Division History #2 - Brigham Young University

n June 18, 1959, a letter was sent to all stake presidents and bishops under the signature of JosephFielding Smith, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. This communiqueannounced the establishment of an adult education center in Los Angeles for Southern California. In

his letter to stake presidents and bishops in the Southern California area, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:

We are pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has authorized the BrighamYoung University to establish an Adult Education Center in Los Angeles for theSouthern California area. . . . Since many of the stakes and wards are separated bysubstantial distances, convenient sub-centers will be organized in order to make reg-ular courses and lectures readily available to our people and their friends. The Centerwill be known as the BYU—Los Angeles Center. The purpose of this institution is toprovide both religious and secular instruction by the Church University on a creditand/or non-credit basis. This instruction is not a duplication of existing programsand the Center will be expected to work closely with the Institute and Seminary sys-tem and the Priesthood and auxiliary organizations, enriching, supplementing andstrengthening the regular programs of the Church.

Some aid will be provided from Church funds to this Center, but the fees paid by thosewho enroll will largely provide the finances for the program. The Center, therefore,will need your complete support if it is to grow to the full strength of its possibilities.1

Prior to this period, noncredit and credit courses and a successful Education Week program had been held in theSouthern California area. A class was offered in California at least as early as the 1948–49 academic year. The annualreport for that year states that Eldin Ricks taught a Book of Mormon course, Religion 65x, at the Wilshire Ward inLos Angeles. There were 180 who registered for noncredit and four who registered for credit for the course.2

For a number of years classes in California were under the direction of the Off-Campus Instruction Depart-ment at BYU, administered by Richard H. Henstrom. A supervisor in this campus office, David N. Chalk, wasselected to be the first chairman for the Los Angeles Center when it was approved.

While the initial geographical jurisdiction for the center was primarily directed toward Southern California,interest in programs later required it to serve all of California, as well as stakes along the Arizona and Nevada

22BYU California Center

borders—including Yuma, Arizona, and Reno, Carson City, and Fallon, Nevada. The name was changed tothe Brigham Young University California Center for Continuing Education in the fall of 1974.

Summary Report of First YearAt the end of its first complete year of operation, the California Center provided the following summary in itsannual report of accomplishments for the 1959–60 academic year.

1. Thirty noncredit courses have been completed, reaching 767 students.

2. The first Southern California Summer School with credit courses specifically designed forBYU students home for the summer has been held.

3. The first of a series of one-day symposia which will be scheduled for each calendar quarterthroughout the year was held. This symposium considered youth counseling and guidanceand included five lectures. Eighty-two students participated.

4. A symphony orchestra for Southern California LDS musicians has been organized. Its debutwas on the Tuesday assembly of Leadership Week.

5. Members of the center staff have personally counseled 197 potential BYU students (most ofthem with their parents) in 13 separate meetings on college preparation problems.

6. The 1960 Leadership Week was successful, and an even bigger and better program is plannedfor 1961.

7. Plans for the construction of a two-story office building have been completed. It will be builtjust west of the Institute of Religion adjacent to USC and will include a film vault, a classroom,and storage and office space to house both the BYU—Los Angeles Adult Education Centerand the seminary office.

8. An audio-visual branch will be established as part of the center functions as soon as the newbuilding is completed. A library of BYU-produced and other religious films, training aids, andsupplies will be available for Southern California distribution directly from the Los Angelesoffice for use in wards and stakes.

9. Additional center functions include processing Home Study courses, Travel Study programs,and Extension Publication sales.3

This summary provides a record of the initial programs for service offered by this center. Audio-visual mate-rials and equipment were not offered through the Church or in chapel libraries at this time. Subsequentreports mentioned genealogy and family history programs which also had no Church base at this time, butare noted later in this chapter.

Personnel

DAVID N. CHALK

He began his administrative assignment as the first chairman of the Brigham Young University—Los AngelesAdult Education Center in July of 1959. His leadership provided the initial center operation. He continued in thiswork for two years, until July 1961 when he left employment with the division for a position in private industry.

R. WAYNE SHUTE

He had joined the staff of this center in 1960 as an administrative assistant and became the new chairman inJuly 1961 when David N. Chalk resigned. He continued in this position until August 31, 1964, when he was

416 Brigham Young University

transferred to the Provo campus operation of the Division of Continuing Education as coordinator of the officeof Community Education. During his assignment in California, he worked part time on a doctoral degree ineducation at USC.

V. DALLAS MERRELL

He had been chairman on the Provo campus of the division’s Department of Community Education. He wastransferred to the center in Los Angeles to become its chairman, replacing R. Wayne Shute, on September 1,1964. During his administration he also worked on a doctoral degree in education at USC. This necessitatedseveral leaves without pay: (1) January 1, 1967, to April 30, 1967, for doctoral examination preparation, and(2) February 1, 1968, to August 31, 1968, for doctoral studies. Gerhard J. Bolli, a center employee, served asthe acting chairman during portions of these two periods. Both Dallas Merrell and Gerhard Bolli resigned theircenter positions effective August 31, 1968.

STANLEY A. PETERSON

He became chairman of the center effective June 15, 1968, while Dallas Merrell was on leave. He was a pub-lic school administrator, educator, and Church bishop at the time of his appointment. He had served as anadviser to the center prior to this appointment. His service in this assignment was concluded on August 31,1970, when he was transferred to the Provo campus to be an assistant dean for Field Services in the Office ofthe Dean of the Division of Continuing Education.

R. JAN THURSTON

He was appointed acting chairman of the center effective September 1, 1970, subsequently being appointedits chairman. He had previously worked at the Salt Lake Center and was a center supervisor at the time ofthis appointment. He continued in this position until January 15, 1973, when he was transferred to becomethe chairman of the Salt Lake Center.

