2024 CE ANNUAL REPORT by BYU Continuing Education

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Dean’s Message

At BYU Continuing Education, we’re in the business of miracles.

Dean Richard Houseman DEAN OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

What is lifelong learning good for, if not miraculous growth, enlightenment, and progress?

Learning is more than an earthly pursuit. It is a divine mandate; it is an eternal commandment. The Master Teacher’s precepts—what He wants us to learn—guides everything we, the larger university, and the Church set out to do. Lifelong learning isn’t a marketing slogan, nor is it a buzzword; in a sense, it’s the final goal of existence itself.

In the context of a divine plan with an infinite timetable, lifelong means more than “until death,” and learning means more than “absorbing useful information.” Lifelong learning is eternal progression; it is sanctification; it is ultimate, Christlike perfection.

This is the lens that colors our approach to the world. It is the lens through which a chemistry course is full of godly hope, and through which a Spanish test teems with gospel parallels. As we strive to see each and every lifelong leaner through this lens, our work is elevated to the celestial sphere of significance.

The year 2024 was one of the first Elevate Summit for faith-based podcasters, the first time we’ve hosted the Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages. It was a year of accomplishment, from a slew of SEARA awards to Student Accomplice, the Oscar-qualifying, trophy-winning short film that many past and present CE animation students worked on. Above all, it was a year of students: FlexGE students were able to participate in campus-wide New Student Orientation, we built the new Active Learning Lab, and we took huge leaps forward in the Student Success Center.

All these elements came together in a multidisciplinary symphony of enlightenment, growth, and opportunity. We can comfortably say that we have set out to fulfill our mission statement. We can, perhaps more comfortably, say that there’s room for much more. More engagement, inspiration, and connections. More lives to be touched and lessons to be learned.

Thank you for coming on this journey with us.

Sincerely,

Dean Richard Houseman

DEPARTMENT STORIES

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

Finance and Accounting successfully transitioned to Workday, and three new positions were added to support the department’s growing responsibilities.

The year 2024 marked the successful culmination of a multi-year transition to Workday, BYU’s new comprehensive system that integrates various financial and administrative functions. Though Workday didn’t officially go live until January 1, 2025, Finance and Business Services staff were busy throughout the year with meetings and trainings to prepare BYU CE for the imminent transition.

For Finance and Business Services, the transition to Workday represented not only the result of three and a half years of planning and effort but also a significant change in daily procedures and routines. Though

hiccups in the transition period were inevitable, the consolidation of various systems such as PeopleSoft, Chrome River, Fast Track, and Y Marketplace into one, all-encompassing interface was a monumental achievement.

The department saw growth in 2024, adding three new finance operations specialist positions to better support the growing responsibilities. Additionally, a new position title of Finance Business Partner was given to Shawnelle Aston, solidifying her role as the liaison between BYU CE Finance and Business Services and BYU campus.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

BUSINESS PROCESS SUPPORT

Business Process Support streamlined FSY’s hiring process, managed BYU’s transition to Workday, and navigated leadership changes, all while enhancing efficiency and teamwork.

In 2024, the Business Process Support department saw some changes and took big steps forward. The department’s responsibilities revolve around maximizing efficiency and honing BYU Continuing Education’s processes. While 2024 presented challenges, the team worked hard to ease some of FSY’s administrative burden by streamlining their hiring process. It was no easy feat; the FSY Manager software had to interface seamlessly with Peoplesoft. Through effective teamwork and management, though, the team made it happen.

Another workload for Business Process Support was BYU’s transition to Workday, which the team handled effectively. After the switch, two of the team’s members transitioned to continue their careers at Workday. In administrative matters, Daril Johnson, who had led the department for years, retired at the end of the year, and Ben McKinnon stepped in. We are grateful for everything Daril has done, and we’re excited to move forward with Ben!

DEPARTMENT STORIES

HUMAN RESOURCES

HR handled record FSY hiring through improved processes, early planning, and support from CE IT with the FSY Manager system.

The HR department was particularly busy in 2024, hiring more FSY summer employees than ever before. The efforts of Amber Reveco, the HR administrator responsible for FSY employee relations, were crucial in making that happen.

To manage such significant growth, changes were made to procedures for hiring, scheduling, and paying FSY employees. In 2023, the quantity of hiring done with PeopleSoft had caused difficulties. As a result, the HR department began preparing for 2024, anticipating another drastic increase in FSY employees.

