
REPORT 2022
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REPORT 2022

At BYU Continuing Education, we’re in the business of miracles.
Dean Richard Houseman DEAN OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
BYU Continuing Education is the provider of intellectually and spiritually enlarging resources and opportunities for individuals and families around the world.
President Nelson has taught, “Education is yours to obtain. No one else can gain it for you. Wherever you are, develop a deep desire to learn. For us as Latter-day Saints, gaining an education is not just a privilege, it is a religious responsibility” (Nelson, “Will You Choose to Increase in Learning?” 2013).
BYU Continuing Education works diligently to ensure that all can heed this prophetic counsel and pursue their education. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated BYU Continuing Education employees, 2022 was another successful year. With each conference, event, and class, lives are changed for the better.
The BYU Continuing Education Dean’s Office is proud to present the 2022 Annual Report.
Sincerely,

Dean Richard Houseman
CE Conferences and Workshops hosted a Broadway Bootcamp where youth enjoyed professional training, gospel-centered activities, and performing for a live audience.
For CE Conferences and Workshops, summer 2022 was one to be remembered, and Broadway Bootcamp was especially memorable. Youth came from across the nation (one came from Alaska!) to enjoy the two-week musical theater celebration. The rigorous environment included daily workshops with professionals teaching participants everything from singing to stage combat. Game nights, movies, and live play showings made the experience dynamic and fun.
The camp developed and honed participants’ talent, culminating with the production and performance of Into the Woods. The musical was produced in a way
that gave every Bootcamp participant a role. The final production was held at Orem High School for an audience of friends and family.
Bootcamp participants enjoyed a well-rounded, growth-oriented experience. “Our masterclasses were very informative, our directors were wonderful, and I loved being able to bond with everyone like a family,” one said. “It was inspiring to see people in the arts who had a testimony,” another noted. CE Conferences and Workshops is committed to offering practical, real-world development in a fun environment coupled with a divine foundation built on gospel principles.

Academic Advising represented BYU at the NACADA conference, gaining insights on key advising issues while connecting with peers from across North America.
In October, the CE Academic Advising team attended the 2022 National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) conference in Portland, Oregon. Heather Lagrosa-Farr, Kyle Mammen, and Katie Zobell, along with other members of the BYU Advising community, took full advantage of the opportunity.
Conference highlights included networking with other advisors from the United States and Canada, representing the values of BYU and CE, and attending breakout sessions to grow as advisors. The team also enjoyed a detour to Multnomah Falls!
The conference’s keynote speaker focused on Indigenous student needs, reminding participants of the need for diversity, understanding, and communication.
The NACADA conference focused on a few key issues:
BYU Education Week 2022 drew nearly 16,000 attendees for uplifting instruction and performances; thanks to dedicated staff, volunteers, and inspiring Church leaders, the program was a remarkable success.
BYU Education Week 2022 was held August 15–19, 2022, and the program was a hit! Great instructors, fun evening performances, hundreds of local volunteers, and eager Continuing Education employees made the whole thing possible.
Elder Quentin L. Cook, the devotional speaker, delivered a powerful talk titled “Give Heed to the Words of the Prophets.” There were also presentations by the Primary General Presidency, the Young Men General Presidency, the Sunday School General Presidency, and Elder Clark G. Gilbert. Elder Gilbert serves as a General Authority Seventy and the Commissioner of Church Education.
Attendance saw a 3,000-person boost from 2021, with almost 16,000 people present. The performances were also well attended each night. Attendees enjoyed The Sound of Music, produced by SCERA and held in the De Jong Concert Hall. Dallyn Vail Bayles and Amy Shreeve Keeler also performed Timeless: The Golden Age of Broadway in the Marriott Center.
In the office, the Education Week team had a staffing change. After four years with the team, Erika Zeiner accepted a position with FSY. In June, Mikayla Robins joined the team just in time to experience the fun and busy summer. From start to finish, the best of times overshadowed the minor problems that come with hosting such a large program. Again, thank you to everyone who helped!



Scott Harris was appointed Director of BYU Online Learning and will oversee various online education programs and services.
