Foundations Week

August 17-20, 2026

Register Now

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.
A group of young people attending a panel discussion or presentation in a room with light gray walls and a wooden carved door, seated at round tables with striped tablecloths.
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.
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  • 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 that day. 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.

  • Fill out the application linked here!

    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 is for incoming first-year UVA students.

  • Foundations Week offers an opportunity for first years to enjoy a week of exploring UVA, Charlottesville, and the Study Center alongside other incoming first years, upperclassmen student leaders, and Study Center staff.

    Activities will include: making life long friends, eating delicious meals, rich discussions and devotions and may include: hiking, swimming, scavenger hunts, 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.

Register for Foundations Week 2026 Today!

Register
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.