The help of CE IT was instrumental to successfully managing such a massive undertaking. FSY Manager, a new system built by CE IT, automated many tasks related to scheduling and payroll that were previously done manually.

Looking beyond 2024, HR anticipated further growth in the FSY program and increases in hiring throughout BYU CE. They believed the transition to Workday would prove difficult, but they expected that the new system would eventually smooth out the hiring process.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

MARKETING AND OUTREACH

Marketing underwent major restructuring—shifting roles and teams—to boost efficiency, collaboration, and future success after longtime director Russ Bryant’s retirement.

For 22 years, Russ Bryant contributed to BYU Continuing Education in a big way, assuming responsibilities far beyond the scope of his role. The director of marketing’s impressive talents, capacity, and commitment helped power the success of BYU Continuing Education for over two decades. In 2024, Bryant announced his retirement. We wish him the best as he parts ways from the team. Due to the change in administration, the Marketing Department saw myriad significant changes in 2024.

Customer Support moved from Marketing and joined Registration. Aaron Moody, the customer support administrator, began reporting to Laura Chapman, the registrar. In addition to the Customer Support phone room, Aaron now oversees the Registration phone room and Purchase Order Group.

These changes allow the new director of marketing to focus more on marketing. They also enhance collaboration between Customer Support and Registration phone

rooms, enabling both departments to better serve students and fulfill their directives.

Editing was transferred from Marketing to Multimedia Services, and Communications was moved from Marketing to be a standalone service.

Previously, the communications manager had accrued a collection of responsibilities that weren’t in line with the job description, including oversight of editing and marketing. By moving these two departments out of Marketing, individual departments are aligned with their true responsibilities and can better operate.

Marketing’s office manager moved from Marketing to Finance and Business Services.

For years, Cheri Wallace served as Marketing’s office manager. While she’s worked under the banner of Marketing, her functions were inherently financial. Recently, BYU moved to Workday in order to centralize financial and HR functions. In accordance with BYU’s

adoption of the new software, Cheri moved to the Finance department.

Marketing Projects and Logistics gained an assistant manager. Brad Harris had previously worked as a strategic marketing account manager. As his projects changed, his responsibilities evolved, becoming more logistics oriented. To better support marketing logistics, he’s changed positions.

Course alignment moved to the Online segment.

Sarah Metcalf’s work supports many of BYU Continuing Education’s branches. Metcalf ensures that high school courses meet governmental standards of approval. In support of the next director of marketing’s priorities, Metcalf is now part of the Online segment.

These adjustments were an important step in optimizing the structure and focus of our Continuing Education Marketing team. They enhanced our ability to effectively promote our programs and bring about lifelong learning.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

REGISTRATION

Registration streamlined operations, adopted new systems, and managed program growth, demonstrating adaptability and strong leadership.

In 2024, Registration experienced significant changes and growth, notably the integration of the Customer Support team with the Registration and Cashiering department. This restructuring aimed to streamline operations by consolidating the Registration Call Center and Customer Support under one reporting line.

Another major development was the transition to a new online registration platform, CVENT, for all youth and adult programs. This shift began in November 2023 and continued throughout 2024. The department had to quickly adapt to the new system, learning its functionalities and ensuring it meets the needs of their customers. Registrar Laura Chapman played a pivotal role in this transition, regularly meeting with CVENT representatives throughout the year to address questions and optimize

the system’s use.

Additionally, the Registration department saw a significant increase in the number of BYU CE programs offered, reflected in the creation of 120 new “masters,” the systems used for managing registration within a given program. This growth highlighted the department’s ability to handle increased demand effectively.

Lastly, the department implemented a new student information system for BYU Online High School in the spring of 2024. The new system, called FACTS, aims to better manage student records, applications, and graduation requirements. The transition to FACTS was another significant project for the department, requiring close coordination with Finance to ensure accurate and timely processing of student registrations and payments.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

EVENTS

The Events team hosted a wide range of exciting events, from youth camps to national conferences, while expanding the department’s capacity, recognizing individual achievements, and fostering connections through lifelong learning.

Events are a cornerstone of BYU Continuing Education. They unite us with shared values, strengthen our connections, and bring lifelong learning to everyone. In 2024, the Events team continued to bless the lives of tens of thousands of people.

