Dear parents and families,

Welcome to Quinnipiac! If your student is joining us as a new Bobcat — welcome to the Quinnipiac family! If your student is returning, we’re thrilled to have them back for another exciting year — and for some, their final one. I hope the first few weeks have been both successful and enjoyable for your student.

My name is Tom Ellett, and I serve as the chief experience officer here at Quinnipiac. I oversee all student-facing operations, including Enrollment, Financial Aid, One Stop, Registrar, Student Affairs, Public Safety, Dining and Veteran’s Affairs.

As we begin the new academic year, I’d like to highlight some programs and opportunities available to help students connect with their peers and build community:

Campus Engagement Opportunities:

• Common Hour: Our new campus-wide initiative takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. It’s designed to foster connection, wellbeing and community. Whether students want to participate or present, there’s a place for everyone. Please encourage your students to attend the variety of events each Tuesday led by faculty and staff and Thursday led by student groups. This is a way to gain connection with their peers. Some of the events include pizza with eight strangers, book clubs, storytelling, creating an elevator pitch, financial literacy, school-based programs, speaker series, arts fest, athletic spirit week and much more! Learn more about Common Hour

• CXO Advisory Board: I host this board on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. for first-year students and 7 p.m. for upperclassmen. If your student is interested, please encourage them to join by emailing cxo@qu.edu. It’s a great way for first-year students to meet new friends.

• Dining Advisory Board: Meets every other Tuesday at 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Carl Hansen Student Center. All students are welcome. The Menu Makers for Quinnipiac (student employees) choose the menu for Café Q so if your students are not happy with the dining options, they should attend.  They also receive a free meal!

• Talks on the Rocks: A free, catered dinner for first-year students. Future dates are Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m. and Monday, November 3. If students RSVP and don’t attend, there is a $25 charge on their meal card.

• Cookies in the Commons: Hosted by my wife, Gladys Ellett, (a faculty member in the School Nursing) and me every other Thursday night, next one is Thursday, September 18. Students bake cookies for the community; Commons residents and others are welcome.

• On the Rocks Pub: Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. with weekly themes and activities included such as karaoke, live bands, and bingo. Meal points are accepted for all food items. It is run by students, for students.

• Listening Labs: Our peer-led listening groups are now in their second year. Coordinators will be visiting clubs, First-Year Seminar classes, and other gatherings to connect with students. The outcomes from the sessions include a greater sense of belonging, increased connectedness to others and enhanced listening skills. Learn more about Listening Labs

Support Resources 

If your student is facing academic or emotional challenges, please remind them they are not alone. We offer a wide range of support services: 

• The Learning Commons Academic Support Services

• The Counseling Center

• Office of Student Accessibility

• Resident Assistants (RAs) and Residence Life Staff (for residential students) 

• Student Affairs (for commuter students) 

• Public Safety (available 24/7 at 203-582-6200)

Get Involved 

We encourage students to get involved in clubs, attend athletic events and participate in service opportunities in Hamden and North Haven. Finding a sense of belonging is key to success in college, and with hundreds of clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone. 

We also offer student employment opportunities across campus, including positions with Chartwells (our dining partner) and part-time roles with our healthcare partner, Hartford HealthCare, at hospitals and clinics. 

Parent Academy 

We’re continuing our Parent Academy Zoom sessions this fall, each focused on a specific aspect of the student experience. If you didn’t receive an invite, you can register for the final session: 

Dining Services:
Wednesday, September 24 at 7 p.m. 
Register

This session will provide an overview of meal plan options, and members of the Menu Maker team will share their experiences working with Chartwells. 

Communication is key to building a strong partnership with families. If you have questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at QUParents@qu.edu. Thank you for being such an important part of your student’s journey at Quinnipiac. 

Warm regards, 
Tom Ellett 
Chief Experience Officer (cxo@qu.edu)

Bobcat Weekend

We look forward to welcoming our families for Bobcat Weekend taking place October 17 to 18.

