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BYU Foundations of Leadership Conference 2023

“Called to Lead”

BYU's Foundations of Leadership Conference is an annual conference for incoming BYU freshmen focused on leadership. This conference, hosted by the BYU Student Connection and Leadership Center, is designed to be a launchpad for your years here at BYU. At this conference, you will be presented with the opportunity to connect with campus organizations, meet other incoming freshmen before the start of the school year, learn from the experiences of upperclassmen peer mentors, learn from hand-picked speakers, and have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

The Foundations of Leadership theme for 2023, Called to Lead, is based on Isaiah 42:6 "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles."

TESTIMONIALS

[Foundations Conference] was the best possible way to start my freshman year of college. I was nervous and going to BYU before I went to [Foundations] but it calmed all my fears and gave me a great spiritual experience. I learned a lot about leadership and how I can be a leader at BYU both with a title and without one.
It is seriously the best! It helped me get over the fear many freshman experience about meeting new people and branching out of your comfort zone... 10 outta 10 recommend!
It is a great experience and a wonderful welcome to BYU... The speakers are great and relevant to our lives, and the lessons learned will shape our BYU experience.
Overall, [Foundations Conference] helped my transition into freshman year. I was able to get to know fellow BYU students, learn about BYU culture, and I had an amazing time.
It has been my favorite part of my BYU experience. Going through the program as both a participant and a mentor has opened me up to a multitude of people and opportunities to involve myself and make the most of my college experience. College is more than just grades, it’s about becoming who you are meant to and [Foundations Conference] is a great guiding program.
It is seriously the best! It helped me get over the fear many freshman experience about meeting new people and branching out of your comfort zone. The activities are all tied back to leadership and the gospel, and you can’t help but feel so loved! 10 outta 10 recommend!
It is a great experience and a wonderful welcome to BYU. You are in a beautiful area with lots of great people that will quickly become your friends on campus. The speakers are great and relevant to our lives, and the lessons learned will shape our BYU experience.
[Foundations Conference] really changed my outlook on going into college. I was a super excited but I didn’t really know what to expect when it came to classes, people, and how I should go about making friends and getting to know people. After [Foundations] I was more excited than ever to start not only learning but serving in every capacity I could. I made immediate friends, learned from speakers, and even gained some school spirit! I am forever thankful that I chose to go. THANK YOU FOL!!!
My time at [Foundations Conference] was not what I expected but in the best way! My peer mentors were great people that had a genuine interest in me and helped create the fun environment felt throughout [Foundations]. My group was amazing, too! I probably would have never met them, but now I have 10 new friends! Whenever I see fellow group members on campus, it’s so fun to catch up with them. Overall, [Foundations] helped my transition into freshman year. I was able to get to know fellow BYU students, learn about BYU culture, and I had an amazing time.
I met so many people, some that lived only fifteen minutes away from me! [Foundations Conference] is a great way to start off the school year and get the jitters out. You are able to get out of your comfort zone in a good way and everyone is in the same position as you. It had the best dance I have ever attended! You are surrounded by the gorgeous mountains and are able to enjoy God’s creations. [Foundations] is necessary in my opinion nothing can beat it.
It’s a really cool experience that prepares you for BYU and gets you excited about college. There are a lot of fun activities and inspiring speakers. You meet a lot of new people and work with upperclassmen who are passionate about your success :) You get a head start by being exposed to clubs and people at BYU. The Spirit is also really strong at this conference.
I’d tell others that the best way to go into [Foundations Conference] is without any expectations! I’d never attended a leadership camp before, so I was really going in blind. But I wouldn’t have it any other way! If anything, I’d promote this more to kids who’ve never participated in such events because it makes it so much easier to go into school knowing you have friends from the camp.

The FOL 2023 application is now closed

Conference Details

Conference Dates: August 24-26 OR August 28-30
Location: BYU Aspen Grove Family Camp (check-in and check-out at BYU North Fields)
Cost: $325 for Session 1, $375 for Session 2 (includes all meals, lodging, official conference t-shirt, round-trip travel between BYU and Aspen Grove, and all other conference programming)

How to Register

Because Foundations of Leadership participation is on a first-come, first-serve basis and the conference typically fills up quickly, we encourage participants to apply as early as possible in order to ensure a spot. Once an application has been accepted and a conference spot has been secured, the registration process follows. Payment will be charged directly to students' BYU Financial Center at the start of August after they have been accepted into the conference and have successfully registered.