A plethora of youth-oriented events, like Young Authors Academy, Sketch Comedy Workshop, and Broadway Bootcamp, brought students together from across the nation to dive into their passions and build relationships. The year 2024 saw the second annual Content Creators camp for youth, focusing on the influence of digital media in today’s world. Youth camps like these continue to be a standout experience for countless youth year after year.

BYU Continuing Education put on the first Elevate Podcast Summit for faith-based podcasters and was pleased to host the 54th Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages. Additionally, the Events team hosted the National Collegiate Landscape Competition and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) conference. These events highlighted the interfaith and international connections possible through lifelong learning.

Internally, the department saw some big moments in 2024. Jennefer Johnson received a University Administrative Excellence award for her outstanding work. Room 248 in the Harman Building was renovated to expand the department’s physical capacity, better accommodating both EFY and FSY. The team itself saw some expansion: Johnny Garison, Connor Stokes, and McKenna Hendershot joined the team as assistant admins.

Thanks to the team for their continued efforts to craft and execute transformative events!

DEPARTMENT STORIES

EFY

As EFY approached its 50th anniversary in 2025, the program celebrated the monumental impact it has had on hundreds of thousands of youth over the many years since its creation.

In 2024, a total of 3,492 youth attended EFY. Additionally, after the first-ever EFYSA conference for young single adults saw huge success in 2023, six more Church-run EFY-supported YSA conferences were held in 2024, hosting 3,528 young single adults. Here in the Harman Building, a few changes occurred within EFY during 2024. This was the EFY program’s first full year as a part of the BYU CE Events department. Additionally, EFY staff members welcomed two new program administrators, Lorelie Sanders and Connor Stokes.

Every year at EFY, youth have experiences that bring them closer to God and change their lives. One such experience was described by an individual who aattended EFY Moab:

“After sharing, she sat down and there was a long silence. That’s when I knew I had to stand up and share. I stood up, said her name, and said I knew exactly what she was going through and that I knew how tough it was. I have never felt the spirit stronger than I did in that moment. What are the chances that we both signed up for EFY and got into the same group?

I know it wasn’t a coincidence and that God was looking out for us. I have attended EFY Moab for the last three years, and it has always been such an amazing experience for me to meet new people and have so many opportunities to feel the spirit. My last time at EFY was a very hard year for me. My dad was very sick with a terminal cancer, which was very difficult for my family. I had been praying to understand why God had made me feel so alone and felt like I had to deal with this on my own. That year at EFY, there was a girl that I didn’t talk to the whole week.

But at testimony session on Thursday, that girl stood up and started speaking about her dad and how he had been diagnosed with cancer. My heart broke for this girl because I knew exactly what she was going through and how hard it really was.”

DEPARTMENT STORIES

August 19–23, 2024, was an exciting time on campus for BYU CE Events staff, presenters, volunteers, and all those who participated in BYU Education Week 2024. Nearly 16,200 participants came from all 50 states and 8 foreign countries to participate in this extraordinary event, with more than 2,900 staying in campus housing.

A total of 300 presenters gave 1,007 classes on a variety of subjects, helping all in attendance to grow intellectually and spiritually. The help of 520 volunteers was essential in facilitating the conference and hosting such an impressive turnout.

Here is what those in attendance had to say about their experiences:

“Can’t thank you enough for the absolutely incredible experience Education Week was for my children and me, even life altering.”

“It was so cool to learn things that I will actually use in my life! I have 37 pages of notes that will help me throughout my life, and I felt the spirit so much!”

“[BYU Education Week] helped strengthen my faith in Christ. I learned new things that will help my life be healthier, happier, and more productive.”

DEPARTMENT STORIES

BYU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

As an event, BYU Women’s Conference is truly unparalleled.

It’s not just any conference; it’s the largest gathering of Latter-day Saint women anywhere in the world, with more than 12,000 participants attending each year. Over 180 presenters edify and uplift with discourses on myriad themes, looking at womanhood through every lens. While the conference is underpinned by Latter-day Saint principles, women of any and all faiths are welcome to participate in this life-changing gathering.

The conference spans three days, during which women of every age hear from speakers, make connections, listen to music, and more. In 2024, the event was as successful as always. The conference was focused on the divine concept of trust.

Overall, the 2024 BYU Women’s Conference was a resounding success, filled with Christ-centered messages, strength and excitement. The warmth of the attendees, the variety of sessions, the spirit of service, and the incredible music all contributed to an unforgettable event that deepened testimonies and inspired women to continue their journeys of faith in the Savior and His restored gospel.