KENNETH W. ANDERSON

He had been employed previously as a supervisor at the center and was appointed its chairman effectiveJanuary 15, 1973. During his leadership, Richard C. Eddy was hired May 1, 1973, as he left the U.S. Air Force,and F. Glen Waldron was hired June 15, 1976, both as supervisors at the center. (Glen had worked part timefrom 1974–1976.) Richard C. Eddy established a branch office of the center in Napa, California, to serve wardsand stakes in Northern California. He lived in Napa and served Northern California until October 31, 1981,when he was transferred to Provo as chairman of Independent Study in the Division of Continuing Education.This Northern California office was closed at that time. Kenneth W. Anderson continued as the chairman forthis center until August 31, 1982, when he came to Provo to be the new director of Evening Classes in theDivision of Continuing Education.

F. GLEN WALDRON

The title of this position was changed from chairman to director when F. Glen Waldron (originally hired June15, 1976) was appointed to direct this center effective September 1, 1982. He continued in this position untilJuly 31, 1989, when he was transferred to the Provo campus to serve as a student counselor in the Departmentof Evening Classes of the division.

DUANE C. LEMLEY

He was appointed director of the California Center on August 1, 1989. During his administration theContinuing Education services for the Northern California area were transferred to the CES—South office onthe Provo campus, and then effective August 31, 1996, the entire California Center office was closed as anadministrative center, and the rest of its operations were also transferred to the CES—South office. Duane C.

A History of the Division of Continuing Education 417


Kenneth W. Anderson

F. Glen Waldron Duane C. Lemley

David N. Chalk

California Center Personnel

R. Wayne Shute V. Dallas Merrell

Stanley A. Peterson R. Jan Thurston

Lemley was the last chairman for an independent California Center operation. This was an operation of somethirty-seven years of service.

OTHER ADMINISTRATORS

In addition to the aforementioned chairmen, directors, and supervisors, the following individuals served forperiods of time as administrators at the Los Angeles or California Center for Continuing Education: Clark L.Smithson, Cornelius Van Blankenstein, Steven W. Taggart, Clarence L. Sirrine, R. Neil Carlile, and Russell V.Judd. Numerous staff personnel also made contributions to the center during these years of operation.

Facility LocationsDuring its period of service, from 1959 to 1996, the California Center for Continuing Education has beenlocated in six different facilities in the Los Angeles area. The first five locations provided administrative officespace, and the classes sponsored were offered in various Church facilities or in other rented locations.

ADJACENT TO UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The first offices for the center were located in a home at 3621 South McClintock Avenue, adjacent to theChurch’s institute of religion by the University of Southern California. The center occupied this facility fromJuly 1959 to June 1960.

New facilities were located around the block from this first center at 1012 West 36th Street. Plans had beenapproved for the joint Continuing Education center and a seminary administrative office next to the aboveinstitute of religion. Plans for the construction of this two-story office building included a film vault, a class-room, and storage and office space to house both the center and the seminary office. Also, an audiovisualbranch was to be established as a part of this building to include Church and religious films, training aids, andsupplies available for Southern California distribution for use in wards and stakes. However, by the time thisstructure was completed some objections had been raised by the University of Southern California regardingBrigham Young University Continuing Education programs being located in too close a proximity to theircampus. In order to preserve the relationship of the institute of religion and seminary program with theUniversity of Southern California, it was decided that the center would not occupy the newly constructed facil-ity, but that it would relocate. USC’s building plans included property that would have their campus surroundthese buildings, putting the center on the campus, and they actually talked about using “eminent domain”laws to force the center from this facility if necessary. This facility was occupied only for a short period oftime, from June 1960 to October 1961.

INGLEWOOD

New facilities for the center were found at 3141 West Century Boulevard, Suite 9, in Inglewood, California.This facility was close to the Los Angeles Airport, making it convenient for assisting faculty from BYU whoflew down to teach courses. An audiovisual communications branch was opened by the center in 1961. Thecenter managed the programs from this facility for almost seven years, from October 1961 to July 1968.

COVINA

In July of 1968 the offices were moved to 203 West Cottage Drive, Covina, California. For the first few years,these offices were utilized rent-free through the generosity of the doctor owners. This occupancy lastedapproximately five years—July 1968 to the spring of 1973.

GARDEN GROVE

In the spring of 1973, the center moved to Garden Grove at 12550 Brookhurst, Suite D. This location was moreconvenient for the two administrators who previously had to drive a great distance from Orange County. This



First Facility3621 South McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, California

203 West Cottage Drive, Covina, California

12550 Brookhurst, Suite D, Garden Grove, California 3323 South Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California

BYU California Center Facilities

office eventually expanded to four suites offering a floor plan of approximately 1,650 square feet. Rental pay-ment for 1982–83 was $10,500, with a projected rental of $12,000 for the following year. Utility costs wereincluded in the rental fee.4 The center remained in this location until December of 1983.

WHITTIER

In 1983 an institute building next to Rio Hondo College in Whittier was vacated and this facility was offeredfor use to the BYU Division of Continuing Education for the California Center. The address for this facility was3323 South Workman Mill Road. The move to this former institute building provided twice the office space ofthat available in the previous location, and it also had 4,600 square feet of classroom facilities where classescould be taught. There were only utility, custodial, repair, and renovations charges required for use of thisbuilding. Costs at time of occupancy were estimated as $6,310 for custodial care, lawns, shrubs, flower gar-dening, parking lot right-of-way, and utilities. Repair costs would be the responsibility of the center.5 The cen-ter occupied this space until it transferred administrative responsibility for adult and continuing educationprograms in California to the BYU campus. This was a period of about thirteen years.


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFICE

Mention should be made of the office that was opened in Northern California in 1978 with Richard C. Eddyas its administrator. It was located in Napa, California, at the Fairfield Institute for about six months and thenmoved to rented office space. The official notification of approval from the BYU administration indicated thatthe standardized title of this branch would be “BYU California Center—Northern California Office.”6 (A mapof California showing the boundary lines used to designate Northern California and Southern California is onthe preceding page.)

