Lifetime Learning

   Mission

The Department of Lifetime Learning of Free Will Baptist Bible College exists to help fulfill the mission of the institution. Lifetime Learning provides an opportunity for individuals who are not able to take courses on campus to receive a Bible-based education in their home at their pace.

   Videotape and DVD Courses

Most courses that have been developed are distributed through DVD. Actual classroom sessions have been taped. The student will have the benefit of being able to listen to the
classroom lectures of highly qualified and respected Free Will Baptist Bible College professors. It is the closest thing to actually being in the classroom. A professor for the content area will be assigned along with the director to guide the student, evaluate student work, and assign grades. Video courses also require a student to have Internet access. Course information such as syllabi, assignments, and other requirements are accessed and submitted via the web interface. The videos, however, are not distributed through the Internet.

   Online Learning @ FWBBC

With the academic community's move toward online education, the college began investigating the need to move more of its Lifetime Learning studies online. However, the college desired to maintain its unique teacher-classroom experience so that students could have both the convenience of online accessibility and the continued benefit of our teacher-driven instructional style. Students learning online can gain access to this online portal with a unique login which they will receive upon registration. Users will be able to indicate their Internet connection speed to optimize their experience. Students will be able to log in to Internet-based courses on the FWBBC interface at any time of day and begin viewing their course lectures online. For the optimum learning experience, a broadband Internet connection is recommended. Broadband Internet service can be obtained for approximately $50 per month via cable modem, DSL (through telephone companies), or satellite modem.

   Online Learning @ FWBBC will feature an online portal by which students can:

  • Find our what courses are available
  • Sign up for a course or courses
  • View Internet-based class lectures online
  • Download course notes, outlines, etc.
  • Take certain tests online
  • Engage in discussion with others taking the course via a message board or online chat room

 

   College Credit

An individual may enroll in a course for the purpose of receiving college credit. This requires the student to complete equivalent requirements and achieve comparable outcomes as a student who engages in the same course on the campus of FWBBC. The student will be required to submit assignments on a scheduled basis, take proctored tests, and pay full tuition for the courses. Successful completion of the course allows a student to apply the credits toward degree requirements, or because of the college's regional and professional accreditation, transfer the credits to another institution (the student should confirm with an institution to determine whether the course taken may be transferred). At this time, a degree cannot be earned solely from the courses taken through Lifetime Learning. However, courses taken for college credit can be applied toward most of the degrees offered at FWBBC or transferred to another institution. Lifetime Learning/Online Learning students may earn a Bible Certificate from Free Will Baptist Bible College solely through completion of Lifetime and Online Learning courses.

   Non-Credit

If an individual does not wish to receive college credit for the course, he may take the course on a non-credit basis. Many individuals wish to further their Biblical knowledge for the purpose of self-enrichment; however, they do not wish to invest the time and efforts necessary to meet the requirements of a college-level course. A course that is taken for non-credit provides an individual with the same information and materials at a significantly reduced rate. There is no provision for
upgrading a non-credit course to a credit course at a later date.

   Time Limits

A student who wishes to enroll in a course that is offered for college credit must in most cases adhere to a similar semester as those courses offered on campus. A student may enroll in a course as early as two weeks prior to the start date of the course, or as late as two weeks after the start date. Students who enroll in a course late will still be required to complete the course by the allotted finish date, as well as the syllabus within a time frame as specified by the course syllabus. The fall semester typically runs August-December, the spring semester January-May, summer school May-August. Students should plan to enroll a month before the semester begins.

   Exams

Courses taken for college credit through Lifetime Learning require that exams be administered by an approved proctor. An approved proctor would include a professional person holding a responsible position such as: pastor, teacher, administrator of local school or college, deacon, church secretary, supervisor associated with student’s employment, or other as approved by the Lifetime Learning faculty. The proctor must not be a current student, a relative, or live at the same address as the student.

The student must submit a student/proctor agreement form signed by the student and the proctor. Once a proctor is approved by the college, he will receive information regarding the administering of tests.

All courses, including video courses, have online exams. Since the majority of exams are conducted in an online format, the proctor should have Internet access or be able to supervise the student’s exam at his home.

Students are expected to take exams at the specified time during each semester. All obligations with the business office, registrar, library, student services, etc., must be cleared before a student will be permitted to take his final exam.

   College Credit

Courses taken for college credit are charged at the current tuition price per semester hour.

Courses are typically either two or three credit hours each. Textbooks are approximately $50-$75 per course.

There is also an enrollment fee of $25 per course.

   Non-Credit

Courses taken on a non-credit basis have a single $80 per course fee. This fee includes a copy of the course videos and syllabi. The student will need to call Randall House Publications at 800-877-7030 to obtain the textbooks for the course. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, the student will receive a certificate of completion.