Bobcat Weekend is an annual event to celebrate Quinnipiac pride by bringing together current parents and families and their students, as well as our alumni and their families. All are welcome to participate and meet our 10th president, Marie Hardin! Please visit our Bobcat Weekend page to learn more and register for family events

Are you a Quinnipiac graduate? Be sure to sign up for our Legacy Family Brunch where we celebrate the bonds that bring us together across multi-generational Quinnipiac families.

Please note that there is no need to register for Bobcat Weekend if you wish to simply visit your student on October 17 to 18; however, you may find it more convenient to visit another weekend. If you do wish to participate in any of the scheduled events you will need to register everyone in your party, including your student.

Inauguration of Marie Hardin

The Inauguration ceremony on Thursday, October 16 at 10 a.m. will kick off festivities, followed by a variety of events through Saturday, including a hike, a 5K run/walk, a women’s in sports panel discussion, faculty talks and sports competitions. Visit the Inauguration page to learn more and register

Student Experience and Engagement 

Our Engagement Fair was hosted just three weeks ago, where students engaged with more than 190 organizations and offices who provide co-curricular involvement opportunities.  

If your student is still navigating how to find a place at Quinnipiac, please encourage them to visit Bobcat Central to explore our organizations and their events on campus or email campuslife@qu.edu to setup a meeting with our staff. There is no deadline for when students can join.  

Fraternity and Sorority Life 

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is a vibrant piece of campus life where almost 20% of students chose to become members.  

Membership offers community, avenues for service and philanthropy, lifelong friends, and fun! The all-FSL GPA is consistently higher than the all-Undergraduate GPA and our members perform over 9,353 hours of hands-on service each year. They also raised an impressive $221,000+ for philanthropic causes locally and across the country during the last academic year. 

We want to welcome the almost 300 new members of the sorority community who joined us over Labor Day weekend. There are still several opportunities to join a sorority if your daughter is interested. Please have them reach out to fslife@qu.edu or via Instagram @qufsl.

Registration for fraternity recruitment is still live, and students will be able to join throughout this month (and beyond). Register online

We have a new fraternity joining the QU FSL community this semester, Phi Delta Theta. Men interested in this new organization can connect with them on Instagram at @quphidelts.

Our recognized fraternities on campus are Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Zeta Beta Tau. If your student is interested in a group that is not included in the aforementioned list, please feel free to reach out to us to confirm they are a recognized group.  

We also have two new groups exploring and looking for interested members. The first is Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc., a multicultural sorority. The second is Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a historically Black fraternity. Interested students can reach out via email fslife@qu.edu or via Instagram @qufsl. Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. will be hosting an information session on campus on October 9 in SB-154 at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. 

If your Bobcat wants to find their home away from home, establish a community of peers with similar values, participate in service/philanthropy events, and have fun, feel free to direct them our way for information about joining. Fall recruitment processes are still underway. All questions can be directed to email fslife@qu.edu or via Instagram @qufsl.

Office of Inclusive Excellence

Culture Week

Join the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Multicultural Student Legislative Council as we kick-off Culture Week with festive fall fun, treats and cultural conversations. 

Culture Week Kick Off Event – Fall into Culture
Monday, September 22, 2 to 4 p.m., CCE Courtyard

Bobcat Academy is off to a fantastic start

We kicked things off with an ice cream and pizza social, followed by a successful orientation where students had the chance to voice their perceived challenges in starting college.

With the guidance of program advisers and academic coaches, they quickly discovered they weren’t alone, many of their challenges were shared and they were able to exchange advice and encouragement with one another.

One of the pillars of Bobcat Academy is community building, and our students have embraced it fully. They’ve attended a rugby match, supported each other in rock climbing where nine students and two mentors tried it for the very first time. Up next is a field hockey game this Friday, drop-in pickleball and more opportunities to connect outside the classroom.

In addition to academic support and community events, students are meeting regularly with the program advisor to review monthly benchmarks that keep them on track academically. These conversations reinforce that they are supported and ensure they’re making the most of the many resources available to them.

