[5] The students take courses online, but they also meet once a week in small groups to create 'scaffolding confidence.

'[6] On February 7, 2017, the LDS Church announced the creation of BYU–PW to provide strategic oversight and leadership for the church's online higher education initiatives, which consists of PathwayConnect and online higher education certificate and degree programs.

[citation needed] In 2019, it was announced that all LDS Church returning missionaries automatically receive pre-approval for admission to BYU–PW’s PathwayConnect program.

[5] In 2020, BYU–PW reached a new milestone by serving 51,583 students (33,238 in PathwayConnect and 23,172 in BYU–Idaho online degree programs).

[14] Leaders in the cited interview discussed the students learning English, and getting jobs while still early in their studies by getting certificates prior to getting their bachelor's degree.