On October 17, 2022, Scott Harris became Director of the BYU Online Learning department. In this new position he will direct the efforts of the online segment, which includes
BYU Online, BYU
instructional design production academic support offices.
We offer him a warm welcome and look forward to working with him in his new capacity.
EFY continues to make a profound impact, providing youth with opportunities for spiritual growth and connection with others who share similar values.
Though EFY stands for Especially for Youth, its impact is felt by the whole family. This summer at EFY checkout, a parent took the time to express her gratitude to one of our coordinators. The following note expresses appreciation to everyone involved in the program:
Hello,
I simply want to thank all who played a part in this week of EFY. Years ago, when I was lucky enough to be a counselor, I thought I understood what EFY was all about, and now as a parent I am even more grateful for all the time, effort, and prayers, and immense amount of work that goes into pulling it all off!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for dedicating your time and love and for sharing your testimonies and love of the Savior with the YM and YW that have been with you this week.
My young men have been very excited to attend, and I know they had an amazing week being around other youth with similar standards and goals. It’s such a blessing for them to have this opportunity— especially for my kids who are the only members of the Church in their entire school.
Thank you again!!
A grateful parent.
The work of BYU Continuing Education as a whole, and of the EFY team especially, contributed to this success story and many more like it.
EFY’s first Adventure session outside Utah, at Shaver Lake, CA, was a hit, offering youth a memorable experience with outdoor activities and breathtaking views.
EFY’s first Adventure for Youth session outside of the state of Utah took place in August 2022 at Shaver Lake, California. The campground (Camp Chawanakee) is located on a vast peninsula that extends out into the lake and provides gorgeous panoramic views.
Youth participated in rock climbing, ropes courses, archery, tomahawk throwing, hiking, and swimming. Large sequoia trees provided plenty of shade, and the cool, crisp water of Shaver Lake was a highlight for all
160 youth and 35 staff. During free time, the volleyball court was always full, with some intense competition between teams.
All in all, the session was incredible, and attendees left a good impression on campground staff. The campground can hold up to 600 people, so there’s room for next year to be even better.

Thanks to a new collaboration with Ensign College, FlexGE students can take classes at both institutions and earn transferable credits, access federal financial aid, and pursue degrees.
On October 3, 2022, BYU Continuing Education announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Ensign College. This collaboration will allow BYU FlexGE students to take classes from both BYU and Ensign College. FlexGE students, who are not matriculated into BYU, take Evening, Salt Lake Center, spring term, and summer term classes to earn transferable credit.
“BYU and Ensign College have been working together for a while to pave additional roads intended to bless the lives of students that will help them reach their personal educational goals. We are excited about this collaboration with Ensign College and the access to these new benefits our BYU FlexGE students now have,” said Lee Glines, Dean of Continuing Education.
“We are pleased to link arms with Ensign College in this way and are grateful for the blessings BYU FlexGE students will have available to them as a result of this association,” said BYU International Vice President Renata Forste.
Ensign College President Bruce Kusch welcomes this collaboration between BYU and Ensign College and expressed “confidence that this collaboration with BYU Continuing Education will facilitate FlexGE

students’ desires to pursue their educational goals with a marketable degree from Ensign College that will prepare them well for employment or further studies at BYU or other schools.”
Benefits of the collaboration include the following:
• BYU FlexGE students can now take classes at Ensign College.
• BYU FlexGE students will now be able to apply for federal financial aid through Ensign College.
• BYU FlexGE students will now be eligible to earn a degree from Ensign College.
As of September 26, 2022, current FlexGE students can begin academic planning to opt in, select an Ensign College program, and apply for financial aid through Ensign College. Credits earned from both BYU and Ensign College can be applied to a degree from Ensign College. This collaboration becomes effective January 4, 2023.
BYU Continuing Education provides lifelong learners with experiences that fulfill the Mission and Aims of a BYU Education. BYU CE offers global access to BYU credit-bearing academic and professional education; serves and supports BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and provides family-centered, Church-supported (CES/BYU) education for youth and adults. BYU FlexGE allows students who are not matriculated into BYU to take in-person and online courses from BYU, earning course credits that can transfer to BYU or other schools upon acceptance.