We’re proud of how engaged our Bobcat Academy students are and excited to see how they continue to grow throughout the semester!

Learn more about Bobcat Academy

Title IX 

Title IX Primary Prevention Training will be held on numerous different dates for students. This presentation will include discussion of strategies and interventions on interrupting and preventing sexual assault, sexual harassment, partner violence and stalking. The presentation is open to all members of the campus community.  

To sign up for a session please contact Sarah Catenza.

Dates available are: 

• September 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. in CCE-250 

• October 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. in CCE-101 

• October 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. in room CCE-250

Spiritual and Religious Life

Jewish Life

School has begun and Jewish life at Quinnipiac is flourishing.  The Hereld House hosted its first shabbat with 35+ folks, many new students participated and many returned. In addition to life at the Hereld House, a wonderful thing for Quinnipiac’s Jewish community which has grown so much so that a Traditional Group – Kesher, has been established.

• With the upcoming Holy Days, we will be hosting a festive dinner the Rosh HaShanna eve on Monday, September 22 at 5 p.m.

• On the first day of Rosh HaShanna, we will be hosting services at 10 a.m., followed by a walk to the nearby stream for tashlich.

• At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, for Erev Yom Kippur we will have a festive dinner.

• Yom Kippur services are Thursday, October 2 at 10 a.m., followed by a BreakFast that evening (time to be determined).

• The following week of Sukkoth will be celebrated Friday, Shabbat Sukkoth, October 10 at 5 p.m.

The Hereld House is bustling with students bopping by. It is wonderful getting to know this year’s new students.  I hope to meet many parents during Bobcat Weekend. If I can be of any help or service prior to that, please contact me and I will reach back as soon as possible. - Rabbi Reena Judd

Health & Wellness

Counseling Services 

Counseling Services is a confidential and nonjudgmental space that promotes student success and well-being. Some students may need emotional support to cope with stress, anxiety, or homesickness, and we are here to help. For students who need a little support focusing on their academics, Counseling Services can help improve concentration, time management, and motivation. Counseling Services supports students to develop life skills, coping strategies, communication skills, and navigate relationships and transitions.  

As partners in helping students navigate this academic year, here are some tips to help your student build resilience and balance.  

• Mixed Emotions: Students are bound to have mixed emotions of joy, anxiety, or overwhelm; normalize it and encourage open dialogue about their feelings. 

• Establish a Routine: Having a daily routine that includes time for classes, study, meals, sleep, and rest can reduce stress and improve overall focus. 

• Healthy Boundaries: Encourage students to balance academics, social life, and personal time, and say no to activities to prioritize their wellbeing  

• Stay Connected: Check in regularly but give your student space for independent growth. Remember to ask open-ended questions like “What are some of the highlights they’ve experienced?” or “What’s been most challenging for them?  

• Campus Resources: Counseling Services offers services from 9 to 5 p.m. Your students can schedule an appointment by phone 203-407-4020, option 1 or booking online.

Fitness and Recreation

Campus Recreation is excited to have all our Bobcats back on campus! Over Labor Day weekend, we hosted 133 players during our 3v3 basketball and 4x4 beach volleyball tournaments.  

This month, Session A of Intramural season kicked off with pickleball singles and doubles, open skate, badminton singles and doubles, 6x6 futsal, 9x9 softball and ice hockey! For students interested in participating in Intramurals, they can download the Fusion Play app and join as a team or free agent. 

Our outdoors trips for the semester also filled in record breaking time! This semester, students will be traveling to Block Island, Niagara Falls, Wantage, New Jersey, Franconia, New Hampshire, Hunter, New York, Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania, Providence, Rhode Island, and Utah! More information on RecWell Climbing & Outdoors can be found on MyQ under Campus Recreation

We are also excited about our upcoming Club Sports home competitions:  

• Men’s Rugby versus University of Hartford: September 20 at 1 p.m. 

• Women’s Soccer versus Wesleyan: September 21 at 4 p.m. 

• Field Hockey versus UCONN and UMASS Lowell: October 5 at 1 p.m. 

