<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000883939
<NAME> STI CLASSIC

   <NUMBER> 052
   <NAME> INVESTMENT GRADE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND FLEX SHARES
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           165479
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          164613
<RECEIVABLES>                                    13655
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     187
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  178455
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         25883
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         1067
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              26950
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        157054
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1375
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1488
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                             (5)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                        (4678)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         (866)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    151505
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 8255
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (1571)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           6684
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        (4664)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        (287)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             1733
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (504)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                         (216)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            650
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (825)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 62
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          (1840)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              4
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                         2308
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             1285
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   1740
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            173333
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.10
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.29)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.34)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.14)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.65