In his inaugural address, President C. Shane Reese explored the idea of a “covenant community.” What exactly did he mean? BYU has been a vibrant, diverse community for the better part of two centuries, much like the church that supports it. So, what’s different about the covenant-based community that President Reese proposed?
“Becoming BYU will require us to sharpen our…focus on…covenantal belonging,” he explained. This covenant-based community, according to Elder D. Todd Christofferson, is distinguished by sacrifice and service to others. A service-minded focus on others is at the core of what makes the BYU Continuing Education community—which flourishes more and more on a daily basis—so special.
The division is dedicated to making the world a better place, acting on the global, national, and local levels through life-changing education. Community is central to this mission. At semester kickoffs, graduation ceremonies, and student get-togethers, students can connect, build friendships, and support each other. BYU Continuing Education’s Events team extends the community-building outward with events that bring people together by the thousands. The overall effect can’t be understated. Lives are changed, scholars are made, and disciples are forged.
Student Community
To see the strength of the BYU Continuing Education student community, look no further than FlexGE. In 2024, the program saw an increase of 79% in students admitted, bolstering the program’s already-rich student life. Closing and opening socials, monthly service activities, a Halloween party, and potlucks made 2024 a highlight for FlexGE students, thanks to the hard work and vision of the FlexGE student council. By fostering belonging and focusing on service, FlexGE students have set themselves apart as a true covenantal community.
The power of the BYU Continuing Education student community comes into sharp relief during graduation ceremonies. In 2024, BYU Online High School hosted its second graduation celebration, with 145 students graduating. The Bachelor of General Studies program also celebrated its graduates, with thirty students and their families attending the ceremony. The events brought together two otherwise-dispersed communities and showed that covenantal belonging can be just as powerful, despite physical distance.
Community Through Events
Thirty thousand people. That’s no trivial number; it’s enough to fill a large university, half of Lavell Edwards Stadium, or, in Elder Uchtdorf’s terms, sixty-four Boeing 747s. It’s also the number of BYU Continuing Education Event participants in 2024. With so many attendants comes a great potential for covenantal belonging and education-driven growth.
These thirty thousand people have laughed and cried. They’ve danced, taken notes, heard from some of the world’s most impactful speakers, and found lifelong friends. At BYU’s Life After Loss conference, victims of tragedy have found like-minded people suffering the same grief and seeking the same light. At Women’s Conference, faithful women from all backgrounds have delved into sisterhood, the journey of being a mother, and Christ’s influence on their lives. Life After Divorce offers a path forward through divinely-guided healing and communal support, and events like Autism Translational Workshop and Books for Young Readers give attendees the tools they need to help others feel like they belong. In its own unique way, each event epitomizes the covenantal community that President Reese urges us to develop.
In many ways, Education Week is the crown jewel of this smorgasbord of events. With over fifteen thousand attendees and one thousand classes in 2024, Education Week’s overwhelming numbers are surpassed only by the way the conference brings people together. It is an educational tour de force that binds fifteen thousand attendees together in service, sacrifice, and enlightenment. For over a century, it’s been changing lives—and it will only continue to grow.
In a way, covenant community is the fruit of the seeds BYU Continuing Education sows. Service-oriented educational experiences bind us together. They give us opportunities to give and be given to, to lift and be lifted, and to put into practice the Christlike values that define us. To become the BYU of prophecy, this covenant-bound community will be essential.
At BYU Continuing Education, we’re excited to help build this divinely inspired future.
