By Emily Andersen
BYU Independent Study is already the largest program of its kind in the country, but organizers are not satisfied. By the year 2005 they plan on doubling the program in size.
'Higher enrollments mean that we are reaching more people,' said R. Dwight Laws, director of Independent Study.
The University Continuing Education Association''s Final Report for the year 2000 showed BYU Independent Study as the top program of its kind, beating out the number two position, Texas Tech University, by more than 5000 enrollments.
Independent Study has a goal to reach 200,000 to 250,000 people enrolled in independent study courses by the year 2005, Laws said. Enrollments for the year 2001 were approximately 95,000.
Laws said Independent Study does not want to increase in size to show that they have the most people, they are more concerned with extending the influence of the university to as many people as they can.
'I don''t think administration is not locked on numbers for numbers sake,' Laws said. 'Through our distributed learning we are trying to bless the lives of as many church members as we can, as well as others.'
Laws said they are also working to reach people outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
About 50 percent of the people enrolled in university courses are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Law said, and 60 percent of high school students enrolled in classes are not Latter-day Saints.
'BYU has a strong appeal across the nation,' said Catherine Ganier, a marketing administrator with Independent Study. 'When people hear BYU''s name they know what they are getting is quality.'
Jean Christy, director of guidance at Cocoa Beach Junior Senior High School in Florida said their school uses BYU''s Independent Study program because it is the best.
'BYU has a good name, they are usually less expensive, and they are great about giving us feedback,' Christy said.
Ganier said Independent Study recently received awards from the American Association for Collegiate Independent Study for one of their high school courses. Ganier said they usually receive awards from this organization every year.
Ganier said schools like using BYU''s Independent Study program over other programs because they have well designed courses, great customer service for the students, and they are competitively priced.
'There are many schools that use our program exclusively because the service is so great,' said Clarence Tang, a marketing administrator with Independent Study. 'Community colleges, without fail love us.'
Ganier said junior colleges love the flexibility it gives students to take classes that aren''t offered through their programs, and it helps the colleges to increase their curriculum.
Schools that do not like BYU Independent Study''s program usually have their own program, Ganier said.
Independent Study is trying several different techniques to help increase their numbers. Laws said they are going to continue improving their distributed learning courses. They will also be using advertisements on KBYU, and KBYU-FM to spread awareness.
Independent Study is sending marketing representatives to high schools and junior colleges around the country, and mailing approximately 200,000 catalogs and compact discs to schools around the country, Laws said.