• Men’s Ice Hockey versus Farmingdale State College: October 5 at 4 p.m. 

Some of our fan-favorite programs this month included a cooking competition: Chopped style, top rope belay clinic, healthy desserts and fall-afel with friends.  

Upcoming programs and events open to all students can be found below:  

• Thursday, September 25 from 9 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast Favorites: Protein Edition 

• Wednesday, September 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.: Women’s Wellness Night 

• Tuesday, September 30 from noon to 1:45 p.m.: Common Hour: Healthy Desserts 

Students can register for programs on our app or by visiting recwell.qu.edu

All fitness centers are open regular operating hours on Yom Kippur.

Division I Athletics

Individual game tickets

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Season tickets

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News and Updates

Visit GoBobcats.com

Housing and Residential Life

College years are an exciting time, full of new opportunities, independence and growth. At the same time, they can also bring challenges such as academic pressures, social adjustments, and personal struggles. As parents and family members, your support plays a critical role in helping your student navigate these experiences. This guide offers practical tips to help you encourage resilience, foster independence, and provide meaningful support when your student is struggling. 

Tips for Supporting Your Student 

1. Listen First, Advise Later 

• Create space for your student to share their concerns without interruption. 

• Resist the urge to immediately solve the problem. Sometimes, they simply need to feel heard. 

• Ask open-ended questions such as “What do you think your next step could be?” 

2. Normalize the Struggle 

• Remind your student that it is normal to feel stressed, overwhelmed or uncertain in college. 

• Share that many students face challenges adjusting to new environments, expectations, and responsibilities. 

• Reinforce that setbacks are part of growth and not signs of failure. 

3. Encourage Healthy Routines 

• Ask about their sleep, meals, and physical activity. Basic needs often affect mental health and academic performance. 

• Encourage balance by taking breaks, connecting with friends, and making time for self-care. 

4. Promote Problem-Solving Skills 

• Help your student think through options rather than giving them a single solution. 

• Guide them in identifying resources, weighing pros and cons, and making their own decisions. 

• Celebrate their efforts as well as their outcomes. 

5. Point Them Toward Campus Resources 

• Remind them of available supports such as academic advisers, tutoring, counseling, health services and residence life staff. 

• CARE Team

• Residential Life: residentiallife@qu.edu and 203-582-8666 

  • You can also contact your student’s Residence Hall Director. 

• Licensed Mental Health Provider (24/7 access): 203-407-4020, option 3 

• Encourage them to seek help early before challenges escalate. 

• Offer to review campus websites or resources with them, but allow them to take the lead in making contact. 

6. Balance Support with Independence 

• Allow your student to make mistakes and learn from them since this builds resilience. 

• Avoid micromanaging, and instead position yourself as a supportive coach. 

• Celebrate small wins to build confidence. 

7. Know When to Step In 

If your student expresses hopelessness, talks about self-harm, or shows signs of crisis, encourage them to seek immediate professional support. Encourage them to text or call 988 or use the chat function at 988lifeline.org

Reach out to campus resources or emergency services if you are deeply concerned for their safety. If this is a medical emergency or there is immediate danger of harm call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis. 

Final Thoughts 

Your student is on a journey of learning, independence and discovery. By offering empathy, encouragement and gentle guidance, you help them grow into confident and capable adults. Remember that your role is not to remove obstacles but to walk alongside them as they find their way. 

Dining Updates

As we transition into fall, Quinnipiac Dining is excited to bring more comfort food offerings to campus. September’s Feel Good Food of the Month is fermented foods.  

Each Friday, our Campus Dietitian hosts engaging sessions where students can explore healthy eating habits and even set up a free healthy appointment with her. To learn more, visit Meet the Dietitian. 

As students settle into campus life, our goal is to make dining feel like a home away from home. With 32 dining locations across our three campuses, there is always something to enjoy.  

A few student-run favorites include: 

• On the Rocks Pub & Grill – York Hill Campus, open 6 to 10 p.m. 

