New BYUI Pathways Program

I am pleased to inform you that the Portland area has officially been selected as a new site for BYU-Idaho's Pathway program for 18-30 year olds beginning this fall (September 2012).

This remarkable new Pathway program allows young LDS adults (both married and single) to…

• Enjoy a Church college experience without actually going to the campus;

• Obtain a higher education degree or certificate for less than half of what it costs students on campus; and

• Enroll in a university without regard for GPA or admission exams, like the SAT or ACT.  Hopefully, this will remove barriers that have kept some of our young people from even attempting to enroll in college.

Will you please help us communicate this to all 18-30 year olds in your stake? Because the enrollment deadline is August 1, it's essential this is announced as soon and as often as possible.

The best way for those interested to learn more about this exciting new program is to attend one of the two firesides planned for both the East and West sides of Portland next month. You should receive posters and/or Sunday bulletin announcements within the next few days.

Please help us announce the following Pathway introduction firesides:

• Wednesday, June 20, 7:00 pm, Gresham Stake Center, 3600 SE 182nd Ave, Gresham, OR 97030

• Thursday, June 21, 7:00 pm, Beaverton Stake Center, 4195 SW 99th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005

Through high-quality interactive online courses and strength that comes from gathering with other students, the Pathway program gives students the confidence and skills needed to succeed in college. If students remain with the program they will be able to earn Professional Certificates, Associates’ Degrees, and/or Bachelor’s Degrees. To learn more about the program you can visit the website at www.byui.edu/pathway.  I ask that you extend the invitation to all of your young adults to attend one of the firesides in June.

Further, I extend a special invitation to all stake and ward priesthood leaders, plus Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, to attend one of the introduction firesides and learn more about the Pathway program so they can help young adults understand what a remarkable opportunity this is for them.

We are very excited about the Pathway program, and the potential for helping our young people to seek higher education opportunities at a very affordable cost.  More importantly, however, it will provide an additional means to better prepare this critical group of our members to become better Saints, better husbands and wives, and better fathers and mothers.

Elder Richard Hansen