Attendees strengthened their trust in the Lord through a wide range of sessions and speakers, including the following:

“Come and Take Your Place as Covenant Women”

Relief Society General Presidency

“Infertility . . . and Other Opportunities”

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus

“Lord, to Whom Shall I Go? Thou Hast the Words of Eternal Life” Tracy Y. Browning

“Human Dignity: To See Another’s Soul” Steve Young

DEPARTMENT STORIES

LIFE AFTER LOSS

BYU Continuing Education’s Life After Loss conference is a bastion of light amid grief.

Every year, the conference helps participants move forward by bringing them together and providing tools and resources. Keynote speakers, classes, opportunities to share, meditation, and comfort foods all help attendees productively process their experiences of loss.

For the Life After Loss team, 2024 was a big year. The conference, intended for adults, continued to uplift all who attended; however, administrators noticed that a similar program for a younger demographic didn’t exist. Efforts began to create Life After Loss for Teens, a four-day overnight retreat focused on grieving youth. The conference is set to be held in 2025 over Memorial Day weekend. It will facilitate healthy communication and connection, aiming to meet the needs of each individual teenager during a difficult time.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

CE IT led critical system upgrades; supported transitions to FACTS, Workday, and Drupal 10; and improved operations across departments.

In 2024, BYU CE IT tackled numerous projects and provided support to various departments and functions within BYU CE.

A major focus for the year was the implementation and support of FACTS, the new student information system for BYU Online High School. This system required CE IT to expend substantial effort to address unforeseen challenges and ensure smooth operation. Additionally, the department undertook significant updates to their server infrastructure, including the SQL Server, to enhance performance and reliability.

The IT team also made strides in supporting the FSY program alongside HR, particularly in the scheduling and hiring processes for thousands of summer counselors. This work involved integrating various systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Another notable project was the transition of all BYU CE sites from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10, a newer system that improves the sites’ visual and interactive experience.

Additionally, CE IT’s assistance was indispensable in the transition to Workday, particularly with issues pertaining to financial transactions and payroll. As 2025 began, CE IT anticipated providing continued support to various departments as BYU CE as a whole continued to navigate this major change.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

In 2024, FSY expanded to 75 campuses, trained 3,200+ summer employees, and served more than 118,000 youth—reflecting both its scale and commitment to meaningful participant experiences.

The year 2024 was a transformative one for FSY, marked by significant growth and strategic expansion. The program saw a substantial increase in its workforce with the hire of nine new full-time employees and 14 new three-quarter time employees to help manage the workload resulting from the department’s success.

FSY experienced a remarkable increase and diversification in its offerings in 2024. The program trained approximately 3,260 summer employees to facilitate the rising number of sessions across 11 more campuses than in 2023. Additionally, new initiatives were introduced, including Spanish-supported sessions in the United States and French-supported sessions in Canada, catering to a broader and more diverse audience.

The numbers represent FSY’s success in 2024:

3,263 YSA summer employees 292 sessions across the United States and Canada 75 campuses

118,608 youth participants more than 10,000 staff flights more than 30,000 pizzas ordered

FSY CONT’D

DEPARTMENT STORIES

While robust numbers are cause for celebration, FSY is really all about each participant’s experience. One FSY employee recounts the following:

“My youngest brother never had a desire to serve a mission. He even said that he was planning on going to college to play football at one point. As FSY was approaching this year, he was trying to get out of it and not go. Of course, my parents told him he was going and that he would make friends there.

He went to Provo week 1, and Tuesday during lunch I ran into him for a moment. He mentioned how cool it was to go to the MTC for the devotional and how the moment he walked into the MTC that it felt like he walked into a temple. It was his favorite part of the week.

Later in the summer, we were talking about when Dune 3 comes out in fall 2026, and that our other brother will be home from his mission so we could all watch it together. He then mentioned that he wouldn’t be here, though, because he would be on his mission. Throughout the summer he has continued to express his plan to serve a mission right after high school to all our extended family members. This truly has been a blessing for our family.

While FSY celebrates these and other successes, the program looks to improve in the future by increasing the total number of participants through enhanced marketing and outreach efforts as well as consistently updating program materials and activities to remain relevant and engaging for youth.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

MULTIMEDIA SERVICES

MMS completed over 700 projects, produced experiential learning videos, and developed new creative assets—all advancing BYU CEs mission of lifelong learning through high-quality media.

