students. Each semester, as we open up additional Pathway

students. Each semester, as we open up additional Pathway
sites to a whole new set of students, I still feel both nervous
and excited. Yet, for me, the nervousness is less about my
preparation and more about the new students. My prayers
are aimed in their direction, hoping that they will succeed
and that through the power of the Spirit, they will feel and
understand the importance of receiving an education.
Growth in Pathway
involves a new body of
students which includes
older students here in
the U.S. and Englishspeaking international
students abroad.
Widening
the Path of
the Pathway
Program
J. D. GR I FFIT H
Three years ago I sat at the front of a classroom at the
Institute building in Manhattan, New York. I was both
nervous and excited as I pondered the thought, “Am I
really prepared for this?” In the room with me were 22
students who looked just as nervous and excited as I felt. I
remember feeling grateful that anyone had showed up that
evening, let alone 22 individuals. As a representative of
BYU–Idaho, I was there to kick off the first night of class
for a pilot program called Pathway. That same evening, on
the other side of the country in Nampa, Idaho and Mesa,
Arizona, two more groups of students were preparing for
their first night of classes. The total number of students
meeting that first night would turn out to be 48.
What started out as a pilot program in the fall of 2009 in
3 U.S. cities with 48 students has blossomed into a fullfledged academic, social, and spiritual program. By fall
2012 we anticipate having 65 Pathway locations (55 U.S.
cities and 10 international cities) with approximately 2,400
The Pathway Program has evolved from that first night
into something even more powerful than I imagined.
While the original target is still non-college-bound
students, the Pathway Program is attracting Latter-day
Saint members from across the globe with different
backgrounds and different educational goals. Specifically,
growth in Pathway involves a new body of students which
includes older students here in the U.S. and Englishspeaking international students abroad.
Catering to the Young and NotSo-Young
New to Pathway is the “over-30” group. The original pilot
program catered to Institute students ages 18 to 30 years
old. As word spread amongst the Saints within Pathwaydesignated cities, potential students over the age of 30
began to inquire about the opportunity to start, continue,
or finish their own educational path. In response to these
inquiries, the Board granted approval for BYU–Idaho
to begin offering Pathway to students over the age of 30
in April, 2011. These students meet in stake centers and
ward buildings instead of institute buildings. Enrollments
PERSPECTIVE | 12
TESTIMONIAL
I’ll be near 80 when I graduate. I did not take
advantage of my opportunities for a college
education when I was young. Now, because of
the flexible schedule and low cost, I will get the
education and degree I promised my dad I would
get and it will be from a school recognized as one of
the best.
jim
kepple
and retention rates within this group are far exceeding
expectations. Many of these students are very academically
prepared and motivated. They are bringing a richness of
experience that will bless the lives of younger BYU–Idaho
students with whom they interact within courses online.
To date, the eldest student is a 76-year-old sister enrolled in
Denton, Texas.
International Growth
Internationally, the Pathway Program continues to
reach more students. By September, we anticipate 10
international Pathway sites, including new sites in Brazil
and Peru. We anticipate the total number of international
students by fall to be approximately 305. Part of the overall
plan for international expansion will include a focus on
steadily adding sites in existing countries while gradually
expanding each year to a small number of strategically
selected new countries, noting that all growth is dependent
upon approval from the Church’s Board of Education.
As you can imagine, internationally the need and desire
for an education is intensified, especially for Latter-day
Saint young adults who view education as an opportunity
to increase their standard of living. Furthermore,
priesthood leaders in these areas have welcomed the
Pathway Program with open arms. I specifically remember
a meeting with priesthood leaders and full-time missionary
couples in Tirana, Albania. In this meeting we described
the purpose of the Pathway program as a way to provide
educational opportunities to the Albanian Saints, in
Albania, emphasizing that we did not want to pull
members away from the country. I could tell this topic
was extremely sensitive to the Albanian Church leaders.
The mission president informed us that over 90% of the
Albanian-born missionaries who are called to serve outside
of Albania never return to live in Albania. Those that leave
Albania find better opportunities for education and work.
A program designed to educate and build up future Church
leaders in the heart of Albania was a welcomed message
that brought tears to the eyes of many of the Church leaders.
Connecting to Campus
International Pathway students enrolled in the Academic
Start English as a Second Language (ESL) program are
utilizing a new group of volunteers from the BYU–Idaho
campus called speaking partners. Speaking partners “meet”
twice weekly with Pathway students online using tools such
as Skype. Depending on the course a speaking partner is
working with, these conversations can last from 20 minutes
to over an hour. Speaking partners offer encouragement
and feedback to their students and report after each visit to
course instructors so that they are aware of language issues
with which students may be struggling, either individually
or as a group.
Enrique Ramirez, a Pathway student from Puebla,
Mexico, recently filled out a questionnaire regarding his
experience with a speaking partner from BYU–Idaho.
In his response, Enrique states:
Yes, I [have] definitely benefited for having a Speaking
Partner. I am going to be briefly [write] about it. During
all my life, because we live in Mexico, we receive some
English instruction, during our studies. But, the fact
that really [has] made a difference in my English today
is having a Speaking Partner. In only a few months
I can notice how my English skills have increased
Moving Forward
Three years ago as I sat in that Manhattan Institute building,
I met Amanda Vandenakker, one of the 22 students in
attendance. I remember Amanda because she welcomed
me with a smile—a smile that stayed on her face most of
the evening. A few weeks ago, she couldn’t see me, but I
was the one smiling as I read this comment on our Pathway
Facebook page:
Thank you Pathway! Last night I finished my last final
in a marvelous way. I am talking about my general
understanding, my listening, my grammar structure,
my pronunciation. Now I feel more confident using my
English knowledge. Yes, having a Speaking Partner is
a beneficial experience. They are really good people.
I have no doubt that the BYU–I Pathway Program,
including Speaking Partners, was and is inspired by
the Lord.
Ayami Martinez, also a Pathway student from Puebla,
had this to say about Speaking Partners:
The Speaking Partner program is a great opportunity to
make new friends, to really get to know a new language
and a new culture. I love to learn English [through] this
program. Your speaking partners really care about your
learning and help you to improve in many other aspects.
for the semester, and will officially have an associate’s
degree! Ten more classes until my bachelor’s! I never
thought I would be able to raise a family and go to
school at the same time. Thank you for this amazing
opportunity :)
All things conditional upon Board approvals, the Pathway
Program has the ability to expand the BYU–Idaho experience
to many more students and many more countries. The
excitement and anticipation is felt by many Pathway students
across the globe and I hope that that same enthusiasm
will continue to radiate from this campus. However, while
the growth of the Pathway Program is exciting and the
opportunities seem endless, I hope that we never lose sight
of the individual, and more importantly, the joy of reaching
the one. To me, the joy of reaching the one is what makes the
faculty and staff at BYU--Idaho so special.
PERSPECTIVE | 6