Two Sessions

During the application process, participants indicate which of the two sessions they would like to attend. In the event that a student's preferred session is full by the time they register but there are still remaining spots in the other session, students can choose whether to be added to the waitlist for their preferred session (no spot guaranteed) or to attend the other session (guaranteeing a spot).

Financial Aid

In order to make the Foundations of Leadership Conference as accessible as possible for everyone, limited financial aid is available. To be considered for financial aid, please complete your FAFSA in advance. Financial aid decisions are made based off the Expected Family Contributions (EFC) number found on the FAFSA as well as expected scholarships and/or grants for the upcoming school year. The scholarship amount will be automatically deducted from the charge placed on students' accounts for the conference in August.

What Next

After filling out the application, students will be contacted and notified if they have been accepted into a session and which session they will be registering for. Participants will then receive follow-up information and updates, including packing and reading lists to review before the conference begins.

The Foundations of Leadership Conference offers BYU sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to volunteer as peer mentors. In exchange for guiding BYU’s incoming freshman, you receive free food and lodging throughout the duration of the conference, enjoy the nearly all the offerings of the conference, and of course free swag. Peer mentors are typically selected from the leadership of campus student organizations and previous Foundations of Leadership participants, but all are welcome to apply!

Peer Mentors must be available for the entirety of the session(s) duration they apply for, as well as one of the mandatory trainings discussed below.

What do Peer Mentors do?

As a peer mentor, you will have the opportunity to welcome and guide participants in their first BYU experience. You will lead them through the conference programming, facilitate group discussions, and help make the conference as fun as possible!

Conference Details

Conference Dates: August 24-26 OR August 28-30
Location: BYU Aspen Grove Family Camp (check-in and check-out at BYU North Stadium Fields)

Mandatory Training

Peer mentors are required to attend one of the following training dates before the conference. This training goes over expectations for peer mentors, lesson plans, the schedule for each day, and ways to help the participants have the most enriching experience.
Training Dates:
Tuesday, August 22
Wednesday, August 23
Saturday, August 26

How to Apply

Applications are currently closed.

Please review the frequently asked questions found below.
For additional questions and information about the program please contact us at:
sclfoundations@byu.edu
801-422-7176

Questions

  • Q: When do I pay for the conference?

    A: During the registration process, payment will be due and charged to a personal card.

    Q: Is Financial Aid available?

    A: If the conference fee poses a financial hardship, the BYU Student Connection and Leadership Center offers limited aid to those who qualify. Within the registration application, there is a Financial Aid application for those who are interested. To be considered you must first complete a FAFSA. Please have your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA and the total amount of money expected from all scholarships and/or grants for the upcoming school year ready, as you will be asked to have that information in order to successfully fill out the application included in registration.

    Q: How do I apply for Financial Aid?

    A: Conference application includes a section that participants can fill out if they would like to apply for financial aid.

    Q: How will Financial Aid be applied?

    A: If you are notified that you qualified for financial aid, you will receive a “discount code” that will be used in the payment process to reduce the overall cost.

    Q: Is there a deadline to apply for Financial Aid?

    A: Yes, the deadline to apply for Financial Aid is April 30, 2023. Be ready to apply for financial aid when you apply for the conference. Expect results by May 4, 2023.

    Q: If I decide not to attend the conference, can I receive a refund?

    A: All payments will be non-refundable after July 31st

  • Q: I am leaving on my mission, so won't be attending classes this fall. Can I still come to Foundations Conference?

    A: We recommend attending the conference immediately prior your first fall semester in order to maximize the value of your experience. If you have conflicts with mission dates, please reach out to us.

    Q: My son/daughter will be returning from his/her mission and would like to attend. Can they register?

    A: Yes. Many returned missionaries attend every year. Returned missionaries will always be paired with at least one other returned missionary in their group. We recommend filling out the registration on their behalf if they are unable to fill out registration on their own.

  • Q: I am living off-campus. Can I still check into my apartment early?

    A: Unfortunately, we cannot arrange for early check-in for students living off-campus. We encourage you to make your own arrangements for storing your belongings with your landlord, a short-term storage unit, a friend or family member, etc.

    Q: I am attending Session 1 and will be living in Helaman Halls or Heritage Halls. Can I check into my dorm early?

    A: Students attending the first session will not be able to check-in prior to attending the session due to Education Week. However, you are welcome to sign up for a check-in date and time beginning any time after 5:00 p.m. on August 26. You should have already received instructions from housing on how to sign up for a check-in date and time.