BYU CE Multimedia Services continues to promote lifelong learning through a wide range of high-quality photo, video, audio, graphic, and animated projects. As a department, their hard work led to over 700 completed projects in 2024. With ten full-time employees and many more passionate students, the department channeled their collective expertise into all kinds of results, from banner ads to BGS Graduate videos.

The year was full of notable achievements:

• Graphic Arts made a style guide for the areas they work with.

• The team created three experiential learning videos.

• Team members received multiple SEARA awards.

• The Computer Graphics team designed a new shirt for BYU sporting events.

The work of Multimedia Services has been invaluable to the mission of BYU Continuing Education. We’re excited to see what the team cooks up in 2025!

Editing

The Editing team experienced a number of significant organizational and logistical changes in 2024. With the retirement of longtime marketing director Russ Bryant, the Editing team, previously a part of

the Marketing department, was moved to Multimedia Services. With this change, Scarlett Lindsay was promoted to Managing Editor. As part of this change in departmental organization, the Editing team was relocated from HCEB 328 to HCEB 329.

Since Scarlett’s promotion, the Editing team’s responsibilities and contributions to BYU CE have grown. Historically, the Editing team has overseen the editing of online courses. While this continues to be their primary responsibility, the team now edits content produced by the Marketing team and the Communications department.

One highlight for the Editing team in 2024 was the unique project of creating Lifelong Learning stories. BYU CE, in conjunction with the BYU Alumni Office, began a campaign to feature lifelong learners who had benefited from BYU CE at away games for the 2024–2025 BYU football season. The Editing team was tasked with interviewing these individuals and writing stories featuring their experiences. These stories were used by the Direct Marketing team to promote BYU CE products and services at the football games and have since been published to the BYU CE website. Finally, the Editing team redoubled their commitment to ensuring the academic integrity of online

DEPARTMENT STORIES

MULTIMEDIA SERVICES CONT’D

courses. New procedures were implemented to verify that course content is cited correctly. These efforts demonstrate the Editing team’s dedication to the BYU CE value of Quality and Excellence, ensuring that all academic products and services meet this standard.

Animation

Spearheaded by longtime industry professional Robin Conover, BYU CE’s Animation team is a powerhouse of creativity. Most of the team’s animators are student employees, but they’re far from amateurs. The team consistently pumps out high-quality animated content for a wide variety of BYU CE pursuits, ranging from video games to advertisements. The year 2024 was no different.

For the 2024–2025 football season, the team made eye-catching banner ads featuring a digital Cosmo throwing footballs. Their work was seen by hundreds of thousands over the course of the season, spreading awareness of the lifelong learning that BYU Continuing Education offers.

Many of the students on the BYU CE Animation team worked on a short film that won a bronze medal at the 2024 Student Academy Awards. With this win, the animated short, Student Accomplice, qualified for the Oscars. Yes, you read that right. The podium placement is the result of many of our student employees and their stunning expertise and dedication, which they apply to their work with the BYU CE Animation team.

Broadcasting and Video Production

The Broadcasting and Video Production team had another successful year in 2024. Their work filming content for online classes and streaming conferences was crucial to the success of many BYU CE products and services.

One notable change for the team occurred as BYU CE began decreasing the time and resources devoted to the InspirED program. In previous years, filming and editing InspirED content composed up to 40 percent of the team’s work. In 2024, however, the future of the InspirED program became uncertain. This marked a significant change in the workload for Broadcasting and Video Production, and the team anticipated navigating the effects of this change in 2025.

Additionally, Broadcasting and Video Production Manager Chris Garcia was appointed to a position on the university committee Beacons of Light, responsible for overseeing the commemoration of BYU’s 150th anniversary in 2025. In this position, Chris will be responsible for helping to shoot and edit videos of the various projects being undertaken by colleges and organizations across campus. Chris has also been tasked with preparing these videos and organizing them into a comprehensive celebratory display. Work on this project began in 2024, giving Chris and his team plenty to work on.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

CLASSROOM PROGRAMS

Classroom Programs hit a four-year enrollment high with 47,525 students and opened a redesigned, student-centered office and testing space.

