What We Do
Open 24/7 at 128 Chancellor Street, the Study Center is a place to study, share a cup of coffee, ask honest questions, build lasting friendships, and discover the hope of the gospel.
Welcome
Our door is always open. We invite students, their families, and members of the broader Charlottesville community into our home through shared meals and events.
-
A four-day event inviting incoming first-year students into Christian community before move in.
-
A free lunch welcoming new students and their families on move-in day.
-
We provide space, hospitality, and resources that help various Christian ministries across Grounds flourish.
-
We host gatherings throughout the year that connect parents, alumni, and friends to the life and mission of the Study Center.
Community
A variety of communities allow students to go deeper in their faith through regular meetings, meals together, and discussions of rich biblical content.
-
Students live in intentional Christian community, sharing life, mentorship, and rhythms that foster lasting spiritual growth.
-
A formative cohort that helps students grow through biblical study, meaningful friendships, and intentional discipleship.
-
Students develop leadership skills while serving in community and growing through mentorship and hands-on experience.
-
We support UVA’s graduate community through the Law, Darden, and Graduate Christian Fellowships, which minister to students through weekly gatherings and retreats.
Learning
We offer classes, small groups, and lectures that challenge students and community members to connect life, learning, and faith.
-
Browse more than 14,000 books designed for thoughtful study and lifelong learning.
-
Small groups provide a place to study scripture, ask hard questions, and grow alongside others weekly.
-
We host leaders from UVA and beyond to offer lectures that bring theologically rich and thoughtful content to Grounds and the wider Charlottesville community.
Mentoring
At its heart, the Study Center is a relational ministry. We desire that all of our activities draw students into a deeper relationship with Christ.
-
Mentorship and discipleship are central to our daily work with students. Residential scholars, interns, and many other students meet regularly with staff, who help them mature in their spiritual and vocational development.
-
Throughout the week we host informal gatherings to create space for meaningful conversations, friendship, and spiritual encouragement.
-
We offer free, confidential counseling with a licensed counselor to support students’ mental health and spiritual growth.
Evangelism
A commitment to evangelism ensures that our programming does not lapse into a merely academic study of religion. Rather, our programming inspires and informs students’ personal faith in Christ and encourages them to share it with others.
-
We support an undergraduate journal of Christian thought at the University titled Bearings, which provides an open forum for spiritual conversation on Grounds.
-
Hospitality events like Exam Snacks, FDOC Snacks, and Rush Hospitality provide opportunities to meet and welcome students. For many, ours may be the only Christian environment they encounter in college, so we seek to offer a warm, inviting space that reflects Christ’s love.
-
For many years we have partnered with the Veritas Forum to host conversations that place the Christian faith in dialogue with differing perspectives.
-
During Sorority Recruitment, we welcome hundreds of women with a place to rest, connect, or pray with female staff and community.