Ensign College is an institution of higher education founded and sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school’s mission is to develop capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ with a focus on learning marketable skills.
The BGS team participated in the United Way Day of Caring, fostering unity through service alongside the FSY team.
On September 8, 2022, members of the BGS department participated in the United Way Day of Caring event at Cherry Creek Elementary in Springville. The group was tasked with repainting games on the blacktop outside of the school, and despite the heat, the team enjoyed their time serving. What made the event even better was they were able to work side-by-side with their friends from the FSY team!
As part of the event, the BGS team encouraged its students to join in service from wherever they were to increase unity among the students and work toward BYU’s Mission.
Multimedia Services celebrated the efforts of CE Animation team members who worked on BYU’s student-led film Salt.
For the Multimedia Services department, a highlight of 2022 was cheering for the Animation team. Robin Conover and many of his student employees worked on a BYU-produced film, Salt, which was featured this year at the world’s largest children’s film festival.
The film tells the story of a mother and daughter living in the African country of Senegal who work hard to harvest salt by day and enjoy music by night. The short film masterfully highlights the joy of family life without the use of dialogue between characters.
The director, Alicia Scott—who is also a student employee on the Animation team—was inspired to set the film in Senegal after she took a DNA test. She was surprised to learn that some of her ancestry came from Senegal!
“When I learned that I had heritage in Senegal, I was amazed. It was something I didn’t know. I wanted to learn more about this place and the people living there,” said Alicia. “Basing our film in Senegal is a small tribute that I could offer.”
We’re proud of the Animation team members who worked on this project:
• Samuel Arnett
• Judy Bloomfield
• Tyler Bitner
• Robin Conover
• Kimmy Henriod
• Hana Hoki
• James Leavy
• Joey McConkie
• Alicia Scott Nichols
• Brandon Peters
• DJ Stevenson
• Kalen Stewart-Harris
• David Thompson
• Ryann Wawro
• Jenika Wimmer
CCEESS was established to support flexible undergraduate study options and define a clear mission, vision, and direction for individual programs.
In 2022, Classroom and CE Enrolled Student Services (CCEESS) was created within BYU Continuing Education. Since then, members of this department have worked to understand and articulate the mission, vision, objectives, and key performance indicators of the programs housed in the department. They have also considered how the department fits within CE and in what direction it should head.
The Mission of our department is to provide flexible studies solutions for students who are entering, transferring, or expanding upon their undergraduate degree journey. The Vision of our department is to be the go-to place for students needing flexible BYU education opportunities.
Individual members of CCEESS, along with their job duties as of September 2022, are listed below:
• Dawn-Noel Aiono: Testing Center Supervisor at the Salt Lake Center
• Amy Bernards: Salt Lake Academic Support Services Administrator
• Kevin Bezzant: Auxiliary Services Administrator
• Ariel Christensen: BGS Office Specialist
• Karen Cottle: BYU Evening Classes Academic Program Administrator
• Garren Durtschi: Technology and Library Services Administrator
• Matt Greene: BGS Program Administrator
• Richard Houseman: Associate Director of the Classroom and CE Enrolled Student Services
• Rob Hunt: BYU Salt Lake Center Academic Program Administrator
• Heather Lagrosa-Farr: Advisor
• Becky Lueck: Front Office Supervisor at the Salt Lake Center
• Sariah Lunsford: Advisor
• Carol-Lynne Malin: Administrative Assistant
• Kyle Mammen: Visiting Students Program Administrator
• Clint Payne: FlexGE Program Administrator
• Jay Young: Director of the Classroom and CE Enrolled Student Services
• Katie Zobell: Advising Program Administrator
These changes allow CCEESS as a whole department to be nimbler and more responsive to our students and their needs. We are excited for the future as we link arms with each individual and department in CE to support and serve our students.
The high school team completed a successful Cognia candidacy visit, gaining valuable insights and moving toward full accreditation and the official creation of two online high schools.
After much hard work from the BYU high school team, a candidacy visit from the accreditor Cognia was conducted on August 10, 2022. While the official report and determination on the programs’ status had not been received at the time of this writing, the visit provided several growth-oriented insights for those associated with BYU OHS offerings.