BYU Continuing Education’s Classroom Programs thrived in 2024. Previously known as CCEESS, Classroom Programs has a new name that reflects the department’s scope and commitment. Overall, the program, which includes FlexGE, BGS, and Visiting Students, in addition to other Salt Lake Center and Evening Class students, saw a four-year high in terms of enrollment. In total, 47,525 students enrolled.

In line with this continued momentum, the department’s office spaces were redesigned to better serve students and keep up with growth. In early October, the new space opened to the public. It now has room for advisors and administrators to help students succeed, and it includes comfortable waiting and collaboration areas, private advising offices, and an open-air layout that fosters communication. A new testing center, complete with a special accommodations room, was also built. This accessible and well-designed space reflects Classroom Programs’ dedication to providing meaningful lifelong learning.

FlexGE

For FlexGE, 2024 was a year of firsts. In August, FlexGE students participated for the first time in New Student Orientation with matriculated students; the Active Learning Lab, a dedicated space for FlexGE

students to study and work with advisors, opened; and the FlexGE student council planned and executed community-building and service-oriented events. In 2024, 166 FlexGE students were awarded a total of $178,199 in scholarships! The data highlights BYU Continuing Education’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for all. FlexGE’s momentum is undeniable; 2025 will be a big year for the program.

Bachelor of General Studies

The Bachelor of General Studies program continues to offer formerly matriculated BYU students a chance to earn a bachelor’s degree, no matter how much time has passed since they were enrolled. To better promote the possibilities available through BGS, the program’s website was redesigned and is now more appealing and easier for users to navigate as they search for program information and student resources. BGS also posted YouTube videos highlighting the program’s 2024 graduates. This year, 38 students graduated from the program; 20 graduated with a Business emphasis.

BYU Salt Lake Center

The Salt Lake Center’s upward enrollment trend continued in 2024. Over the course of fall and winter semesters, the center saw 5,545 enrollments, a 19.6 percent

DEPARTMENT STORIES

CLASSROOM PROGRAMS CONT’D

increase over 2023, and 41.2 percent higher than 2022. Mirroring this continued success, the Salt Lake Center’s physical space underwent some major changes to better serve students. In June 2024, new bar seating and lounge chairs arrived and were installed. Modifications to layout, new flooring, and additional signage made the space more suitable for students and faculty alike. One of the most notable changes is the new Active Learning Classroom. The room blends technology with a modular, adaptable layout to create an environment where students will truly collaborate. It’s the first of a series of enhancements aimed at bettering the student experience at the Salt Lake Center.

Academic Advising

In 2024, the Academic Advising team continued to make its vision—to guide each student to academic success and personal development—a reality.

Office of Visiting Students

The Visiting Student program is congruent with BYU’s mission to help individuals achieve “perfection and eternal life.” This program allows anyone, even individuals not accepted as degree-seeking students, to apply to earn academic credit through BYU. Students who are accepted can take spring and summer term classes, evening classes, and courses at the Salt Lake Center. Visiting students fall into four categories:

• Undergraduate Visiting Students

• Post-Baccalaureate Visiting Students

• Audit-Only Students

• High School Concurrent Enrollment Students

These students are part of the BYU community on every level, enjoying “a wide range of BYU cultural and social experiences.” The Visiting Student program enables them to become more through BYU, even if their circumstances don’t allow them to be degree-seeking undergraduates or graduate students. Whether students are high schoolers getting a head start or grandparents seeking enlightenment, the Visiting Student program gives them the chance to make the most of their BYU experience.

Evening Classes

Evening Classes have long been a key part of BYU’s educational offerings. Since the days of Dr. Karl G. Maeser, a wide range of students have taken classes after hours. In 2024, this legacy continued to be vibrant: enrollments rose by 7 percent over the preceding year, and unique enrollments also increased.

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

DEPARTMENT STORIES

The Student Success Center launched new academic support services, opened the Learning Lab, and achieved outstanding student satisfaction.

The year 2024 was a fantastic one in the BYU CE Student Success Center. Check it out!

In 2024, the Student Success Center introduced several exciting advancements to better serve students:

• Academic Coaching Services were launched to provide personalized guidance.

• Active learning sessions helped students strengthen skills across key areas.

• Exam retake preparation was supported, enabling students to approach assessments with greater confidence.

• Development began on the Learning Lab, a dedicated space for growth and collaboration.

