FAQs
1st and 2nd YEAR ACADEMIC ADVISING
We encourage all students and their families to bookmark the Calendars and Schedules link on the university’s website, which provides valuable information such as the last date to withdraw from a class, the tuition refund schedule for withdrawals, the final exam schedule, and when registration opens for future semesters.
Because classes vary in how they are graded, there is not one specific way to check on a student’s academic performance before final grades are entered at the end of the semester. We encourage parents/family members to talk with their students regularly, and if students are struggling in any classes, encourage them to utilize campus resources such as First and Second Year Advising and the Tutoring Center. Family members may also ask if students have received any early grade alerts, which are commonly sent via email to students around the middle of the semester if their current grade in a course is at or below a C-. If parents/family members reach out to First and Second Year Advising to discuss any academic concerns regarding their student, it is important to ensure the student has granted Parent/Guest Access, which enables advisors to comply with Federal educational privacy laws (FERPA).
Advisors are assigned to all new students after the first week of the semester has concluded (because their advisor assignment may be impacted by their schedule of classes). A student's advisor is listed in LOCUS and in Navigate. If a student cannot find their advisor's name or if they believe one is not listed for some reason, they should contact the Office of First and Second Year Advising at 773.508.7714 or via email to fsyadvising@luc.edu.
Loyola uses a program called Navigate to enable students to schedule one-on-one, 30-minute appointments with their assigned academic advisors. It is important to note that no appointments may be scheduled with an advisor during the first week of each semester or during registration week. During these periods, First and Second Year Advising staff only connect with students via Express Advising (a live/real-time text chat), which enables advisors to maximize their accessibility to all students with needs during these high-demand/peak times.
Students who are considering various majors are encouraged to meet with Career Services early on in their Loyola experience. Students can meet with career advisors (in-person or virtually) to explore career paths, talk about internships, have resumes reviewed, and more. Students can take workshops and classes, connect with alumni mentors through Loyola Linked, and use Handshake to find on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs, internships, and future careers.
Academic advisors are available to meet with students throughout the year to make plans for course registration. It is easier to schedule appointments outside of the week or two leading up to class registration time.
ATHLETICS
The Loyola Athletics Department offers both paid and volunteer opportunities designed to provide interested Loyola students valuable experience in a Division I athletics department. For more information on opportunities across multiple departments, click here.
No! Admission is free to all home events for currently enrolled Loyola students. For men’s basketball games, students will be notified of upcoming games in a weekly email and can claim tickets through a provided link. For all other sports, students can attend games by scanning their student ID at the door.
LU Wolf has been the official mascot of Loyola University Chicago since 1990. LU is inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose family was known to feed family, friends, neighbors, and soldiers in the Basque country of Spain. Their generosity was so abundant, they even would feed the wild animals. A carving of two wolves eating over a cauldron was placed over the family's home and became a symbol of the Jesuit order.
Before the 1920s, all college athletics teams were merely assigned their school colors, instead of a nickname. All Loyola teams were known as the "Maroon and Gold." In 1925, the football coach, along with the student newspaper, conducted a contest to name the football team. The winning entry was "Grandees," tying into the Spanish origins of St. Ignatius of Loyola. However, the name "Grandees" failed to catch on. In 1926, a more informal, but much more binding process, finally yielded the nickname: "Ramblers." That year, because the football team traveled so extensively across the United States, "rambling from state to state," the media dubbed Loyola as "the Ramblers." Despite dropping football as a varsity sport in 1930, the nickname "Ramblers" is still proudly carried by today's athletics teams at Loyola University Chicago.
Yes! Loyola is home to three NCAA National Championship teams. The men's basketball team won the 1963 NCAA Championship with a 60-58 victory over Cincinnati in the championship game. The Rambler men's volleyball program won back-to-back NCAA National Championships, bringing home the title in 2014 and 2015.
The Loyola basketball and volleyball programs play their home games at Gentile Arena, located in the heart of the Lake Shore Campus. The Rambler soccer teams and softball program play their home games just down the road at Hoyne Field at Loyola Soccer Park and Loyola Softball Park, respectively.
You can purchase official Loyola Rambler gear and merchandise by visiting one of the bookstores on campus or ordering through the website.
