(( Before applying to ULSA, you are required to read and understand the following OOC faction rules. ))
Student Conduct and Criminal Activity
As a legal faction, ULSA expects characters to engage primarily in lawful activities.
While we recognize that students may occasionally stray from the path, minor infractions (such as underage drinking, recreational drug use, or using falsified identification to access 21+ venues) are considered part of student life. These will be handled strictly within the game’s in-character (IC) framework, and appropriate IC consequences will follow.
However, involvement in serious criminal activity, including felonies such as murder, extortion, major drug trafficking, or sexual assault, is strictly prohibited at an out-of-character (OOC) level. Characters with a criminal record involving such offenses will not be accepted into ULSA, and should these crimes occur after acceptance, they will result in immediate expulsion and removal from the faction.
Felony-level crimes may only be engaged in if the player has obtained prior OOC approval through corruption permissions. This ensures ULSA’s portrayal remains realistic as an educational institution. Players who engage in felonious activity without prior approval will be removed from the faction and may face further consequences, including reports to server management for unrealistic portrayal.
In rare cases where extenuating circumstances lead to felony-level crimes, the OOC leadership team will review the situation on a case-by-case basis. Approved incidents will still be handled IC, and we encourage players to maintain detailed logs or recordings of their roleplay in case reviews are needed.
Corruption Permissions
Corruption permissions allow a player to bypass the felony crime restrictions, but only for a specific felony crime that has been pre-approved. This permission is granted on a case-by-case basis and must align with the character’s roleplay and their position within the faction. It is not a blanket approval to engage in various felonies.
Players wishing to pursue this type of roleplay must consistently demonstrate a high level of roleplay quality. A formal request for corruption permissions must be submitted to, and approved by, faction leadership before any specific felonious actions can be undertaken. Engaging in any felony-related roleplay without prior approval for that crime is strictly prohibited and will result in removal from the faction.
Realism in Criminal Roleplay
When considering the type of criminal activity a character might engage in, it is important to reflect on their background, future potential, and realistic motivations. Characters with strong academic or athletic prospects are unlikely to risk their future by becoming deeply involved in street-level crime. The crimes your character may be drawn into should align with their role and make sense within the broader context of their development.
Examples of plausible criminal roles include:
- Faculty members falsifying academic records to help students graduate or maintain scholarships in exchange for personal favors or bribes.
- University administrators embezzling funds or engaging in financial fraud, such as siphoning off research grants or tuition fees.
- Sports coaches or athletic department staff accepting bribes or manipulating recruitment and scholarship opportunities for athletes.
- Student government representatives using their position to divert university resources or engage in nepotism for personal gain.
- Research assistants or professors involved in selling sensitive or proprietary research data to outside corporations or entities.
- Student athletes engaging in match-fixing or other forms of cheating in sports, possibly in collaboration with outside interests.
- Tech-savvy students hacking into university systems to change grades or access confidential information for personal gain or blackmail.
- Medical or pharmacy students using their access to controlled substances for personal distribution or illegal sale.
Examples of unrealistic criminal roles include:
- Abandoning a promising academic or athletic career to join a street gang.
- Giving up a life dedicated to academia or elite sports to become a low-level enforcer for a criminal organization or motorcycle club.
- A tenured professor suddenly turning to violent crime, such as robbery or murder, without any prior character development to support such a drastic change.
- A student from a privileged background dropping out to engage in drug trafficking or becoming deeply involved in organized crime without realistic motivation.
- Engaging in high-level cartel activity or mafia operations as a university student with no credible connection to such criminal networks.
- Becoming a hired assassin or hitman while balancing an academic or sports career at ULSA, without any credible backstory or progression.
- An academically focused character joining a gang as a foot soldier with little to no reason for such a life change beyond shock value or thrill-seeking.
Firearms
Firearms are strictly prohibited on ULSA’s campus. As part of the University of San Andreas (USA) system, ULSA maintains a no-tolerance policy for the possession of firearms by both students and faculty. Carrying a firearm on campus grounds or within its immediate vicinity (such as Picture Perfect Drive and Richman Drive) constitutes a felony.
This policy applies irrespective of any licenses held, including Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permits. We encourage all players to review the SHAFT Code to ensure full understanding of the relevant laws. The only exceptions to this rule are for on-duty security personnel, law enforcement officers, or in cases where the Chancellor has granted explicit permission, such as for bodyguards accompanying a VIP.
Forgetting your character was carrying a firearm is not an acceptable excuse.
Suicide
Due to past incidents involving poor portrayal of suicide, it is now a requirement that any player intending to engage in suicide-related roleplay, whether it be an attempt or the act itself, must first seek approval from ULSA’s faction leadership. Players must demonstrate at least two months of character development leading up to such a storyline, ensuring that it is not a reactionary response to transient issues such as a breakup, the loss of a friend, or other situations that may be considered trivial or inappropriate for such heavy themes.