With respect to the opening of this office, a basic policy decision was made regarding Continuing Educationand CES facilities. The Commissioner’s Office distributed this policy statement at that time:

POLICY STATEMENT: On a space-available basis, Continuing Education Offices may beestablished in an existing institute facility. There should be no rental fee charge butif there is an increase in utilities and/or maintenance costs, Continuing Educationwill pay for those increases. In time a small monthly amount could be determinedthat would cover those small increased expenses. When there are no noticeableincreased costs, no charge will be made.7

Advisory CouncilIn 1964 President Joseph Fielding Smith, as chairman of the executive committee of the BYU Board of Trustees,appointed a BYU California Center advisory council, with an executive committee. The first chairman of theexecutive committee was President Austin Gudmundsen of the Inglewood Stake. He was succeeded in 1967by Robert C. Seamons of the Glendale Stake. Other stake presidents serving on the executive committee atthis time were Raymond H. Linford, president of East Long Beach Stake; Arvo Van Alstyne, president of LosAngeles Stake; Wm. Gordon Hendry, president of Mount Rubidoux Stake; and Justin B. Lillywhite, presidentof Orange County Stake.

The following year, this advisory council executive committee wrote a letter to President Joseph FieldingSmith, part of which was a report on some of the center’s programs:

The purpose of this letter is to report briefly to you the accomplishments of this educa-tional center. . . . There are several noteworthy programs which have been sponsoredby the California Center in recent years, which include the following:

SEMINARS FOR WOMEN, which feature classes in literature, homemaking, theology, leader-ship, family relations and child care—in the fall of 1967, 1,682 women wereinvolved in this program.

KNOW YOUR RELIGION LECTURES, which are now held in eight locations in Californiaduring eight months of each year and which will be attended by at least 11,000 LDSadults in the 1967–68 season.

BOOK OF MORMON LECTURES held in forty-five areas in the state last spring.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR, an eight-week management course requested by theAdvisory Council Executive Committee and attended by local stake presidents andElder Howard W. Hunter.

EDUCATION WEEK programs are currently scheduled in sixteen areas throughout Cali-fornia.

We, as the Advisory Council Executive Committee, have given support to these pro-grams and have generally reviewed and given assent to their contents and faculty.We appreciate the opportunity of serving with you in this great work of education andare eager to serve as you direct us.8


This center was advised by a stake presidents’ advisory council until 1972 when it was felt that the new cor-relation program of the Church made such a council unnecessary. (See chapter 37.)

CES RelationshipsThis advisory council was dissolved in favor of the Church Educational System having a regional representa-tive review all CES programs and advise other priesthood leaders. In this way, priesthood direction andapproval has always been given to CES and BYU programming.

In 1976 an effort was made at the central office of the Church Educational System to have one voice speakto ecclesiastical leaders on CES programs instead of having BYU Continuing Education and seminary and insti-tute personnel approach the Church leadership. The new direction designated the Area Director of the ChurchEducational System to be the one voice.

As Continuing Education programs increased in California, renewed efforts were made to coordinate and cor-relate these activities through the CES Area Directors, Church Authorities. While these efforts had been men-tioned in previous annual reports, the 1978–79 annual report noted the following:

The past year has brought improved relationships with the CES Area Directors. Thisrelationship should continue to grow. Special meetings were held with every regionin Southern and Northern California to assist in becoming better acquainted with thestake presidents and regional representatives, and to be more responsive to theirneeds. It is also important to note that a meeting was held every two months withElder Ferren L. Christensen, area educational advisor and regional representative forthe Southland.9

One of the major tasks for center administrators for many years was to maintain these contacts. This requiredmuch travel, evening and weekend involvement, and attendance at many meetings, as noted for 1981–82.

The California Center staff attended regional representative meetings at their invita-tion once, and in some areas twice, in order to establish a close working relationshipwith the regional representatives and stake presidents.

The past year has brought even closer relationship with the CES Area Directors inNorthern and Southern California. Center administrators are always pleased to workclosely with these directors . . . meeting quarterly with Elder Donald R. McArthur,area educational advisor and regional representative for the Southland.10

These contacts and relationships continued. The 1987–88 annual report indicates that the center was also vis-ited by individuals associated with CES operations: J. Elliot Cameron, commissioner of Church Education;Frank M. Bradshaw, CES zone administrator; and Gordon E. Mauss, CES area director. This was all related tothe effort for correlation and “one voice to the field.”11 (See chapter 25.)

ProgramsThe center has been involved in both credit and noncredit programs over the years, but it discontinued creditprograms in 1987 and basically became a center offering Church Educational System noncredit courses. Froma historical perspective a number of the primary center programs are reviewed.

GENEALOGY PROGRAMS

During the early years of the center’s operation, there was both a need and a demand for courses to assistindividuals in genealogical research. As reviewed in chapter 31E of this history, the Division of ContinuingEducation had been a leader in this program area. The California Center began offering genealogy classes in1968–69 when one of its main features was a number of one-day seminars.12 Annual reports indicated that


classes were then offered through 1974–75, but that no classes were offered in 1975–76. However, in 1977–78Genealogy Seminars were presented in Escondido, Gridley, Sacramento, and Los Altos.13

Emphasis was given in September 1978 to beginning credit courses in genealogy. A brochure was printed anddistributed, offering six beginning genealogy classes—only three were held and only one bore its own expenses.In February three credit courses were not held due to insufficient registrations. However, a German genealogyclass in San Diego carried and met most of its expenses.14

It was during this same period that reports indicate some genealogy courses were offered in Napa andTorrance, California; however, “instead of administrating these programs, the California Center cooperativelyprocessed all the paper work and travel information and allowed the local stakes to conduct their own programs.”15

No more mention is made of genealogy programs or courses offered by the center. These programs werebecoming Church-sponsored and administered as the need increased.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

In 1966 the BYU California Center offered an executive leadership seminar for a selected group of stake pres-idents in California. This program was summarized in a pamphlet that was later published by Bookcraft Press.In the preface to this publication, Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Council of the Twelve wrote:

The Brigham Young University California Center was responsible for the organiza-tion of the Seminar and we congratulate them for this imaginative approach in act-ing on a request to provide a program for effective leadership development. Thisseminar is one among multiple efforts of these Church leaders to keep aware of devel-opments which might be useful in building the Kingdom by improving their execu-tive performance.16

The first Business Management Seminar was offered in Southern California in 1968–69. A promotion piece pre-pared for advertising purposes lists the faculty as John M. R. Covey, Stephen R. Covey, and Virgil A. James.The persons to attend were individuals holding leadership positions in industry, education, government, church,and civic organizations. The topics to be covered included management communications, leading and motivat-ing people, and personal growth and development. It was held on three successive weekends—January 25,February 1, and February 8, 1969.

