Foundations Week

August 17-20, 2026

Foundations Week exists to invite incoming first-year students into Christian community at UVA.

Learn more about what this week is all about:

  • The Center for Christian Study is a place for 24/7 Christian fellowship and learning at UVA. For many students it is a “home away from home.”
    At Foundations Week, incoming first-year UVA students are invited into life at the Richman House (128 Chancellor Street) through meals, activities, worship, and discussion.

  • Connect with new friends before your first day of class. Through Foundations Week, students can experience a taste of what life is like in Christian community in Charlottesville.

  • Foundations Week conversations will orient first years to the truths of the gospel in light of their transition to college life.

  • The Study Center exists to bring all students into a flourishing life within the local church. Come connect with our staff, community members, and local pastors who will walk alongside you for the next four years.

A group of young people standing on a grassy lawn outdoors, with trees and umbrellas in the background.
Two teenage boys sitting at a table during a casual gathering or meal, one smiling at the camera and holding a mug, the other drinking from a water bottle. In the background, other teenagers are seated, with large windows showing trees outside.
A group of children and a supervising adult sitting on a picnic table outdoors, with trees and mountains in the background.
Four young women relaxing in a swimming pool, leaning on the edge, smiling. In the background, there are lounge chairs, yellow and navy umbrellas, a basketball hoop, tall green trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Group of young people gathered outdoors on a brick patio, some sitting on the ground and others on chairs, engaging in conversation.
Group of young men sitting around a table, engaged in conversation, with one holding a sandwich, in a room with a window and wall-mounted TV.
Group of young women and girls gathered outdoors under a wooden pavilion, sitting around tables with food and drinks, with green trees and a pond in the background.
Four young men standing close together outdoors, smiling, with backpacks, in a sunny urban setting with trees and a truck in the background.
A young man sitting on outdoor concrete stairs reading a book, with a backpack on the ground beside him.
A smiling young woman with sunglasses on her head, wearing an apron, giving a thumbs-up in a kitchen with other people cooking in the background.
Group of young women wearing athletic clothes and sneakers, standing together outdoors on a mountain or hilltop with a clear sky in the background.
A group of people sitting at tables inside a room with large windows showing green trees outside, listening to a speaker standing in front of them.
Two teenagers, a boy and a girl, are standing indoors at what appears to be a gathering or party. The boy is holding a plate of spaghetti and looks surprised, while the girl smiles and also holds a plate of pasta. There are landscape paintings on the
Two young men sitting at a table with drinks and snacks, smiling and talking, in a room with beige walls and a mirror in the background.
People sitting at a table outdoors, under a wooden structure, with trees and greenery in the background.
A group of young people sitting around a table with food and drinks, smiling for the camera in a well-lit room with white walls, large windows, and bookshelves in the background.
A group of young people standing on rocky terrain at a mountain or hilltop, with a scenic view of misty forests and a distant horizon during sunrise or sunset, smiling and enjoying the view.
Group of ten young men standing on a rocky mountain peak with a scenic view of rolling hills, clouds, and a colorful sky at sunset or sunrise.
A group of students in a classroom, with smiling and engaged expressions, including a boy in a striped shirt and a girl with glasses and curly hair, seated at a table with supplies and a science setup.

  • Foundations Week 2026 will begin Monday, August 17th and end Thursday, August 20th.

  • We have partnered with the University to enable Foundations Week students to move in a few days early in order to participate in the program. You will be invited to move into the dorms the morning of Monday, August 17th before joining us for a Family Lunch (parents and siblings welcome) at the Study Center. If you are missing early move-in information from UVA, reach out to us.

    Students will pack a separate bag from the rest of their belongings for the few days of Foundations Week.

  • Foundations Week is for incoming first-year UVA students.

  • The application for 2027-26 is closed. Contact Mary Allison Anderson (maryallison@studycenter.net) about any application questions or concerns.

  • Foundations Week costs $250 for all room, board, and activities. You will not need to bring any money with you during Foundations Week.

    Please reach out to Mary Allison Anderson (maryallison@studycenter.net) if you have any questions about the cost of the program.

  • Yes! The Study Center will provide all of the meals for the week.
    Email Sage Bessert (sage@studycenter.net) if you have specific dietary restrictions.

  • Housing will be provided. Students will stay overnight in beautiful Charlottesville homes nearby UVA Grounds.

  • Foundations Week offers a special opportunity for first years to jump into Christian community before their first class. First years will enjoy a week of exploring UVA, Charlottesville, and the Study Center alongside other incoming students, upperclassmen student leaders, and Study Center staff.

    Activities will include: making life long friends, eating delicious meals, rich discussions and devotions, adventures around town, and may include: hiking, scavenger hunts, outdoor sports, crafting, and more!

  • No, you do not need to be a Christian to attend Foundations Week. While the content, especially our group teaching and discussion, will be explicitly Christian, all students are welcome. 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have more questions, please email Mary Allison Anderson at maryallison@studycenter.net.

The Foundations Week 2026 application is closed. Please check back here for the 2027 application.

A young woman with curly blonde hair smiling outdoors with green trees and sunlight in the background.

Have questions about Foundations Week or know someone who should apply?

Contact Mary Allison Anderson at maryallison@studycenter.net

Want to help make Foundations Week happen?

Are you an upperclassman who wants to welcome first years into UVA? We'd love for you to be a part of making Foundations Week 2026 happen.

Interested? Please fill out the interest form below!

Interest Form

This week is made possible in part through the support of Grant 63003 from the John Templeton Foundation.