While players are free to name change their characters at any time, suicide roleplay must be treated with the gravity it deserves. When portrayed poorly, this kind of roleplay often serves as a means of “attention seeking” and does not align with the standards of our community. Such portrayals can be inconsiderate and disrespectful, and as a result, are strictly prohibited.
Failure to comply with this rule will result in an immediate removal from the faction. Players who become aware (either IC or OOC) of someone planning to engage in suicide roleplay should report the matter to faction leadership immediately.
As this type of roleplay violates OOC rules, ULSA will not acknowledge the event IC. This means there will be no IC statements from faculty, no wakes, and no investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply as a student?
Read through all the information on this page, and then proceed to the application form using the button below.
Can I roleplay a character who is further along in their studies than a freshman?
Yes, we encourage a diverse range of roleplay and do not wish to limit characters to being freshmen. If you would like to roleplay a student in a later year of their degree or pursuing a higher education qualification, that is completely acceptable.
While our application process is primarily designed for undergraduate freshmen, those applying for advanced courses or higher degrees will have the opportunity to provide additional details. You may be asked to include this information by your application handler if omitted from the application. This ensures that your character’s academic progress is realistic and appropriately considered, such as ensuring a character isn’t pursuing a PhD at an implausibly young age.
Are sports scholarships available at ULSA, and how do they work?
Yes, ULSA offers sports scholarships. College athletics, particularly football and basketball, are highly prestigious and integral to university life. If your character is pursuing a sports scholarship, the process will differ slightly from the standard academic application.
To be considered for a sports scholarship, your character’s dedication to their sport and their personal story will be closely examined. Application handlers will engage with you to understand how your character portrays the discipline and passion required of a serious student-athlete. Your character’s background should reflect a balance between athletic commitment and academic performance, with realistic motivations and a grounded story. Stereotypical or overly simplified narratives will be rejected in favor of well-developed, multifaceted characters.
It’s important to note that only the most dedicated characters will be accepted into ULSA’s sports programs. Commitment to the sport and long-term participation are key factors, and any indication of a lack of commitment may result in the rejection of the scholarship application.
Additionally, you’ll need to provide details on your character’s recruitment journey — how they were discovered by scouts, and the role of modern scouting practices, such as social media visibility. Once all the criteria are met, and depending on whether a representative exists for the relevant sport, the process will either involve an in-character interaction with the sports team or an NPC scout, after which your application will be finalized.
Can I start my own club, society, or group at ULSA?
Yes, you can! Starting a club or society at ULSA is an in-character process. To create a new club, you will need to submit a request to the ULSA Student Union. This process mirrors how student-led organizations are established in real universities, and your request will be reviewed by the appropriate in-character representatives.
Please note that, while this is an in-character process, ULSA leadership reserves the right to disband any club or society if the group’s leadership fails to uphold their duties or if the club causes issues either within the faction or the larger community.
Can I pick my degree or is there a prospectus?
Yes, we have a prospectus available on our forums, which players are expected to use when selecting their character’s degree program. The prospectus outlines the available degree options, and we encourage you to choose a program that aligns with your character’s background and aspirations.
Additionally, when it comes to academic sessions or lectures hosted by the faction, your character is not restricted to their chosen course. We encourage cross-enrollment in different subjects, which can be roleplayed as electives or additional interests your character may have.
How can attending a lecture be fun?
At ULSA, we understand that roleplaying academics should be enjoyable, not a chore. Most core lectures that your character would attend on their path to graduation are NPC’d at your discretion and won’t be the focus of in-game roleplay. Instead, the in-game lectures hosted by our professor characters are often treated like electives, open to all students regardless of their degree. We encourage everyone to participate, as it adds to the overall fun and inclusivity of the roleplay.
Professors are given the freedom to structure their lectures in ways that suit their teaching style. Some may replicate a traditional university lecture format, while others focus more on open discussions or interactive Q&A sessions. Group discussions and debates are common, and professors often involve students directly to create a more engaging atmosphere. These lectures are designed to be inclusive and collaborative, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute.
Additionally, while we are primarily focused on academic roleplay, we occasionally offer more specialized and immersive opportunities, such as field trips or cross-faction roleplay with for example local law enforcement and medical services. This could include specialized courses in fields like medicine or fire safety, creating unique and exciting RP for those pursuing legal or public service roles.
In short, we aim to make academics at ULSA a fun and dynamic experience, encouraging active participation and creative roleplay rather than simply sitting through a lecture.
I have more questions, where can I get answers?
For a more detailed FAQ, please visit our Discord server, where we have a comprehensive FAQ section covering a wide range of topics. If you still have questions or need further clarification, feel free to use the #queries channel on our Discord to ask directly. For more in-depth assistance or private inquiries, you can also submit a support ticket through our ticket system, and a member of our team will be happy to help.