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Frequently Asked Questions

If I take classes at Faith Builders, will I be able to receive credit for that work at other colleges and universities?

This question has a layered answer.

A number of colleges have accepted courses taken at Faith Builders. A transcript from FB is sufficient for these schools to grant credit.
Many of the classes offered by Faith Builders have been evaluated by the American Council on Education and have received their recommendation to receive credit (see list below: ACE Recommended Courses). Many colleges have agreed in writing to honor ACE’s recommendations and many more do honor the recommendations. ACE will provide a transcript of courses taken at FB to colleges who desire an ACE transcript rather than an FB transcript. A list of colleges who accept ACE’s recommendations can be found on the ACE website (www.acenet.edu).
Some colleges may not honor any transcripts from institutions that do not have national accreditation. In this situation, Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey has agreed to provide a transcript of FB courses (recommended by ACE) from their institution. This involves a per-semester hour fee.
There are no guarantees in any of the previous options. The best way forward is to be in contact with the schools where you plan to attend and become familiar with transfer policies.

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Is Faith Builders accredited?

We are often asked this question, particularly by prospective students interested in having work at Faith Builders recognized by other schools. The short answer is no, we are not accredited as a school by any national accrediting organization. There are several reasons for this. The primary reason is that FB is unwilling to structure itself according to criteria that could be destructive to its mission and purpose. We are working very hard to have a program that exceeds the general expectations and academic standards and to that end we have our courses evaluated by the American Council on Education.

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What FBEP courses are recommended by the American Council on Education?

The list of courses recommended by ACE at this point are as follows:

BIB 101 Old Testament Survey (3)
BIB 102 New Testament Survey (3)
BIB 250 Bible Study Methods (2)
COM 201 Public Speaking (3)
COMP 102 Introduction to Computers (3)
EDU 201 Foundations of Education (3)
EDU 202 Principles of Teaching (3)
EDU 204 Course Development Practicum (3)
EDU 210 Child Development (3)
EDU 230 Methods: Teaching Reading (2)
ENG 101 Writing & Research (3)
ENG 310 Creative Writing (3)
HIS 101 World History I (3)
HIS 102 World History II (3)
HIS 230 Anabaptist History (3)
HIS 301 American History (3)
HIS 320 World Geography (3)
HIS 340 Early and Medieval Church History (3)
HIS 341 Modern Church History (3)
HIS 350 Church History Survey (3)
LIT 110 World Literature (3)
LIT 240 Children's Literature (3)
MAT 101 Algebra (3)
MAT 201 Mathematics for Teachers (3)
MUS 101 Choir (1)
MUS 110 Music Fundamentals (3)
MUS 201 Music Theory I (4)
MUS 310 Beginning Class Voice (1)
MUS 320 Beginning Choral Conducting (1)
PER 101 Introduction to Spiritual Formation (1)
PER 250 Foundations of Spiritual Formation (2)
PER 320 Interpersonal Relationships (3)
PER 330 Helping the Hurting (3)
PHI 201 Worldviews Survey I (3)
PHI 202 Worldviews Survey II (3)
PSY 101 Introduction to Human Understanding (3)
SCI 210 Principles of Science (4)
THE 220 Systematic Theology (3)
THE 230 Anabaptist Theology (3)

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How can I apply for a volunteer position?

Faith Builders regularly accepts volunteer labor in kitchen, domestics, computer, maintenance, Personal Care Home, and renovation capacities. We also arrange for youth groups or work crews to assist in renovation and grounds upkeep, typically in the spring. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like more information about volunteering at Faith Builders, please contact our main office for more information or an application.

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What is mentoring?

FBEP offers mentoring opportunities to students, volunteers, and staff. Mentoring is a life-on-life relational process in which a discipler/mentor transfers his or her wisdom, information, experience, confidence, and insight to a disciple so that skills and character can develop. This takes place in group settings and in one-on-one meetings. All volunteers and students participate in the mentoring program.

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How much does a short term or semester at Faith Builders cost?

Each situation is unique, but we can generalize some costs. Tuition and Fees contains the charges for most terms. Single students can expect room and board costs between $505 and $690, plus the cost of their tuition (credit hours billed at $112 per hour). Many single students find their final bill (excluding textbooks) to approximate $1000-1200. Married students without children can expect room and board costs between $920 and $1080 for a short term, plus tuition fees. Families should call the main office for pricing information.

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What discounts are available for missionaries, ministers, mission workers, volunteers, or other special-needs students?

Yes, we do offer tuition discounts to many special groups. Some restrictions apply. Please refer to Tuition and Fees for the discounts available. Please refer any further questions to our admissions office.

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What does the number following the class indicate?

The number following the class title indicates the number of credit (semester) hours of the class. For example, Principles of Teaching is a three-credit-hour class, with a particular level of workload and cost.

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What are credit hours, and what is a typical load?

Credit hours are a measurement of the classtime and work required of a class. Faith Builders operates on the semester system. The unit for counting course work is the semester hour. A semester hour consists of the equivalent of one fifty-minute period of class work per week for fifteen weeks, with an assumption of two hours of outside preparation, or two fifty-minute periods of laboratory work per week for each
semester hour.

A typical load for a short term is 6-8 hours, and a typical load for a fall or spring semester is 12-14 hours.

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Does Faith Builders have any openings for a particular term or event I would like to attend?

We occasionally publish remaining openings on the FBlog. If you are interested in a particular term or event, please contact our main office. We are continually receiving and processing applications, so we rarely publish the exact number of remaining openings for any public event or term. Please note that earlier applications are more likely to be approved, and earlier requests for particular lodging will take precedence.

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How does Faith Builders decide what textbooks to use for classes?

FB recognizes the profound effect of the textbooks and other materials used for classes. The process for selection and usage of textbooks includes the following:

When a textbook request is submitted by an Instructor, the Academic Committee considers compatibility with the Christian Worldview, academic level, appropriateness for the FB mission, acceptability to the FB constituency, and overall quality of the materials. The materials are compared with the stated positions and values of Faith Builders as outlined in the current course catalogs to make a determination of acceptability and compatibility.
Any controversial texts are sent (along with specific questions for consideration) to people who can help evaluate them in the areas of question. These people may include other teachers, Pastoral Council, FB Board and Advisory Members, and ministers. The Academic Committee considers the responses of the additional reviewers to make a final determination.
Any student, alumnus, or constituent who has a concern about any textbook or material used is encouraged to put the concern in writing and submit it to the Academic Administrator. We value this kind of input.

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May I suggest a class or textbook for Faith Builders?

We welcome input and recommendations on courses or texts. Please send your suggestion to the academics department at Faith Builders.

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Updated 4/2/2008 MJM

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