Based on the visit and closing conversations with the evaluator, some of the following initiatives, among others, are expected to be reflected as opportunities for improvement in the final report:
• The need to increase assessment data related to student academic achievement, performance, progress, and learning within the programs
• The need to provide teachers with additional professional development, perhaps through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• The need to enhance existing strategic plans to be based more on data derived from the examination of academic achievement
• The need to address “equity in learning,” offering a learning experience that takes into account all demographic characteristics to facilitate equal opportunity for growth and learning
Having completed the “candidacy” review, the program will now prepare for a winter accreditation review. If successful, the results of the winter visit will accredit BYU’s high school administrative organization as an Educational Service Agency, officially forming two schools: BYU Online High School and BYU Independent Study High School.
It was gratifying to see the short-notice support CE provided for the summer visit. That support was exhibited in two ways: (1) the submission of evidence items that became the foundation for the selfassessment and (2) its report that outlined how well the organizations were meeting Cognia’s thirty standards. Additional support came from the twenty-six CE staff members who met with Cognia’s representative and addressed her questions.
Upon successful conclusion of the fall report, the CE high school programs will attain candidacy status with Cognia. Upon successful conclusion of both the fall and winter visits, CE will be fully accredited by both Cognia and Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools.
FSY
FSY held 212 sessions across the US and Canada, reaching nearly 100,000 youth with spiritually powerful experiences, seamless logistics, and strong Church leadership support.
FSY kicked off its 2022 season with a bang! The 212 sessions held across the United States and Canada brought the spiritually potent conference to approximately 100,000 youth. Church leaders were particularly engaged with the program this year, with surprise visits from Elder Holland and Elder Rasband. FSY Administrators worked tirelessly to make sure everything flowed smoothly.
This year, to facilitate an equitable experience, FSY coordinated travel for participants who live over 2.5 hours from their stake centers. Andra Cefalo was in charge of booking buses, flights, ferries, and more for participants. Amy Hixson oversaw the coordination Leadership Team travel.
Counselors are young single adults (many of whom are returned missionaries); in 2022 they brought the spiritual heat. Seeds of faith were sowed, watered, and cultivated. Session directors, from the Church’s Seminaries and Institutes Program, brought the spirit with their gospel expertise and teaching skills. Kalin Alpin, who attended FSY in Georgia, shared an exchange she had with an older man who rode his bike past the games-night gathering. He asked her what all the energy was about, so she explained the concept of FSY to him. He was touched that this large group of youth were so excited about Christ!

REDA advanced its role as a data-driven support team, using analytics tools to guide improvement and growth across CE.
Keeping with the organizational changes Dean Glines outlined in 2022, the Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics (REDA) department continued its work as a data-driven, improvement-oriented CE organization. The Deans’ Office emphasized that all CE surveys and data-gathering efforts must involve REDA, which has the tools and strategies to perform needs analysis, logic models, improvement analysis, and self-studies.
REDA uses surveys, interviews, focus groups, and so on, to collect data, which the team then analyzes and reports to stakeholders within CE. However, pure numbers don’t mean much to the untrained eye; that’s why REDA utilizes tools such as Tableau and Qualtrics to reveal “the story” the information tells. This way, department leaders may use this data to continue driving real growth within the organization, benefiting CE as a whole.

Evening Classes continued improving, with 47 classroom observations and a simplified petition process that enhanced collaboration across campus.
Evening Classes continued to thrive in 2022. During Spring term, classroom observations commenced on campus to audit and help elevate the evening education experience. Forty-seven classroom observations were completed in myriad classes, from art history to psychology.
Evening classes are held in a wide swath of buildings, including the HFAC, JSB, and JFSB. A class is also held in “Building 67,” room 111, where Outdoors Unlimited is located. Not many people know within that space there’s a hidden classroom. It’s behind the bike repair workshop!
In 2022, petitioning for new courses to be added to Evening Classes became much more efficient. VP-level approval is no longer required; our Associate Dean may now grant approval. This new way of doing things will streamline the process of course creation and increase unity between academic departments across campus.