The Loyola Athletic Fund (LAF) supports all student-athletes and every intercollegiate program at Loyola. By investing in LAF, you are investing in our mission of nationally recognized academic achievement, high-level competitive excellence, selfless service in our community, and uncompromising character. More information can be found HERE.
BURSAR / PAYMENTS
To waive their health insurance premium, students must follow the steps outlined in LOCUS under Financial Account and Student Health Insurance.
Once students have waived out of Loyola's health insurance program, they will receive a confirmation e-mail. Students should keep this e-mail for their records. Students will be asked to present this e-mail in the event of a waiver dispute.
The Student Development Fee (also known as Student Development Services and Program Fees) are charged by the Division of Student Development during the Fall and Spring semesters to all undergraduate and graduate students. It is also charged to undergraduate students during the Summer. This fee funds multiple programs and services for students depending upon the term. Some of the services include: the Wellness Center, Halas Recreation Center membership, shuttle bus, and 8-ride programs. A portion of the fee is given back to the student in the form of funding for clubs and organizations. In addition, the fee funds a few special events organized by the students and administrators. Find more information about the Student Development Fee from the Division of Student Development page.
Yes, if students would like to pay their education expenses in monthly installments, Loyola offers the Loyola iPlan. Enrollment is available through LOCUS. Visit the iPlan website for more information. Note: The iPlan is not available for Medical Students.
Electronic billing statements are generated on the 15th day of every month and can be found on LOCUS. Any charges not covered by financial aid are due on the 5th day of the following month. E-Bills notifications will be sent to the student's Loyola email address as well as the email of any third party the student has set up to have Parent/Guest Access to the e-Bills.
In addition, students are always able to check their most up-to-date account information in LOCUS under Financial Account and Account Summary by Term. If a charge on the e-Bill is incorrect, students should contact the Bursar's Office. More information on e-Bills can be found at Electronic Billing.
To view tuition rates, visit the Tuition and Fees page.
CAMPUS RECREATION
NO! Campus Recreation is an inclusive, welcoming environment with programs for all students!
Club Sports are student-led competitive teams that practice, travel, and compete against other universities in 26 different sports. Intramural Sports are free on-campus programs that give students the opportunity to participate with and against other Loyola students in a variety of sports and events.
All full-time students who pay the Student Development fee have automatic access and membership to Halas and programs. This means no additional cost is needed for the majority of our programs, with the exception of club sports and some events.
Campus Recreation is a department on campus that serves students through recreation, wellness, and fun! Located in Halas Recreation Center, our services include programming in Intramural Sports, Club Sports, Aquatics, Fitness, Rockwall, Special Events and open recreation. Almost all of our offerings are free with a membership.
EMPLOYMENT & CAREER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
There are many opportunities to connect with employers and alumni! Career Fairs and recruiting activities are hosted throughout the academic year and students can always view current events by visiting Handshake. Students are also encouraged to explore LoyolaLinked, our alumni-student mentorship platform!
If your student has received FWS (this can be verified in LOCUS), they may search for and identify work-study jobs in Handshake’s Job section. Use "All Filters" and select “Work study” to see what is currently available. In addition to on-campus positions, Career Services partners with many local employers to provide meaningful off-campus work study experiences as well.
All on-campus positions (work-study and non-work-study) will be posted in Handshake’s Job section. Handshake is the University's career management platform. Use the "On-campus" filter to see what's available. Hiring timelines vary by department and sometimes take place well in advance of the start date, so we encourage checking in regularly for new postings and updates.
Career Services has team members at both the Lakeshore and Water Tower campuses to provide career guidance and support. Students can schedule an appointment to meet with our staff by visiting our website LUC.edu/CAREER or calling our office, (773) 508-7716. Common questions during an appointment are around resume writing, exploring career pathways, and job and internship searching.
ENGAGED LEARNING, INTERNSHIPS, RESEARCH
At Loyola, students have an opportunity to connect internships to a course through the academic internship program. Academic internship courses are 3-credit courses that offer students the opportunity to connect valuable professional engagement in the field to academic learning. There are multiple resources for students seeking internships, and students are encouraged to connect with the internship coordinator in their department. Visit the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS) to learn more!