• School of Business Café – Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays 

• Shake Smart – Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends

We are also looking for students who are interested in joining our dining team. On-campus jobs offer valuable experience, the opportunity to build connections, and the convenience of working close to class. For more information about available positions across all three campuses, students can email quinnipiacdining@qu.edu. 

Upcoming Dining Events

We’re excited to share several events this fall that bring our campus community together around food, wellness, and fun: 

• September 23 – Dessert Takeover at FryShack in Café Q & Learn More About Your Meal Plans (Café Q, Common Hour) 

• September 25 – North Haven Health and Wellness Fair with Dietitian Jen Moore 

• October 1 – North Haven Costa Coffee Third Year Anniversary Celebration 

• October 3 – QU Feel Good Friday: Pumpkin Shake of the Month Taste Testing 

• October 6 – Love Quinnipiac Dining Comfort Kits & Healthy Eating Trivia 

• October 7 – Quinnipiac Feel Good Food Myth Busting: Pretzels and Seed Oils with Jen Moore (Common Hour) 

• October 8 – Seafood Month Celebration: DIY Snackle Boxes in Café Q 

• October 9 – Spiceful Teaching Kitchen: Learning How to Cook with Different Spices 

We look forward to sharing these experiences with your students this fall and continuing to make Quinnipiac Dining feel like home.

View hours and menus

Meal Plan Point Balances 

Meal plans are refreshed at the beginning of each semester, and students are able to purchase individually priced items in locations across our three campuses. All items in the dining facilities are sold a la carte (not buffet). Instead of a meal-based system, students pay for each item using the meal points on their Q-Card just as they would in a traditional restaurant. 

In addition to the wide variety of meals and snacks available in our dining halls, students may use the balance on their dining plan to purchase other items on campus, such as On the Rocks Pub and Grille, our on-campus Starbucks, concessions at athletic events or at food trucks, which regularly visit the Mount Carmel Campus Quad. 

With a point-based system, it is important that students track their points to ensure that they are not over or underspending. We recommend that students download the Transact app to their mobile device. Students also have access to log into the Transact website to get their point balances. In addition, students can ask cashiers for their balance and we send regular emails with the current balance. 

For more information visit the Meal Plan Budgets and Staying on Track page of our website.

Community Engagement

Welcome to Quinnipiac! During your time at Quinnipiac, the Office of Community Engagement encourages all students to find ways to learn about and learn from the surrounding communities through a variety of means.  

One of those ways is engaging in service, advocacy or philanthropy work to meet the needs of others or to improve the standard of living for all people. The office offers a variety of programming throughout the course of the year and our upcoming events are: 

• Monday, September 22: Reflective Hike to Yoga on Sleeping Giant at 4:15 p.m. 

• Thursday, September 25: Join us at the service fair on the Quad to learn about and join our student-led service, advocacy and philanthropy organizations.  

• Tuesday, September 30: Join us for soup in the suite with the Student Government Association to make dried soup recipes for donation to a local food pantry.  

The Office is also currently recruiting for open work study positions with local non-profits and schools. These para-professional positions offer an incredibly opportunity for students to build their resume and develop professional references.

One Stop

We’re thrilled to see campus buzzing with energy as students return for the fall term! All registered students were invoiced in June or shortly after registration, with balances due by July 15 or within two weeks of registration. If your student has an outstanding balance, they may have account holds and possibly late fees. 

Please take a moment to review your student’s account in Self-Service and ensure any remaining balance is resolved. For guidance and support, visit the Resolve a Balance Due page of our website — we’re here to help!

Parking and Transportation

As a friendly reminder, first-year residential students are not permitted to have vehicles on campus. Residential sophomores must park in York Hill Garage on weekdays. Juniors, seniors and graduate students may only park in the lots assigned to their parking permit. 

All students with vehicles on campus are required to register for a parking permit. We’ve reached the point in the semester where vehicles without valid permits are subject to ticketing and towing. 