   Financial Aid

Lifetime Learning/Online Learning students who wish to enroll, and desire to complete an FWBBC associate’s or bachelor's degree at some time in the future, are eligible for institutional and federal financial aid. To receive such aid, the student must enroll in at least 6 semester hours of coursework per semester.

Students who receive federal student loans are not required to begin repayment until six months after completing college. Students registered for at least 6 semester hours of coursework in a given semester are not required to make loan payments. Students who are eligible for federal financial aid may also be eligible to receive not only federal student loans but also federal grants (e.g., Pell grants), as well as other grants and scholarships.

   Enrollment

Students must meet any prerequisites required to take a specific course.

If a student wishes to take a course for college credit at FWBBC, he should begin the process by completing a Lifetime Learning Application. If an individual is a former student, he should also complete an application for readmission.

Participants will have access both to the Director of Lifetime Learning and the assigned faculty member-ofrecord for a particular course. Telephone and e-mail numbers will be included on the course syllabus.

   Textbooks

Textbooks can be acquired by contacting Randall House Publications at 1-800-877-7030. When calling, inform them that you are taking a Lifetime Learning course at Free Will Baptist Bible College. They will be able to tell you which books are required for the course you are taking and will mail them to you. Textbooks for courses average approximately $50-$75 per course.

   Library

Students enrolled in the Lifetime Learning program at FWBBC have full access to the Welch Library on campus. Should a student need to access a copy of an article from a periodical or withdraw a book from the library, he may do so by contacting the Welch Library.

   Student Services

Students enrolled in Lifetime Learning courses at FWBBC are eligible to receive the same services provided to on-campus students. These include, but are not limited to, services of the Dean of Students, academic counseling, and library access. Please contact the following individuals if you require

 

   Withdrawals

If a student feels he will be unable to meet the requirements of the course, he may withdraw from the course without penalty by September 15, February 1, or June 1 of the respective semester. The withdrawal should be submitted in writing to be received in the Lifetime Learning office on or before the required date. The grade “W” is given when a student withdraws from a course prior to the given dates. If a student withdraws beyond the date and is passing the course, a grade of “WP” is assigned; if failing the course, a grade of “WF” is assigned.

If a student fails to complete a course for acceptable reasons in the given time frame, a grade of “I” (incomplete) will be assessed. A student must submit, in writing, an appeal for an extension of time. The grade will become an “F” if the work is not completed within four (4) weeks after the semester ends.

   Deferment

The college realizes that students who are engaged in distance learning are often faced with unexpected challenges and difficulties during the course of any given semester. Students who are solely engaged in Lifetime Learning courses may choose to defer the course in which they are enrolled to the subsequent semester. The student must make such an appeal in writing, documenting the emergency, to be received in the Lifetime Learning office prior to October 15, March 1, or June 30 of the respective term. A student will be allowed a maximum of one deferment. On-campus students who may be taking a Lifetime Learning class as part of their course load are not eligible for deferment. Frequently, tuition will change from one year to the next. A student who defers a course from a summer term to the subsequent fall term may be required to pay the difference in tuition rates. The student must make a formal, written appeal to the Lifetime Learning committee for deferment of a course. An appeal for deferment must include documentation supporting the student’s request for deferral. Items of documentation may include, but are not limited to, doctors’ statements, letters from employers, etc., on company letterhead, when applicable. A student’s progress will also be taken into consideration by the committee.

A student who is granted a deferment will be required to start coursework from the beginning of the course. All completed assignments must be resubmitted and assessments must be taken again.

   Appeals

A student who wishes to do so may register an appeal as follows:

  • An appeal regarding a grade must be addressed to the Registrar within ten days of the end of the semester.
  • An appeal regarding finances must be addressed to the Business Manager.
  • An appeal regarding discipline must be addressed to the Dean of Students.
  • Any other appeal must be filed with the Academic Dean.
  • All appeals must be made within ten working days of the end of the semester, due date of financial obligations,or date of notification regarding a disciplinary or other decision.

All appeals must be in writing, must state the nature of the appeal, and must give a rationale with all necessary documentation.

   Refunds

A tuition refund of 70% will be made if a student withdraws from a college credit course prior to the stated withdrawal dates. Textbooks may not be returned for refund.

   Syllabus

Please refer to the syllabus for course objectives, schedule of activities, access to faculty, grading, course requirements, research paper style and requirements (if applicable), and final completion dates. Should you have further questions, please contact Mr. Rusty Campbell by telephone at 615-844-5269 or 800-76-FWBBC, or by email at rcampbell@fwbbc.edu or OnlineLearning@fwbbc.edu.