UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success
Welcome to Brigham Young University. We are excited you are joining us soon. We need you! We know you have much to contribute to our community of covenant belonging.
To help you grow and progress intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually during your first semester, BYU has created a course for incoming students — UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success. This course is taught in small sections by full-time faculty who can serve as models of lifelong learners and devoted disciples of Christ as you continue your academic journey. A peer mentor (a current BYU upper-level student) will assist the faculty member in the course, lead class discussions, and meet with you regularly outside of class. Your peer mentor will help you reflect on your experience and find the resources you need to be successful. This class is for you — to help you be successful!
UNIV 101 is designed to help you understand the unique mission and purpose of BYU, connect with other students and faculty in meaningful and lasting ways, and make the most of your BYU experience. The course will also:
- give you a rich academic experience, in a small class, with the opportunity to see at close range how a faculty disciple-scholar uses their learning to address real life problems, explore challenging questions, and provide service to others;
- help you apply the doctrine of belonging as you find ways to participate in the BYU community, make lasting friends, and learn to include others;
- facilitate discussions about how to be successful and find your place at BYU.
Enrollment in UNIV 101 is part of the General Education program. For students beginning winter 2024 or later, UNIV 101 fulfills a General Education requirement. In this new GE configuration, students will be required to take only six of the seven Arts, Letters, and Sciences requirements (Civilization 1, Civilization 2, Arts, Letters, Biological Science, Physical Science, Social Science). UNIV 101 is also a wonderful opportunity (required) for all students during their first semester. Students transferring from another university are not required to take UNIV 101.
For assistance or questions, email byu_foundations@byu.edu.
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING
At the end of the semester, we decided to have a group picture together that we called our family photo because we have that bond. If everyone had an opportunity to be in a class like this, I think BYU would be changed forever.
I think coming in as a freshman can be kind of scary. You don’t really know what you are doing and so it is really nice having the familiar faces to help each other succeed. … God really blessed me to be in these classes. They help students to feel they are part of a community, and they mean something. To help them find their light. It’s really nice just knowing that you are here for a reason.
This new class is an opportunity to get a jump start into what it’s like to be a part of the BYU community. And so, a huge aspect of it is building belonging. And so, really showing the student why they are here at BYU and why this is a unique opportunity. … I think this class helped students see the importance of connection. The assignment that had the biggest impact was to go as a group to an event on campus.