The next year it was offered for the first time in Northern California at Oakland to 35 business executives. By wayof summary review for the next few years, annual reports indicate:

1971–72 Programs held.



1974–75 No program indicated.






1980–81 A special program was held in Fullerton to train administrators in convalescent care leadership.



1982–83 This year a seminar was offered by Stephen R. Covey and Truman G. Madsen. The title of theseminar was “Seven Basic Habits of Highly Effective People.” (In the evening these same twopresenters gave a family management lecture.) The business management seminars reportedlocations and attendance as follows: Sacramento (81), Anaheim (100), and Pismo Beach (65).17

The last recorded Business Management Seminar was for the 1985–86 academic year during which April pro-grams were scheduled for both Northern and Southern California. Only the Southern California program mate-rialized with 45 registrants.18 (See chapter 31A.)

WOMEN’S SEMINARS

For many years women’s seminars were major educational program offerings of all Continuing Education cen-ters, including the California Center.

WOMEN’S LESSON ENRICHMENT SERIES

This is a series of lectures that was allied with the Relief Societylessons, providing instructors with assistance in preparing for theirclasses when the topics included diversified subjects. The first aca-demic year report for the center in 1970 indicated that these classeswere held for the first time, with 1,528 registering.19 The divisionworked closely with the presidency of the Relief Society on topics,faculty, advertising, and related matters. (Chapter 31G of this historycovers these programs in more detail.) Table XXXIII is a summary ofthe offerings of the California Center for the Women’s LessonEnrichment lecture series.

During the 1982–83 year, the California Center “received instructionfrom the Division that these programs would not be held next year.”20

WOMEN’S EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES

This was a new educational program with direction coming throughleaders of auxiliary programs of the Church. The first program held in1981–82 had as its presenters both President Elaine Cannon and Presi-dent Shirley Thomas. The program was held this year in two locations,Santa Ana and Oakland, with 7,000 and 5,200 registrants respectively.

The program was held the next year in Sacramento, Oakland, and Santa Ana, with a total of 8,809 registrants.However, as with the Women’s Seminars noted above, word was received that these programs would nolonger be offered.

YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAMS

Beginning in 1978–79 a special program was developed for California in cooperation with and under the directionof the Young Women’s presidency of the Church. Both the faculty and the presentations were guided by theleadership of President Elaine Cannon. In 1979–80 they started in two locations—Oakland (969) and GardenGrove (910). In 1980–81 they expanded to three locations—Oakland (743), Garden Grove (481), and VanNuys (199). They were held in Oakland and Garden Grove during the next two years with 1,025 and 610 inattendance respectively. However, at the conclusion of the 1982–83 academic year program, instructions werereceived that this program had not been approved as an offering through Continuing Education.21

EDUCATION WEEKS AND DAYS

Education Weeks and Days were major programs in California for many years. The first Education Week washeld in Los Angeles in the Downey-Orange County area in 1958. Richard H. Henstrom from the Provo office


Table XXXIIIWOMEN’S LESSON ENRICHMENT LECTURES

CALIFORNIA CENTER1969–70 TO 1982–83

1969–70

1970–71

1971–72

1972–73

1973–74

1974–75

1975–76

1976–77

1977–78

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

5

6

6

6

6

6

8

8

8

8

10

10

8

10

1,528

1,842

1,389

2,665

3,466

3,171

4,168

4,569

4,798

5,309

5,334

4,246

3,048

4,525

YEAR LOCATIONS REGISTRANTS

spent two months prior to the event working with a local committee. There were 1,903 in attendance. At first,these were individual and inclusive programs involving up to twenty different faculty members. The LosAngeles program was held on the East Los Angeles Junior College campus for a number of years. In order tomake these programs accessible to more people, it was decided to divide and hold them in various churchfacilities. The first Northern California Education Week programs were started in 1959 and held in what wasthen called the Oakland Tri-Stake Center.

So many different locations were involved in these events that theywill not be noted individually in this chapter, but they can be foundin the various annual reports of the division. The first Education Weekprograms were one full week in length, and then they were changedto three-day programs with two three-day programs being held eachweek. In addition, various Education Days were held in special areasduring other times of the year.

A simple accounting of the attendance statistics and the number oflocations for the Education Week programs are shown in TableXXXIV.

In addition to the Education Week programs which were conductedfrom two to five days in length, the center offered some EducationDay programs from time to time. These programs lasted for portionsof one day. The 1972–73 annual report provides an example of theseprograms where twelve programs were offered in Antelope Valley,Bakersfield, Chico, Mojave, Mount Whitney, Palm Springs, San LuisObispo, Santa Barbara (two), Santa Maria, and Ventura, California; andYuma, Arizona, for 1,656 registrants.

KNOW YOUR RELIGION PROGRAMS

These programs were held in other locations before the CaliforniaCenter introduced them in their area. They were basically held onFriday and Saturday evenings in chapels once a month. The 1970–71annual report indicated that this was “the first big program for the cen-ter. It began in October and continued through May of 1971. It washeld in 12 different locations from Sacramento in Northern Californiato San Diego in Southern California. During the eight months the pro-gram was in progress, the total attendance was 41,950, an increase of7,180” over the previous year.22

One of the primary administrative problems associated with these pro-grams was that they had to rely upon the services of volunteers in thevarious stake locations for registering the participants, collecting thefees, and then providing the central center office with the statisticalreports and funds. This was particularly a problem when the numberof individual programs reached a high of 70. The center reported sea-son tickets sold and the cumulative attendance at these programs. Inaddition to the season ticket sales, participants could also purchaseindividual tickets at the door of each presentation.

