Indiana University students gathered at Franklin Hall to write letters to university faculty, expressing their disappointment over the recent cancellation of the Intensive Freshman Seminar (IFS), a program with a 30-year legacy of shaping students’ early college experiences. Organized by Protect IU, the event aimed to spotlight the widespread student and faculty frustration over the program’s abrupt termination, which many believe undermines IU’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for new students.
Avery Patterson tells a story of how IFS has impacted her life.
IFS, a long-standing tradition at IU, provided incoming students with an immersive academic experience before the start of the fall semester. For many, it served as a crucial introduction to campus life, allowing them to build connections and adjust to university expectations. The program’s cancellation has led to an outpouring of grief and frustration, as students, alumni, and faculty members see its loss as more than just a budget cut but as the removal of an important part of IU’s community fabric.
The letter-writing event was an opportunity for students to share personal stories about the ways IFS had helped them adjust to college life and express their hopes that IU faculty will advocate for its reinstatement. Over 1,000 students, faculty, and community members have signed a petition calling for the program’s return. Organizers of the event hope that their collective voice will encourage university leadership to reconsider the decision and preserve IU traditions that foster a sense of belonging and academic growth.
Barbara Dennis explains how she feels towards this new change IU Faculty has made towards IFS.