Loyola University Chicago has a premier undergraduate research program with funded fellowships called the Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (LUROP). From discovering a research topic, finding a mentor, to presenting one's work, Loyola’s Undergraduate Research Program offers workshops, presentations, and courses to develop and enrich the research experience for Loyola undergraduates. With 14 distinct research fellowship opportunities unique to Loyola and solely for its undergraduate students, LUROP provides funding through its myriad of fellowships across disciplines and schools at Loyola University Chicago. Visit the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS) to learn more!
The Engaged Learning requirement supports the mission of Loyola University Chicago by embedding opportunities for students to explore the many different forms of experiential learning as part of their academic coursework.
All undergraduate students are required to complete a 3-credit course designated as Engaged Learning alongside the core curriculum at Loyola University Chicago. Students can choose from 5 different categories of Engaged Learning courses, including service-learning, academic internships, fieldwork, undergraduate research, and public performance. To learn more about Engaged Learning and see the many course options, visit the Engaged Learning website. Visit the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS) to learn more!
RESIDENCE LIFE
If parents/guardians have not been able to reach their student within 24 hours, they may contact the Residence Life Office, 773.508.3300, to request a Wellness Check. Our office will then contact the Residence Life staff member on duty who will attempt to connect with the student by visiting their room. If the staff member makes contact with the student they will ask them to call home and check in. If the staff member does not make contact they will attempt again later that same day.
All first and second-year residential students are required to purchase a Loyola University Chicago Meal Plan, and must choose from the All Access meal plans. Junior and Senior students may choose an All Access Plan, a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan, a Block Plus Plan, or may choose not to have a meal plan if they are assigned to a room with an in-unit kitchen. Residents of Baumhart Hall may choose a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan or opt out of the Meal Plan Requirement entirely.
All full-time first and second-year students are required to live in Loyola University Chicago Residence Life housing and purchase an All Access meal plan. Typically, this requirement requires four semesters of residency in Loyola's residence halls (not including summer terms).
Regarding residence hall questions (such as for fire alarms) parents should encourage their students to connect with the Resident Director of their students’ respective community which can be found on the Res Life webpage and/or email res-life@luc.edu.
STUDENT CONDUCT & CONFLICT RESOLUTION
All Loyola students are expected to follow Loyola’s Community Standards, which serves as the university’s Code of Conduct. Please encourage your student to read and familiarize themselves with this document. Additionally, if a student witnesses or is subject to alleged misconduct, they may report it to our office by filing a report.
Please encourage your student to fully read the instructions and information in the letter. If they have any questions, they can reply to the staff member who emailed them the letter or contact the office at OSCCR@luc.edu.
Absolutely. Please visit the parent and family information section of our website. If you have follow up questions or wish to speak to one of our staff members, please contact our office at OSCCR@luc.edu.
The Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) offers conflict resolution services, including one-on-one conflict coaching and mediation. Students can submit a conflict resolution referral to begin the process and our office will reach out to them.
STUDY ABROAD
Information about the Ricci Scholars program is available online here.
Information about the Fellowship Office, fellowships, and scholarships can be found online.
More information about study abroad options can be found online here.
More information about applying to study abroad at the John Felice Rome Center is available online here.
Students who are considering studying abroad are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor and the Study Abroad Office to make an academic plan. It is never too soon to start planning.
WELLNESS CENTER
No, all Wellness Center visits are confidential. Loyola does not offer parents access to student medical records, if the student is 18 years or older, due to HIPPA regulations. Also, there is no such release form that can be kept on file that enables parents to have knowledge of Wellness Center visits. If a student wants a provider to speak with their parents, the Wellness Center will get permission at that time.
The Wellness Center provides medical care for acute illnesses, gynecological services, STI/HIV testing, and allergy shots. For mental health care, we offer brief individual psychotherapy, group counseling, mindfulness meditation, and care management. Our registered dietitian can support students around disordered eating, sports nutrition, dietary limitations, and more. We offer resources and support through our advocacy services for students who have experienced sexual and relationship violence. Our health educators work with students dealing with alcohol and other drugs and stress. Follow us on Instagram @loyolawellnesscenter to stay up to date about our programs and services.
Loyola students are able to visit the Wellness Center for medical and mental health appointments at no cost. We do not bill insurance. However, additional services provided at your visit (lab tests, allergy shots, etc.), will incur a fee but your provider will let you know about those costs. See here for a or visit Eligibility and Fees for more information.