The first Life After Divorce conference welcomed over 350 participants, offering hope, healing, and heartfelt connection through inspiring speakers, workshops, and shared experiences.
On February 25–26, 2022, the BYU Conference Center was home to the inaugural Life After Divorce conference, which drew over 350 participants to its sessions, workshops, and keynote addresses. Conference highlights came from Rebecca Mehr (member of the Relief Society general advisory council) and Brad Wilcox (Second Counselor in the Young Men’s General Presidency). Laurel Day (President of Deseret Book) and her husband, CE’s very own Darin Oviatt, also spoke, along with licensed therapists and BYU community members who have gone through a divorce.
The conference focused on bringing hope and understanding to the hearts of attendees. Participants discussed righteous decision-making after a divorce, co-parenting children as a divorced couple, and loving God despite the suffering a divorce can bring.
Participants loved “the real and raw vulnerability from all the presenters,” even calling Life After Divorce the “most valuable conference [they’ve] ever attended.” Here’s what they had to say:
“Prayers were answered for me. Someone to answer my questions! I have not been able to find someone
with experience to answer. Hope that there really can be hope and healing ahead. My heart was touched and my eyes were opened to the reality of my situation and my worth. Thank you.”
“I don’t think I had just one highlight. It was so great to hear Brad Wilcox in person and connect with others who have experienced this type of pain. I have really been struggling with hope, and this conference really helped.”
“The sweet spirit that was there as speakers bore testimony of hope after their trials and that we are not alone. Each speaker brought a powerful message of what they had experienced and what they had learned.”
“[I loved] connecting with others who have had the same heartache of divorce. Some very inspiring classes. Everyone was so kind. Excellent speakers who were vulnerable.”
The program will continue to bless those members of our community who are struggling, giving them the tools they need to find peace in Christ.
Continuing Education reorganized into three focused segments and introduced Strategy Councils to better align services, reduce friction, and enhance responsiveness to audience needs.
In February 2022, CE went through a hefty reorganization, aimed to recalibrate CE services to their target audiences. These changes reduced organizational friction and made CE more nimble, competitive, and capable. CE was divided into three segments, with respective associate deans:
• Classroom and Enrolled CE Student Services (Darin Oviatt)
• Events (Darin Oviatt)
• Online (Carolyn Andrews)
The reorganization also allowed for the introduction of Strategy Councils. These councils meet weekly and include the following focuses:
• Youth and Events
• Service Areas
• Classroom
• Online
These councils will optimize the use of CE’s finite resources to meet the varied needs of our audience. They also streamline the beta process for new CE experiences. They will work in conjunction with the Dean’s Office Council and the CE Leadership Council, who will also meet regularly to align CE’s direction and priorities.
BYU professors partnered with UPEP to teach incarcerated students, offering them BYU Independent Study credit and life-changing opportunities for growth through education.
Stark, worn-down jumpsuits and cold, windowless cinderblock walls aren’t common sights in a classroom—unless you’re involved with the University of Utah Prison Education project. Program professors, using the AIM software, create courses, register students, and teach them. The incarcerated scholars are taught by BYU professors and earn university credit through BYU Independent Study. The following story, from Y Magazine, describes the experiences of professors and students involved in the program:
When history professor Christopher G. Hodson entered his Monday-evening class in fall 2021, what he saw wasn’t typical of a BYU classroom: windowless cinderblock walls, hand-me-down folding church tables, and 12 students wearing white jumpsuits—some sporting face tattoos.
Hodson teaches a course on the French Revolution at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah. He and BYU colleague Matthew E. Mason, who teaches American history, are the first BYU volunteers for the University of Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP), which provides higher-education opportunities for incarcerated people.
Before fall 2021, college credit wasn’t offered for any UPEP courses. Now Mason and Hodson’s nontraditional students receive BYU Independent Study credit—and a glimmer of hope for a better future: “[They’re] realizing that . . . they’re worth so much more than [their mistakes],” says Kate A. Rolfson (’22), who conducted a weekly lab at the prison as Mason’s teaching assistant.