To avoid any issues, please visit the Parking page of our website to: 

• Apply for a parking permit 

• Pay a parking ticket 

• Appeal a parking ticket 

• Review parking rules and regulations 

• View maps of parking lot locations 

• Learn which permit types are allowed in each lot 

Let’s keep campus safe and organized — thank you for your cooperation!

Student Conduct 

Welcome from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards! 

At the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful university environment for all Bobcats. Our mission is to support students and student organizations in making positive contributions to the Quinnipiac community — both on and off campus.

Our office helps students: 

• Understand and reflect on their values 

• Navigate the student conduct process 

• Prepare for meetings and understand potential outcomes 

Learn about their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Student Handbook

We are here as a resource to guide and support your student throughout their time at Quinnipiac. Whether encouraging personal growth, providing education around decision-making, or helping students take accountability for their actions, our goal is to promote a community built on respect, care, and responsibility.

We look forward to working together in support of your student’s success this year!

Public Safety

Pedestrian bridge near Irma/Dana has been closed

The Facilities team has observed that the Irma/Dana pedestrian bridge has shifted. Upon review of the bridge with our engineers, it has been determined that the bridge will need to be closed until it can be replaced. While there is no timeline available at this point, it is likely that the replacement will not occur soon, as the approval process will involve several regulatory agencies.
 
The Facilities team has blocked off the bridge and direct pedestrians towards the three other options: the walkway behind Arnold Bernhard Library, the Dana/Larson or Troup/Larson pedestrian bridges.

Graduating Students

The Class of 2026 Commencement schedule is as follows:

• Friday, May 8

  • 10 a.m.: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Commencement

  • 2 p.m.: School of Law Commencement

• Saturday, May 9

  • 10 a.m.: School of Education and School of Nursing Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement

  • 3 p.m.: College of Arts & Sciences and School of Communications Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement

• Sunday, May 10

  • 10 a.m.: School of Business and School of Computing & Engineering Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement

  • 3 p.m.: School of Health Sciences Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement

The Commencement website will be updated and with more information as the academic year progresses. Eligible graduates that have completed the graduation application (instructions emailed to eligible graduates on July 9) will receive emails throughout the academic year regarding Commencement and related activities.

Office of Development for Parents & Families  

Quinnipiac parents and families help our community thrive. Your support and encouragement profoundly shape each student’s educational journey. Join fellow Bobcat families in making an impact by becoming a parent ambassador!  

Represent Quinnipiac and our parents and families community in a meaningful way, enriching the overall student experience and supporting the work of the university. 

To request more information or to share your interest in volunteering, please contact parents@qu.edu.
Learn more at QU.edu/PFLC

Ways to get involved through the parent ambassador program: 

Offer Career Connections 

Offer students internships, mentorship, attend career events and more. Contact Kristina Galligan, senior director of student and alumni career development, to learn more and/or share your interest.

To post an internship or job for alumni and students, join our Handshake network

Host Events 

Help us engage incoming students and families, fellow parents and alumni across the country by hosting an event at your home, club, local restaurant or event space. 

Make Welcome Calls 

Be a welcoming connection for families of the incoming class. Scripts and resources will be provided. (This opportunity is for parents of sophomores or higher only.) 

Attend University Events 

Check out the alumni events calendar – regional events are often open for parents and families’ to also attend. And of course, we hope to see you at Bobcat Weekend in October! 

Participate in our Challenges and Become an Advocate 

Contact fellow parents via social media, call, text or email to join you in making a gift during the Parents & Families Challenge (November 13) and Bobcats Unite (spring, date to be announced) campaigns. 

Join the Parents and Families Leadership Council 

The Parents & Families Leadership Council is a dedicated network committed to strengthening the university, enriching student life, and advancing academic endeavors by raising critical funds. Members give of their time, expertise and resources by participating in on-campus meetings each semester, engaging with students and university leadership, and making an annual gift to the fund(s) of their choice. Learn more about the Parents and Families Leadership Council. 

To request more information or to share your interest in volunteering, please contact parents@qu.edu. Learn more at QU.edu/PFLC