Faculty involved would commit to the entire year’s series of presen-tations, but traveled to a different location each month. Therefore, each


Table XXXIVCALIFORNIA EDUCATION WEEK STATISTICS

1958 TO 1997

1958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319843

19854

198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997

122255

13 12 14 15 16 11 13 12 13 14 14 20 22 21 25 271

351

27 28 27 26 16 12 16 24 29 12 10 6845

4306

1,913 5,635 5,630 6,495 7,503 7,917

11,121 12,468 10,282 8,268

14,057 18,969 17,531 14,232 14,545 15,764 18,703 21,357 19,415 21,775 20,371 20,597 22,026 21,744

21,898 (43,472)2

16,616 (30,689)14,970 (28,099)10,253 (18,032)10,601 (18,329)7,721 (13,134)8,370 (16,302)3,982 (10,507)3,051 (5,009)2,612 (4,562)1,459 (2,193)1,564 (2,548)

800 (1,743)790 (1,172)

253 (526)0 (0)

1 Included a special Spanish-speaking Educa-tion Week program for these two years.

2 These were the attendance figures.3 The program was modified this year “from

traditional three-day, two sessions per dayformat to a one session per day, two- orthree-day program.”

4 The program was changed to four-day pro-grams, afternoons and evenings.

5 The four Northern California programs trans-ferred to the Campus CES—SouthDepartment for administration.

6 The California Center was closed August 31,1996, and its program management trans-ferred to the CES—South Department.

YEAR LOCATIONS ATTENDANCE


California Intermountain News, Page 2

location had a series of different teachers at each of theirpresentations.

A newspaper article and photograph announced the firstKnow Your Religion program offered by the California Cen-ter. The article and picture are included to indicate the firstprogram which initiated this lecture series.

Table XXXV provides a simple overview of the number oflocations and the registrations for these programs since theystarted in 1969–70.

CENTER YOUTH PROGRAMS

BEST OF ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

This program was introduced in 1982–83 as “SpecialYouth Seminars.” The name was changed the followingyear to “The Best of Especially for Youth.” The annualreport for 1982–83 described this first program as follows:

Four of these programs were held in June(Sacramento, Oakland, and two separateprograms in Santa Ana). This was a one-dayseminar which featured the best youth speak-ers available. Gifford Nielson keynoted in theNorth and Peter Vidmar in the South. Modeledafter a scaled down concept of “Especially forYouth,” the program was very popular with theyouth and stake leaders. Several stakes com-bined two or three-day youth conferencesaround our one-day program. Because of theresponse to the program, tickets were sold ona pre-registration basis only.23

Attendance at these programs over the years is shown inTable XXXVI.

ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH

This was the extended youth program similar to the ones held on theBrigham Young University campus. The first one noted in the annual reportswas in 1985–86, and it “was a joint venture by the CES Youth and FamilyPrograms Department and the BYU California Center for Continuing Edu-cation. It was enthusiastically received by those attending the San Diego StateUniversity location. . . . Approximately 450 youth attended in San Diego.”24

While the two EFY programs sponsored by the California Center in 1990and 1991 were successful, limited personnel support caused this programto be returned to CES Youth and Family Programs on the BYU Provo cam-pus for its administration.

In following years similar programs were held by the California Center andcalled Special Youth Seminars or Especially for Youth Programs. Byway of summary these included the following seminars:


Table XXXVKNOW YOUR RELIGION LECTURE STATISTICS

1969–70 TO 1995–96

1969–70

1970–71

1971–72

1972–73

1973–74

1974–75

1975–76

1976–77

1977–78

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

1985–86

1986–87

1987–88

1988–89

1989–90

1990–91

1991–92

1992–93

1993–94

1994–95

1995–96

3

3

3

3

3

3

4

5

5

5

6

6

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

3

3

3

12

14

16

26

26

38

49

51

60

70

69

70

80

82

62

66

68

70

70

62

62

62

363

36

36

20,366

35,948

11,194

15,406

16,751

16,299

12,053

19,576

21,851

22,616

18,575

20,334

19,771

31,2572

34,305

35,356

36,280

42,610

38,959

30,263

29,721

16,172

16,280

16,234

34,770

41,950

53,340

49,632

111,844

120,628

122,216

119,265

112,002

115,007

121,837

118,464

109,295

102,231

96,290

86,514

98,409

94,024

96,528

103,338

95,074

72,824

69,141

37,725

36,247

33,953

NOTE: These statistics were obtained from the annual report pages for the CaliforniaCenter for the years indicated.

1 The statistics are for season tickets sold until 1985 when other sales are added.2 The statistics now show season tickets sold, complimentary tickets, and tickets

purchased at the door of each presentation for the total count.3 Two Northern circuits transferred to CES—South.

YEAR CIRCUITS LOCATIONS ENROLLMENTS1 ATTENDANCE

Table XXXVICALIFORNIA BEST OF

ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS1982–83 TO 1995–96

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

1985–86

1986–87

1987–88

1988–89

1989–90

1990–91

1991–92

1992–93

1993–94

1994–95

1995–96

10,367

6,837

8,186

5,299

7,812

4,625

5,920

3,676

2,717

6,205

6,466

2,561

2,979

1,958

4

9

6

5

6

6

17

8

7

13

14

5

7

4

YEAR ATTENDANCENO. OF

PROGRAMS

1988 Three programs were held in the summer of 1988 in Visalia/Hanford (230), LosAngeles/Santa Clarita on the UCLA campus (270), and in Lancaster on the Universityof California campus at Santa Barbara (220), for a total of 720 participants.25

1989 Thirteen youth conferences or seminars were held during the summer with an enroll-ment of 2,247. In addition three Wilderness Youth Conferences were held withWilfred Tolman as the administrator.26

1990 Seventeen youth conferences or seminars were held during the summer with anenrollment of 3,176. A new first for the California Center was an Especially forYouth program which was held on the University of California at Riverside campus. . . 142 attended.27

1991 Eight youth conferences or seminars were held during the summer with an enroll-ment of 1,840. A second Especially for Youth program was held on the Universityof California at Riverside campus with 356 attending.28

1992 This year the annual report noted only that “the third Especially for Youth programwas held on the University of California at Riverside campus. There were 545 par-ticipants.29 (The administration of Youth Seminars and EFY programs was nowtransferred to CES Youth and Family Programs on the Provo campus.)

