requirements, Core Curriculum classes, and programmatic requirements throughout the year. They are more than welcome to join the Honors Program as they complete their first year at Loyola, and this is something they can touch base about during their fall semester with the LSP academic advisor.
Is there a certain semester students have to study abroad for LSP/their major?
No, but it is recommended to study abroad during their sophomore, junior, or senior year. Depending on location, the LSP scholarship may or may not transfer to help cover tuition. Select locations (Jesuit-based partnerships: Rome, London, Madrid) will allow the LSP scholarship to be used for room and board and tuition in sophomore year, and just tuition in junior and senior year.
Do LSP students have to live on campus?
Yes. As part of the LSP LLC, students must live on campus in the designated LSP LLC residence hall their first year. In their second year, they may choose any residence hall to live in on campus. They are not required to live on campus in their third or fourth year.
We also want to account for students’ living situations and thus should a student ask to live off campus, we review the circumstances on a case-by-case basis. At minimum, we ask students to:
- Complete the Residence Life housing application and be assigned a dorm room to share with 1-2 other LSP Scholars.
- Be actively present in the dorm room space and in the St. Joseph's Residence Hall during the fall and spring semesters. Students will move into a dorm room and set it up how they would like as a place to study, rest, and be in community with fellow LSP Scholars and new friends. This does not have to mean that they will bring all of their belongings, but will be asked to make the space livable and utilized equally with their fellow roommate(s).
- Be in attendance for all LSP Living-Learning Community related events, in addition to all of the LSP programming and services requirements as noted in previous communications and emails.
Should students select a specific residence hall on their housing application?
Yes, students should select the St. Joseph Residence Hall. Residence Life will also be notified that you are a LSP Scholar and will be placed there accordingly.
Are students allowed to spend the night off campus on the weekends/weekdays?
Yes. Students may choose to return home whenever they would like but are asked that they remain an active member of the Living Learning Community (LLC), LSP, and at Loyola.
Are students able to choose roommates who aren't in the program?
No. LSP Scholars will be living with fellow LSP Scholars in St. Joseph's Residence Hall. They will select roommate(s) once all students have committed to the program. Students will live with same gender students but the residence hall has mixed floors, meaning there are both male and female rooms on the same floor. Students will share a private bathroom with two-three other students of the same gender. We encourage students to view the virtual tour and more information about St. Joseph's Residence Hall here.
Does LSP cover renter’s insurance?
No, should students wish to purchase this, it would be an expense on their own.
Will students be responsible for a housing deposit in their second year?
No, students will be given a wavier to complete to remove the deposit.
How do students fund housing their third and fourth year?
Students who live close to home commute. Students obtain on- and off-campus jobs to fund campus apartments and on campus housing. LSP peer mentors and staff provide resources about apartment searching and housing options to ensure students are set up with all the information they need to know.
Does the program cover student's initial Loyola deposit?
Yes, once a student commits, the admissions office will waive the deposit fee.
Does the program cover transportation, meal plans, or dorm necessities?
The program does not cover transportation or dorm necessities, but it does cover the meal plan for the first two years while students are living on campus.
Does the program cover lab fees and textbooks?
Books and materials for class will be out of pocket costs, but lab fees associated with tuition expenses will be covered by the scholarship. When students connect with their future peer mentor, they can discuss ways to find books and materials on websites that are affordable and reliable.
What should student's bottom line be? How much is the scholarship for?
Each student will be allocated a different scholarship amount to make up the cost for outstanding expenses after federal funds and additional scholarships have been applied. LSP works closely with the Financial Aid Office to ensure all accounts are accurate and the scholarship is applied appropriately. Should there be outstanding balances that arise, please contact the LSP Assistant Director for assistance.
Should students decline federal loans?
It is up to the student and their family whether or not to decline loans. Students will not need to use loans for tuition for all four years or room and board for the first two years. Some students may take out loans for other expenses that are not covered. For more information, please connect with the Financial Aid Office.
Can students stack scholarships?
Yes, students are eligible to keep any scholarship that has already been award to them. LSP has is an additional scholarship that will cover outstanding expenses.
Do students need to accept Federal Work Study funds?
Students do not need to accept Federal Work Study, but it could be helpful to aid in obtaining an on campus job should they choose/desire to have one as some offices on campus only hire students if they are federal work study eligible.
What happens to scholarships obtained through FAFSA or other organizations?
Students still keep any scholarships they receive including the Pell grant and other funds. These are applied to their overall costs at Loyola, and the LSP scholarship assists in covering the rest of the cost left. More information about their financial package which can be found in LOCUS.
Do students have to get an on campus job?
No, but LSP can help students connect with Career Services resources to ensure they are set up for on- and off-campus job preparation.