By: Stacy Bailey
By taking institute classes at the Orem Institute of Religion instead of BYU religion classes, many students think they are passing off religion courses with ease. However, they may need to investigate further.
Lindsey Harward, a senior majoring in English language, has been taking institute classes on the UVSC campus in Orem for BYU religion requirements since her freshman year.
Lindsey Harward said the process is easy. Just take religion credits from institute and transfer them back to BYU. Save time and effort and get an easy A.
Harward got this idea because her roommates were taking Orem institute classes and transferring the credits to BYU. Now, Harward praises the idea and has even recruited other BYU students including her brother, David Harward, to follow suit.
'I'm not gonna lie, it seems easier,' said David Harward, a freshman studying mechanical engineering. 'It looks like we still learn a lot, but it is not as intense.'
Students at BYU are required to complete multiple assignments, tests and projects for religion courses, whereas students who attend classes at the Orem Institute of Religion generally have to reach 80 percent attendance and complete one or two assignments to meet course requirements.
While this technique may help students satisfy the required religion classes like Book of Mormon, it does not fulfill what BYU calls 'residency hours.'
To graduate from BYU, students must complete 14 religion hours at BYU. All students must complete religion courses at BYU, regardless of previously completed religion credits.
'It would seem from a purely practical viewpoint that BYU students wouldn't take institute classes, because it would mean extra classes and time away from their demanding BYU schedule,' said Dennis Wright, associate dean of Religious Education.
Wright is now preparing a document that clarifies this issue to students titled; 'Did you know that not all institute credits transferred to BYU count toward graduation?' This document should be distributed to all student advisors as well as CES Institutes in the near future.
'You have to be careful because if you don't know what's going on, that costs extra money and extra time. That's your responsibility,' said Suzanne Stirland, a BYU graduate in elementary education.
Wright recommended students immediately see their college advisor upon arriving at BYU to fully understand the religion requirements.
'Since BYU grants the undergraduate degree, it is felt that students should take courses at BYU to have the 'BYU experience,'' states the Religious Education Web site. 'While one may argue that other religion courses provide the same quality and depth as BYU religion courses, the point is not quality but sponsorship. It is expected that BYU students have a BYU experience. Thus, residency ensures that BYU students will be afforded the experience of which they sought admittance.'
Although LDS Institute credits or those from one of the other Church educational system schools transfer as the subject requirement for religion credits, it does not fulfill the residency hour requirement at BYU.
'The institute experience is not an inferior product,' said Wright. 'Institute is a wonderful experience, but we hope that students understand that it is like icing on the cake. It is a great experience, but doesn't fulfill the BYU religion requirements.'