    For Heritage Halls or Helaman Halls residents, August 28 and August 29 has a $15/night early arrival fee if you choose to move in on one of those days. You will not have a charge if you check in on August 28 or later.

    Q: I am attending Session 1 and will be living in the Foreign Language Student Residence or Wyview Park. Can I check into my apartment early?

    A: If you live at the Language Immersion Student Residence, Riviera, or Wyview Park, there is a $15/night early arrival fee if you arrive earlier than August 30.

    Q: I am attending Session 2 and will be living in Helaman Halls or Heritage Halls. Can I check into my dorm early?

    A: You may check in at no additional charge between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 28. If you choose to check in on August 27 or after 5:00 p.m. on August 26, you will be charged $15/night for each of those nights. We recommend taking the free check-in opportunity on August 28 or moving in after the conference. You will need to email sclfoundations@byu.edu with your NetID by August 9th if you would like to check in early.

    Q: I am attending Session 2 and will be living at the Foreign Language Student Residence or Wyview Park. Can I check into my apartment early?

    A: You may check in at no additional charge between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 28 to drop your belongings off then attend the conference. You will need to sign up for any available housing check-in time but will still be able to check in between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 28. You will need to email sclfoundations@byu.edu with your NetID by August 9th if you would like to check in early.

    Q: I am living in Helaman Halls or Heritage Halls. Can I check into my dorm early without signing up for early check-in?

    A: No. All students who want to check-in early must sign up for an early check-in date and time through housing so that their housing will be prepared for them. Students should also communicate their early move-in to conference directors by August 9th.

    Q: I don't have a car, and my parents will be gone. How can I get to the check-in location?

    A: We will provide a free shuttle service from both Helaman Halls and Heritage Halls to check in at BYU North Fields. This shuttle service will also be available after the conference to shuttle students back to the dorms. There will be a shuttle sign-up a few weeks prior to the conference.

  • Q: Is Aspen Grove wheelchair accessible?

    A: The majority of the central portion of Aspen Grove is paved and has ways to get around stairs, however there are certain activities that are not wheelchair friendly. We would love to work with and and all students who may have accessibility concerns. Feel free to call our office or pay us a visit in person.

    Q: Will there be a nurse/EMT present?

    A: Although we do not have a certified or registered medical professional with us at FOL, we do have a first aid kit complete with everything from ibuprofen to ankle wraps to tweezers. Any severe injury, reaction, medical emergency will be taken seriously and proper authorities will be contacted. If you need to take medication every day, make sure to list current medications in your registration form in case of an emergency.

    Q: Are service animals allowed at Aspen Grove?

    A: Service animals are not allowed at Aspen Grove

  • Q: Can I drive myself to the conference?

    A: No. There are very limited spaces at the check-in location. For liability purposes, students may not drive themselves to the conference location in Aspen Grove. If a personal emergency arises, you will need to arrange for someone to pick you up. In a medical emergency, transportation to a care center will be provided by conference staff.

    Q: Can I leave the conference at any time?

    A: Foundations Conference events and activities are unique and, if missed, may decrease the value of your experience. If an emergency presents, you may leave the conference. For liability purposes, if a students leaves the conference early for any reason, their time at the conference is complete.

    Q: My flight gets in too late to make it to check-in on time? What can I do?

    A: If you let us know ahead of time, we can have conference staff wait for you at the check-in location and drive you to the conference location at Aspen Grove. If this applies to you, you can email us at sclfoundations@byu.edu

    Q: I'm coming to BYU by myself. How can I get from the airport to BYU?

    A: You can take the Express Shuttle or the Frontrunner Train.

    Q: What time is check in/out for the conference?

    A: Check in will be 9:00-9:40 a.m. on August 24 for Session 1 and on August 28 for Session 2. Check out will be 12:00-12:30 p.m. on August 26 for Session 1 and on August 30 for Session 2.

  • Q: Where can I find BYU's most up-to-date Covid-19 policies?

    A: See BYU's announcement for Fall Semester here. BYU will post additional Covid-19 updates here as Fall Semester approaches.

    Q: Will I be required to wear a mask?

    A: This conference will follow BYU's Spring/Summer Semester 2022 guidelines. The conference will be in-person at BYU's Aspen Grove Family Camp. Masks and social distancing will not be required. This decision is subject to change depending on trends in disease prevalence and guidance from state and local governments. Individuals may choose to wear a mask in any setting.

CONTACT US

For additional questions and information about the program please contact us at:
sclfoundations@byu.edu
801-422-7176