1993 The fourth consecutive Especially for Youth program was held on the University ofCalifornia Santa Barbara campus, under the direction of CES Youth and FamilyPrograms.30

1994 The fifth consecutive Especially for Youth program washeld, this year on the Stanford University campus, under thedirection of CES Youth and Family Programs.31

No more special conferences, seminars, or programs for youth, other thanthe Best of Especially for Youth program as previously reported, wererecorded in any subsequent annual reports.

OTHER SEMINARS AND SYMPOSIUMS

During the years of its operation, the California Center offered a numberof programs labeled as seminars or symposiums. Many were initiallyplanned as in-service training for early morning seminary teachers orother CES teachers. They were later opened to other registrants. The firstsuch seminar was listed as an Old Testament Seminar and offered in 1976.

Records indicate that they were offered in such locations as Santa Monica,Anaheim, Oakland, Long Beach, Orange County, Sacramento, Fremont,Van Nuys, Santa Ana, Fair Oaks, San Diego, San Leandro, Rancho Cordova, and Irvine. Faculty involvedincluded such individuals as Daniel H. Ludlow, Robert J. Matthews, Stephen R. Covey, and Truman G.Madsen. Topics were allied with the scripture study programs and family relations needs, and included titlessuch as:

The Old Testament The New Testament

The Book of Mormon The Doctrine and Covenants—Church History

Family Living Quality Family Relationships

Family Management Marriage and Family Relations


Table XXXVIISTATISTICS FOR CALIFORNIA CENTER

SEMINARS AND SYMPOSIUMS1980 TO 1990

*Special program with Covey and Madsen.

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

1985–86

1986–87

1987–88

1988–89

1989–90

2,580

1,297

1,092 (plus 9,906*)

2,887

3,423

2,406

1,005

1,827

1,199

685

The 1989–90 annual report listed three “Special Seminars” which were custom-designed seminars: (2) FallonSouth Stake, a Women’s Conference for 100; (2) Whittier Stake, a Marriage Seminar for 325; and (3) MontereyStake, a Singles Conference for 260.32

A brief and simple listing of some statistics for these seminars and symposiums is given in Table XXXVII.

CREDIT PROGRAMS

UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT PROGRAMS

Summer Credit Programs for BYU Students: This program was initiated in 1960 for regular BYU students whocame home to Southern California for the summer and desired to take BYU credit classes during this period.It was to enable patrons in this area to also take credit courses before entering BYU or for transfer elsewhere.However, the program did not continue long because California residents could attend colleges of higher edu-cation in the state at no cost. The 1967–68 annual report records that the center offered no credit courses dur-ing this academic year.

GRADUATE CREDIT PROGRAMS

During the 1969–70 year the California Center initiated a new credit program in cooperation with the Collegeof Education Doctoral Program. (This program is described in more detail in chapter 30 of this history.) Theenrollments in credit courses for this year were 167 (10.5 FTES). This was the first credit offering by the cen-ter for a number of years. The report indicated that it would continue the following year.33 The students spenttheir summers on the BYU campus taking additional classes to fulfill the regular residence requirements. Theannual report for 1970–71 indicated that “The second group (doctoral program) to go through the programspent their first of two summers on the BYU campus.” 34 During the 1971–72 year there were 101 individualsparticipating in these classes in California and then attending a summer session on the campus. The first grad-uation was in 1972 when 19 individuals received their doctorates.35

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

In the beginning of 1980 the center received approval to begin advertising two master’s degree programs, one inOrganizational Communications (College of Fine Arts and Communications) and one in Physical Education. Theseprograms began in November of 1980 where the initial enrollments were fifteen students in OrganizationalCommunications and ten students in Physical Education.36 Twenty-two students graduated on August 20, 1982.37

In 1983 the California Center again offered a master’s degree in Organizational Communications with sixteenstudents enrolled by the end of August. One division annual report describes it as “a 40-semester-hour pro-gram taught on 35 Saturdays a year for two years. A majority of the faculty were BYU professors with somecourses being taught by California faculty.”38 The sixteen students mentioned above all graduated andattended the commencement exercises on campus in Provo, Utah.

This program was again started in 1985 with 23 students beginning the study, but only eight students finishedthe program. On September 6, 1986, Pamela Hayes, one of the most outstanding students in the class, wasbaptized and confirmed a member of the Church, and all of the class members were present at the baptism.39

GENERAL CREDIT ITEMS

During its operation, the California Center was involved in a number of academic credit areas.

1. As indicated above, when the center first opened it offered undergraduate credit courses toBYU students when they were home for the summer. These courses did not continuebecause of their cost and because of some concern about CES relations with the State ofCalifornia colleges and universities, where institutes of religion were in operation. A specificrequest to the board of trustees in 1969 to continue these courses was denied.40


2. Specific approval was given by the board of trustees to offer Graduate Education 690 in LosAngeles in 1969. This was an approval that allowed for graduate credit programs at latertimes.41 These classes were held in LDS chapels and not in institutes of religion.

