BYU–Pathway Worldwide

BYU–Pathway Worldwide (BYU–PW) is a higher education organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was formed in 2017 and is responsible for online higher education within the Church Educational System.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide
Former names
Pathway
MottoThe Glory of God is Intelligence
Established2009 (2009)
Parent institution
Church Educational System
Religious affiliation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
PresidentBrian K. Ashton
Students61,338 (2022)[1][2]
PathwayConnect: 36,262
BYU-Idaho & Ensign Online: 30,660
Location
Salt Lake City
,
Utah
,
United States
(Headquarters)[3]
Campus529 Pathway Sites
(2018)[4]
ColorsOrange and White
   
Websitewww.byupathway.org

History

BYU–PW started in 2009 as PathwayConnect, a program of BYU–Idaho. PathwayConnect is a non-matriculated program that makes higher education more attainable. Since its creation, PathwayConnect enrollment has risen exponentially, from 50 original students, to approximately 7,000 students in 2013, to more than 15,000 in 2017.[5] The students take courses online, but they also meet once a week in small groups to create 'scaffolding confidence.'[6]

On February 7, 2017, the LDS Church announced the creation of BYU–PW to provide strategic oversight and leadership for the church's online higher education initiatives, which consists of PathwayConnect and online higher education certificate and degree programs. As of October 2020, those programs are developed by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College. As of 2017, PathwayConnect covers one year (three semesters), during which students take at least one academic online course and one religious education course each semester.[7] Clark Gilbert, formerly the president of BYU–Idaho, was credited with developing the program in 2009 and was the organization's first president from 2017[7] until 2021, when he was called as an LDS Church general authority and was succeeded by Brian K. Ashton.

In 2019, it was announced that all LDS Church returning missionaries automatically receive pre-approval for admission to BYU–PW’s PathwayConnect program.[8] Gilbert stated that the program is intended to be scalable and currently has no enrollment cap.[9]

During 2019, BYU–PW served 44,482 distinct students (28,059 in PathwayConnect and 19,355 in BYU–Idaho online degree programs).[10] PathwayConnect students participated in 500+ locations throughout 145 countries, and BYU–Idaho online-degree students participated in all 50 states and 87 countries.[5]

In 2020, BYU–PW reached a new milestone by serving 51,583 students (33,238 in PathwayConnect and 23,172 in BYU–Idaho online degree programs).[11][12][13]

References
  1. This data is for annual distinct student headcount
  2. "Facts & Statistics 2022 Annual Data" (PDF). BYU Pathway. 2023-04-27.
  3. "Triad Center to be BYU-Pathway Worldwide's New Headquarters". pathwaynewsroom.org.
  4. "Open Sites". pathwaynewsroom.org.
  5. "Facts & Stats". Pathway Newsroom. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  6. Walch, Tad. "A private college degree for less than $9,000: How a 10-year-old school is disrupting higher education", Deseret News, 19 August 2019. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  7. Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "New BYU Pathway offers online higher education to Mormons and others worldwide", The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 February 2017. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  8. Smith, Lisa. "RM's pre-approved for BYU-Pathway Worldwide's Pathway Connect program", Standard Journal, 7 May 2019. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  9. Dodson, Brayley. "Continued growth sparks BYU admissions changes, expansion of online church program", Provo Herald, 21 October 2019. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  10. "Annual Report 2019". byupathway.org.
  11. October 2020, Ammon Teare9. "More Than 50,000 Students Served in 2020". The Pathway Compass. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  12. "BYU–Pathway Worldwide Enrollment Surpasses 50,000 Students". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  13. "BYU-Pathway Worldwide passes 50,000-student milestone, continues as valuable higher-education resource". Church News. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
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