In President C. Shane Reese’s inaugural address, he outlined how we, as a university, will become the BYU of prophecy. It’s a daunting proposition—one that goes beyond the world’s definition of success and sets the bar at a divine level. At BYU Continuing Education, we believe firmly in the larger university’s divine mandate to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”
Here, every program, course, event, and camp is aimed at extending this perfection and eternal life to the world at large. Let’s take a look at what becoming the BYU of prophecy entails and how it aligns with BYU Continuing Education.
- Becoming BYU requires a student-centric approach.
What is higher education, if not its students? Students are the heroes of their individual quests for enlightenment. If learning is their destination, then they’re the pilots. No matter how smoothly the plane flies, without them, it’s nothing but scrap metal.
That’s why BYU Continuing Education programs prioritize students above all else. Because of this, we’ve seen lifelong learners take advantage of advisors, counselors, TAs, and other support systems to excel beyond their wildest dreams.
- Becoming BYU requires double heritage.
BYU’s spiritual nature isn’t exactly a secret. However, as President Reese emphasizes, the future will require a renewed focus on our two headwaters: the spiritual and the secular. At BYU Continuing Education, divine principles underpin the lifelong learning we share with the world.
Camps like EFY Mission Ready and events like Life After Loss explore themes of spiritual progress and healing. The academic excellence of secular courses, from accounting to astronomy, is enhanced by spiritual principles like charity, integrity, and knowledge. These two realms aren’t two realms after all—they're both parts of the same lifelong learning journey.
- Becoming BYU requires a covenant community.
Community is crucial to lifelong learning, and at BYU, it’s made ever stronger by shared values. At BYU Continuing Education, community is more crucial than ever. When we come together for the common goal of enlightenment, we’re more than the sum of our parts.
Community at BYU Continuing Education shines through transformative events, engaged student bodies, and shared experiences. From Education Week’s over 15,000 applicants to quiet, one-on-one academic advisement, lifelong learning builds a community like none other.
We’re excited for the future of BYU and are privileged to be a part of it. As we look to the university’s 150th anniversary, we invite you to consider how these principles fit into your own life. How can you inspire lifelong learning to benefit the world?