3. Since Brigham Young University was operating in the state of California, it was necessary toabide by their laws and regulations with respect to offering credit courses and programs. Anaffidavit had to be completed and approved by the State of California Department ofEducation in Sacramento. The introduction to their document said, “Authorization for youreducational institution to operate in California and to issue degrees is obtained from theSuperintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to Education Code Section 94310(a).” Thisannual application requirement was new as of January 1, 1978.42

BYU submitted its first request in 1980 on the appropriate state of California form. For historical purposes, acopy of the Authorization to Operate document dated September 23, 1981, is included on the next page.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

During its operation, the center offered a variety of programs not previously reviewed. A listing of some ofthese programs follows:

Leadership Counseling and Guidance

Leadership for Administrators

Understanding Children

Budgeting Family Finances

Improving Marital Relations

Planning Family Recreation

Food Storage Seminar

Sewing Classes

Drug Seminars

Arts and Crafts Classes

Personal Development Classes

Career Planning

Michael Ballam Concerts, 1992–93, four concert locations with 6,464 in atten-dance: Arcadia, Cerritos, Chico, and Oakland

Beaus and Bees Dance Cotillion (This was a program piloted in 1973 in OrangeCounty with 230 youth registered in a dance etiquette program held monthlyfor eight months. The next year responsibility for this program was given to thelocal Church APMIA.)43

FacultyMost of the faculty teaching at the California Center came from Brigham Young University, CES personnel, andother sources, including local, qualified California teachers. In the early 1970s there were several brochuretitles and course descriptions which caused some concern with questions being raised by the ChurchCorrelation Committee. As a result, Continuing Education was asked to submit a clearance form on every fac-ulty member who participated in the CES religious education classes. This meant that faculty, titles, and coursedescriptions were processed for approval prior to any printing of brochures or promotion.



Any credit program offered by the center had its teacher and related course information approved by theappropriate BYU academic departments and colleges. Accreditation required very careful academic clearancesand classroom performance.

Center and campus Continuing Education offices had to provide appropriate clearance forms and data.Scheduling transportation and providing accommodations and support services were major administrative tasksand challenges for various Continuing Education offices. This was necessary to obtain the finest teachers avail-able for these assignments in California. Limits were placed on the number of programs or courses that couldbe taught by individual teachers and the time requiring absence from campus and for professional or familyresponsibilities. The location of the center and its diversified program locations required careful coordination.

Studies and ReviewsDocuments reveal two studies that reflected on the California Center operations. These were conducted dur-ing the early years of the center and are presented briefly for informational purposes.

STAKE PRESIDENTS’ SURVEY ON EDUCATION WEEKS

While no date is associated with this survey summary document, it appears to have been conducted duringthe early Education Week offering schedule. Some 38 California stake presidents who had an Education Weekin their vicinity were provided with a questionnaire. Of this number, eleven requested that the program beexpanded, twenty–five wanted it to continue as at present, one requested a decrease, and one wanted theprogram reevaluated. The classes with the most requests to be offered were leadership (17), teacher training(15), genealogy (13), family living (12), and religion (10).

The last page of the summary review mentioned a number of items on how to increase attendance, includ-ing: (1) bring them closer to the patrons; (2) have a program and registration representative in each ward; (3)involve wards and stakes in the planning; (4) offer a good program with top faculty, which will bring in theregistrants; (5) provide good promotional materials early; and (6) get the ward and stake leaders to attend asexamples.44

ANDERSON DISSERTATION

In 1974 Kenneth W. Anderson, a center administrator, finished his doctoral program in education at the Universityof Southern California. His dissertation was entitled: “The Extension Program of Brigham Young University—California Center: A Study in Purpose and Achievement.” Some of the purposes, procedures, and findings arementioned as follows:

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyze the extension program of the BrighamYoung University—California Center to determine whether or not the stated purposesof the Center were being achieved.

Procedure

Two questionnaires were the research instruments: one for program participants tosecure detailed information about the participants and their reactions to the pro-gram; and the second for non-participants to secure information about their reasonsfor non-attendance at Center programs.

Findings

(1) Schools for adults have been a part of American education since colonial times.University extension has been an important phase of adult education. (2) BrighamYoung University Extension began in 1921 and in 1973 ranked second in the U.S. in


total non-credit enrollments. (3) A large majority of the participants understood theofficial purposes of the Center. (4) A large majority of program participants sensed anintimate relation between participation and spiritual growth in members’ lives. (5)Participants were satisfied with the general purposes of the Center but desired pro-grams with more individual applications. (6) The factor most important to programsuccess was excellent instructors; instructors presenting undocumented material wasthe most important factor in deterring success. (7) Work Schedules and lack of inter-est in this type of program were the chief factors in non-participation.

Conclusions

(1) The purposes of the Center are being well achieved. (2) The participants under-stand and accept the purposes of the Center. (3) As judged by attendance and par-ticipant reaction, the Center is making a significant contribution to the continuingeducation of the Church membership. (4) A non-credit continuing education programmakes a significant contribution to the work of an organized church. (5) A well-planned adult education center can be self-supporting. (6) The success of a centerdepends largely on the quality of its teachers. (7) The most successful programs arethose which contribute to the doctrinal and spiritual growth of the participants.

There were some practical recommendations and some research recommendations made as a part of this dis-sertation study.45

FinancesAs indicated for the other centers, during the initial years of operation the California Center operated on abudget where an estimate was prepared on income from tuition, fees, and sales. Until 1974 the center receivedan annual appropriation from university and Church allocations which was added to the income projectionto cover what was calculated as the expenditure projection. At the end of the budget year any surpluses werereturned to the university, and any deficits were covered by other division income reserve funds. The appro-priation was discontinued in 1974, but the center has continued to prepare a budget based on income andexpenditure estimates. Both surpluses and deficits were centralized through total division budget accounting.Budget accounting on Table XXXVIII shows the income, expenditures, appropriation, and the year-end bal-ance for the California Center from its opening in 1959 through the 1984–85 academic year.

CALIFORNIA TAXES

The state of California raised some questions with respect to university programs in Church facilities, particularlythose like the Oakland Tri-Stake Center. These questions also related to BYU performing groups that appearedin these facilities. The Division of Continuing Education was able to resolve questions related to educationalprograms, but consideration of Church property status determined that it would be best not to sell publicationsand books during Education Week programs or through the center offices. This also eliminated the center’sinvolvement with any entertainment programs where a charge was made so that all their offerings were thenfocused on educational programs.

