Pathway "Academic Start" Graduation!

One part of our mission responsibilities has been the Pathway Program here at the Anchorage Institute.  This BYU-Idaho program reaches out to Church members who would like to get started in a college program but have not had the resources to do so. Students enroll for three semesters of "academic start" lasting 10 months.  Each semester they take a 2-credit religion class and a 3-credit academic class, completing 15 BYUI credits in all. An important feature of the program is that the students gather each week to actively participate in presenting the course material, lead class discussions, and support each other.Last summer we visited widely in the local Church stakes explaining, promoting, and recruiting for Pathway. Our cohort started classes last September and completed their three semesters just last week.  We are proud of their accomplishment! 
  Our group included men and women, single and married students, ages 18 to 30.  Some had already completed some college courses; some had no college experience at all.  Some had learning disabilities which had drained their confidence.  Some had families or full-time work that did not allow a traditional college program. Some did not feel adequately prepared academically to attempt college-level study. Many considered the high cost of college put it completely out of their reach.

The Pathway program offers fully-accredited online classes for just $65 per credit.  This is less than half the cost of other comparable programs.
Ten of our students have already matriculated to the regular BYUI online program or to the BYUI campus.  Online students continue to pay just $65 a credit all the way through to their bachelor's degree. 

The Pathway Program has been a great blessing to these students; the education it has made possible will provide personal development and career opportunities that will change their lives.  We are so grateful to have been part of this inspired work! 
 We have really grown attached to these young people! We are gratified at the progress we have seen in their testimonies, knowledge, and confidence.

Pathway is another evidence of the great love our Father in Heaven has for all of His children.  Through it Church members can work towards realizing their full potential and, in turn, bless others.

We are working hard these last few weeks of our mission to recruit students for the next Pathway cohort which will begin classes this September. We are hoping to find as many as possible who can benefit from the program. We will turn over our duties to another missionary couple who has been called to take our place here at the Anchorage Institute.