“The degree of difficulty that these students face is really, really high,” Hodson says. For example, the students are required to handwrite their papers. “The penmanship is unbelievable,” notes Hodson, describing the first set of essays he received.“ They actually made their own footnotes down at the bottom.”
Plus, “you’re at the mercy of so many different variables,” explains Hodson—including literal lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19, changes in students’ job schedules, and students’ being sent away to serve the federal portion of their sentence. “Every time you draw up a syllabus, you know it’s a tentative syllabus,” Mason laughs.
Even so, former inmate Silia Olive says education changed her life. Olive took six UPEP classes without receiving credit. Along the way, she says, she transformed from the “prison’s worst nightmare”—taking part in drama, drugs, and gangs—into a straight-A student. Now, Olive is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business with two other previously incarcerated students. “I know that education saved [us] in there,” says Olive. “What happened to us . . . is not going to define who we are for the rest of our lives.”
And it’s life changing for the teachers too. “Getting people to interact with incarcerated folks, understand their set of experiences—I think that’s a huge win,” says Hodson. Mason sees this outreach as going “to what the Savior called ‘the least of these’—people who are completely marginalized in our society—and just interacting with them as students.”
CE HR began fingerprinting nearly 1,000 employees to meet California requirements for working with the state’s high school students.
One of CE Human Resources’ most surprising new assignments of 2022 was taking fingerprints! A California law requires CE employees to submit their fingerprints to the California Department of Justice if the employee interacts with California high school students. Oddly enough, digital fingerprints are accepted only if they are scanned in the state of California. Out-of-state fingerprints must be registered in old-fashioned ink.
After looking into other options, CE HR began taking employees’ fingerprints as part of the onboarding process. While the BYU Police Department declined to take the prints, they lent CE their fingerprinting equipment and trained HR on how to use it.
In early 2022, HR began the daunting task of taking almost 1,000 sets of prints for the current CE employees who support courses taken by California students, including program employees, teachers, tutors, and teaching assistants. While most fingerprinting will be done in the Harman Building, employees who do not live close enough will work with local police departments to prepare their fingerprint cards.
CE employees were recognized for their outstanding work in their respective fields.
The following employees received a SAERA award:
• Kalen Alpin
• Shane Holdaway
• Amy Hixson
• Matt Hyde
• La Lammers
• Angie Murdock
• James Paxman
• Josh Pope
• Joseph Roberson
• Jacob Selman
• Madison Small
• Gary Smith
• Melanie Steele
• Michael Stoker
• Cheri Wallace
Two employees received other awards:
• Angie Murdock: Administrative Excellence Award
• Michelle Waldram: 5 Year Service Award
January: Shane Holdaway, HR manager
February: Erin Cranor, associate university counsel
February: Rebekah Gubler, FSY program assistant
February: Elsa Torgersen, FSY program assistant
February: Ashlin Turcsanki, FSY program assistant
March: Hallie Coburn, Human Resources contact for Conferences and Workshops
April: Savannah Brown, registration and records specialist
April: Daniel Christensen, online segment associate controller
May: Madeleine Burt, Salt Lake Testing Center team
May: Elizabeth Valdivieso, Salt Lake testing center team
September: Gilvan Apolonio, Salt Lake Center computer lab attendant
September: Lauren Walch, customer support supervisor
October: Landon Badoni, EFY program administrator
October: Esteban Garcia, IT Help Desk supervisor (October 3)
October: Scott Harris, director of online learning (October 17)
October: Jennie Voorhis, CE human resources manager
November: Chanel Maestas, customer support supervisor
November: Dayton Martindale, FSY administrator
November: Susy Montoya, Salt Lake Center IT department
December: Sarah Metcalf, standards alignment specialist and senior instructional designer
December: Sheri Purser, associate controller
December: Debbie Salmon, FSY session administrator
December: Dr. Mike Shamo, Department of Classroom and CE Enrollment Student Services associate director (December 12)
Retirements
January: Steve Taggart, associate dean (January 1)
April: Natalie Bryant, financial support group supervisor
June: Dane Rigby, academic product development
August: Bart Schaerrer, computer operations director (August 31)
August: Sarah Tengan, registration and records specialist (August 19)


