Final YearPrograms operated from the center located in Southern California for its final year (1995–96) included:

1. Know Your Religion, 3 circuits, 36 programs, 16,234 enrollments.

2. Education Days, 3 programs, 253 enrollments.

3. Best of Especially for Youth, 4 programs, 1,791 enrollments.


As mentioned earlier in this chapter, these and other programs will continue to be offered in California, butthey will be administered by the Department of CES—South on the Provo campus. A physical managementoperation in California was discontinued effective August 31, 1996.


Table XXXVIIICALIFORNIA CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTER

FINANCES AND BUDGET SUMMARY1959 TO 1985–85

1959

1959–60

1960–61

1961–62

1962–63

1963–64

1964–65

1965–66

1966–67

1967–68

1968–69

1969–70

1970–71

1971–72

1972–73

1974–75

1975–76

1976–77

1977–78

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

24,057

25,847

25,799

27,725

57,168

60,987

79,392

83,403

88,555

119,118

152,183

172,920

268,948

303,568

321,403

380,877

384,443

466,419

591,183

688,773

782,005

587,041

361,069

2,174

32,043

38,078

35,507

39,702

78,162

75,398

84,247

118,452

102,395

104,753

145,722

153,582

197,707

263,240

295,555

338,060

403,869

460,727

583,207

633,215

739,605

676,415

354,871

9,152

12,231

9,708

13,000

13,000

9,500

5,945

19,080

20,004

17,000

11,000

Discontinued

25,848

966

1,021

(7,994)

(4,911)

1,090

(15,969)

6,164

31,365

6,471

19,338

71,241

40,328

25,848

42,817

(19,426)

5,692

7,976

55,558

42,400

(89,374)

6,198

YEAR INCOME EXPENDITURES APPROPRIATION DEFICIT OR SURPLUS


Table XXXIXBYU CALIFORNIA CENTER

STATISTICAL SUMMARY1959 TO 1996

YEAR ENRLMNTS. FTES ENRLMNTS. FTES ENRLMNTS. FTES ENRLMNTS. FTES

CREDIT NONCREDIT CES1 TOTALS

19591959–601960–611961–621962–631963–641964–651965–661966–671967–681968–691969–70

17109

0000

170000

167

17000020000

10

19702

2,0532,7803,2593,7468,689

12,84914,16715,63440,03822,338

12971686866

118130111125327338

5,3635,3836,1567,5057,617

11,12112,46810,2828,268

14,05718,96917,531

331229305375381556623514413703948877

5,3996,1948,209

10,28510,87614,86721,17423,13122,43529,69159,00740,036

333265376443449622743644524828

1,2751,225

1970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751975–761976–771977–781978–791979–80

227297629961

1,1521,0211,267

977188

1

193553778794

10788191

13,36311,60026,28040,790

––––––

502408565694

––––––

12,74011,82715,76418,70370,50973,27778,67880,67269,78873,230

856795751870

1,8442,0062,4172,0541,8061,882

26,33023,72442,67360,45471,66174,29879,94581,64969,97673,231

1,3771,2381,3691,6411,9312,1002,5242,1421,8251,883

1980–811981–821982–831983–841984–851985–861986–871987–881988–891989–90

15022687

143396123–––

18291420795–––

52–––––––––

1–––––––––

74,01881,44691,27962,34355,13850,70051,14449,33853,57354,801

1,4851,5601,698

9711,091

801821797755780

74,22081,67291,36662,48655,17750,76151,16749,33853,57354,801

1,5041,5891,712

9911,098

810826797755780

1990–911991–921992–931993–942

1994–951995–963

––––––

––––––

––––––

––––––

47,43538,41042,85519,63219,98518,263

659413452222206210

47,43538,41042,85519,63219,98518,263

659413452222206210

1 Prior to 1974–75 this column was reported as Education Weeks. During this year all noncredit programs were trans-ferred to the Church Educational System (CES) and reported as totals for all CES activities conducted by the center.

2 Effective September 1, 1993, the Northern California operations were transferred to the Provo office of CES Con-tinuing Education South.

3 Effective September 1, 1996, the California Center operation was transferred in its entirety to the Provo campusand placed under administration of the CES Continuing Education South office. Their statistics will be reported bythis office after this date.


Endnotes

1. Joseph Fielding Smith, Chairman of BYU Boardof Trustees Executive Committee, letter to stakepresidents and bishops in the Southern Californiaarea, June 18, 1959.

2. Report to the BYU president from the ExtensionDivision, 1948–49.

3. Division of Continuing Education, Annual Report,1959–60, 15–16.

4. F. Glen Waldron, memorandum to Wayne Lott,November 1, 1983, 3 pages.

5. Ibid., and Division of Continuing Education,Annual Report, 1983–84, 109.

6. William R. Siddoway, letter to Kenneth W.Anderson, May 31, 1978.

7. Stanley A. Peterson, memorandum to William R.Siddoway, October 5, 1978.

8. BYU California Center Advisory Council Exec-utive Committee (Robert C. Seamons, W.Gordon Hendry, Raymond H. Linford, WinfieldQ. Cannon, Justin B. Lillywhite, and Mark W.Smith), letter to President Joseph Fielding Smith,February 1968.

9. Division of Continuing Education, Annual Report,1978–79, 67.






15. Ibid., 68.

16. Kent Lloyd, Kendall O. Price, V. Dallas Merrell,Ellsworth E. Johnson, The Church Executive—Building the Kingdom through Leadership De-velopment, Bookcraft, Inc., Salt Lake City, 1967,90 pages, preface by Howard W. Hunter.





21. Ibid.



















40. Robert K. Thomas, memorandum to Harold GlenClark, August 27, 1969.


Endnotes

41. Robert K. Thomas, memorandum to Harold GlenClark, October 28, 1969.

42. State of California Department of Education,memorandum to Administrators of Private Post-secondary Education, received February 7, 1980.


44. Stake Presidents Survey, summary pages of theresults issued by the California Continuing Edu-cation Center, no date.

45. Kenneth W. Anderson, “The Extension Programof Brigham Young University—California Center:A Study in Purpose and Achievement,” disserta-tion, University of Southern California, June1974, 217 pages.