The BYU CE Student Success Center’s new Learning Lab is a valuable resource where students can receive assistance with coursework, study strategies, exam preparation, and more. The lab’s creation is one way in which the Student Success Center is increasing its efforts to offer the same support to FlexGE students as is offered to BYU OHS and Independent Study students. The Student Success Center even has a popcorn machine, evidence of its commitment to the well-being and success of each student!

DEPARTMENT STORIES

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER CONT’D

A peer mentor at the Student Success Center described a personal experience that captures the essence of the department’s work:

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work as a peer mentor and teaching assistant at BYU Continuing Education. I truly feel that each individual involved in this program was placed in their specific role by divine design. I have seen myself develop leadership skills, a greater ability to communicate and connect effectively in a variety of situations, as well as increased capability to adapt and adjust to the needs of individual students.

I’ve seen firsthand the way that personalized, loving support has changed the landscape of education for countless students. While I still have much to learn, improve, and adjust, both as a teacher and an individual, I have learned greatly and have seen much success and growth, both in myself and my students. I’m grateful for the opportunity to see how much each of the students I’ve worked with has grown and improved.

The Student Success Center’s impact is reflected in the Fall 2024 pulse survey responses. In all, 98.9 percent of students reported that their TA or peer mentor created an environment in which they felt comfortable asking questions, and 97.8 percent said their TA or peer mentor helped them understand course content in a way that made sense to them.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Student Success Center aims to improve in the following ways:

• enhancing proactive outreach from tutors and mentors to engage more students

• reducing failed exam retakes by offering targeted support

• increasing use of the Learning Lab and its resources, including awareness of virtual appointments

• strengthening communication and support for faculty

• improving training for our student employees to elevate the services they provide

DEPARTMENT STORIES

RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND DATA ANALYTICS

The REDA team advanced data-driven strategy, expanded its capabilities with new talent, and strengthened its impact through innovative tools and analysis.

Since its conception in 2022, the Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics (REDA) team has been driving data-enhanced progress at BYU Continuing Education. The department employs a wide variety of strategies to convert pure data to strategy and forward motion. Needs analysis, logic models, and self-studies are all a part of the picture. Thanks to REDA, numbers mean knowledge.

In 2024, the REDA team welcomed Khaleel Hamad, a talented, ambitious computer science student. Hamad, born in Palestine, has a deep passion for programming and machine learning; his expertise in the world of software makes him an invaluable part of the REDA team. Initially, Hamad developed machine learning programs to assist with data analysis. Over time, his responsibilities expanded to include website development and database integration. Through hands-on experience, Hamad has learned, grown, and made a difference. REDA has been a launchpad for his pursuit of lifetime growth and lifelong learning.

DEPARTMENT STORIES

ONLINE LEARNING

Online services grew significantly with 53,934 enrollments, transitioned to a new test proctoring system, designed 27 new courses, and prepared to offer additional advanced language courses to high school students.

In 2024, BYU CE’s online services experienced remarkable growth and significant advancements, reflecting the department’s commitment to providing high-quality education to students worldwide. The numbers speak volumes about this progress. BYU CE saw a substantial increase in enrollments across all online programs, with a total of 53,934 enrollments across winter, spring, summer, and fall 2024. This growth is a testament to the expanding reach and appeal of BYU CE’s online offerings, which now serve students in all 50 states and over 100 countries.

One major change in 2024 was the shift to a new test proctoring provider. BYU CE’s online services moved from Examity to Honorlock, a change that required significant effort and coordination. This transition began in June 2024 and has since been successfully implemented for BYU Online and BYU Online High School courses. The new proctoring system is set to be available for Independent Study courses by February 2025. This change aims to enhance the integrity and security of online assessments, ensuring that students are evaluated fairly and accurately.

Additionally, the breadth of BYU Online’s course catalog continues to grow. In 2024, 18 new BYU Online

courses were piloted, and another 9 were developed for pilot in January 2025, resulting in a total of 27 new courses designed throughout the year.

Furthermore, BYU CE’s World Language Team has been hard at work laying the groundwork for a major development that will take place next year. Due to increasing demand from numerous school districts across the country, BYU Online High School and BYU Independent Study high school students will soon be able to take up to three years of course instruction for various foreign languages. Currently, third-year language classes are offered only for Spanish and American Sign Language. Soon, however, BYU Online High School and BYU Independent Study will provide high school students with three years of instruction for eight different languages.

Online High School

In 2024, BYU Online High School (BYU OHS) took significant steps to continue improving the quality of the education and support offered to its students. With a student body surpassing 600, the school continues to expand its reach and impact.

Notably, BYU Online High School introduced 71 new

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credit recovery courses in 2024. These courses are designed to help high school students stay on track for graduation by providing opportunities to retake and master subjects they previously struggled with. This initiative underscores the program’s dedication to supporting students in achieving their academic goals.

Due to these efforts, BYU OHS boasts a 77 percent graduation rate, significantly higher than the national average of 55 percent. Not only is the graduation rate impressive, but BYU OHS graduates continue to impress. In 2024, the acceptance rate of BYU OHS graduates to BYU was identical to the average BYU acceptance rate, dispelling any ill-conceived notion that an online education can’t be as effective as traditional classroom-based education.

While these statistics are important for measuring growth, BYU OHS’s success can be most accurately understood through the impact it has on the lives of its students:

Among the graduating class of 2024 was one young man who lives in Hong Kong. Before enrolling with BYU OHS, he struggled academically and received little support from his family. Consequently, he had little faith in himself and his ability to graduate. However, through lots of hard work on his part and exceptional support from BYU OHS faculty, he was able to graduate. Frequent meetings with BYU OHS counselor Diane Flood, occasionally requiring him to wake up at

1:00 a.m. due to time differences, were instrumental in helping this student succeed.

Another beneficiary of BYU OHS’s dedication to its students was a young woman from Illinois. Though she too had experienced difficulty in her academic career, lots of effort from her and OHS staff made all the difference. Her family was amazed at the beauty of the Harman Building when they came for the 2024 graduation ceremony. Now, this student is the first of her family to attend college and is making her family proud.

All of this growth and success has warranted increases in hiring for BYU OHS faculty. This year, BYU OHS welcomed Alecia Shinkle into the newly created role of assistant principal. Shinkle earned her bachelor’s in special education from BYU and her master’s in educational administration from Grand Canyon University. Before joining BYU OHS in December 2024, Shinkle worked as the dean of students at Highland Junior High School in Gilbert, Arizona. Since beginning in this role, Shinkle said, “My experience so far at BYU OHS has been incredibly unique and rewarding, thanks to the wonderful colleagues, families, and students I have the privilege of collaborating with each day.”

Looking ahead, BYU Online High School is working to further accommodate the individual needs and preferences of students, providing the choice between live, teacher-led courses and asynchronous learning formats for as many courses as possible. This ap-

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proach aims to accommodate diverse learning styles and schedules, ensuring that every student can find a path that works best for them.

Independent Study

BYU Independent Study continued to expand its reach and influence throughout 2024, serving a total of 50,915 high school students and 7,741 university students. BYU Independent Study is also proud to announce the development of 94 new courses this year, an all-time record. Every new course represents a significant effort, as each is meticulously designed to meet accessibility and copyright standards, ensuring that students across the world have access to a BYU-quality education.

The department was sad to say goodbye to John Bushman, the previous Independent Study University project manager who now serves BYU CE in another capacity. However, BYU IS was excited to welcome Trenton McCall to the position.

The flexibility BYU Independent Study offers its students makes it an invaluable resource for many. This year, BYU CE director of finance and business services Scott Howell’s son Ryan was one such individual who greatly benefited from BYU IS.

Ryan Howell is set to graduate from BYU in April with a degree in mechanical engineering, completing the typically five-year program in just four years. His

secret to success lies in the flexibility offered by the BYU Independent Study program, which allowed him to balance his rigorous coursework with valuable internship opportunities.

The BYU Independent Study program enabled Ryan to manage his demanding schedule without sacrificing internships. Last summer, he was able to continue taking BYU Independent Study courses while interning with Honeywell Aerospace’s Space and Defense Department in Arizona, an experience that led to a full-time job offer after graduation. “[BYU Independent Study] gave me more flexibility for those summer months,” Ryan said. “I could keep doing my schooling while I was in Arizona or Utah.”

Ryan enjoyed the self-paced nature of the Independent Study courses. “I could put a lot of work into it for a few weeks, then take a break when I got busy, and go back to it later,” he shared. This approach helped him balance his major coursework during regular semesters and complete general education requirements through Independent Study, maintaining a manageable workload throughout his college career.

Ryan’s experience with BYU Independent Study has been instrumental in his academic and professional success. “I loved my Independent Study experience,” Ryan said. “I would highly recommend it.”