Continuing Education
Program Links
Best of Especially For Youth: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a fee charged for CES Continuing Education programs?
Tithing funds are not used to support (CES) Continuing Education programs. "All (CES) Continuing Education programs are financially self-sustaining. Fees are assessed." (Church Educational System, Church Handbook of Instructions - Book 1, 1998, p.117)
The following statement in the 1998 Church Handbook of Instructions under the heading of "Optional Enrichment Activities", also guides (CES) Continuing Education efforts: "Units may sponsor optional enrichment activities that are presented by Church-related entities. Such activities include... Church university performance groups and periodic major cultural events. Members may be charged a modest fee to defray the cost of such events if the program is entirely optional, the cost is not burdensome, and the event is not used to raise funds. Budget funds may be used to help those who want to attend but are unable to pay." (Church Handbook of Instructions, 1998 p. 138-139) In accordance with these guidelines, Continuing Education programs are supported by participant tuition that is used to meet the costs of running the programs.
The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have organized the Church Educational System as a separate educational arm of the Church. This is to keep the educational activities of the Church in a separate line from the ecclesiastical line of the Church.
How are faculty selected for each of the programs?
Faculty are selected from a large group of teachers who have been cleared by the CES Board of Trustees to teach for (CES) Continuing Education. These faculty come from varying background of experiences. Some faculty are teachers within the Church Educational System teaching in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Other faculty are teaching at the Church owned BYU and BYU-Idaho, while others are proven teachers with pertinent experience and qualifications.
Each individual that teaches for (CES) Continuing Education has applied to do so, been cleared by their ecclesiastical leader, and approved by the appropriate office under the direction of the Church Board of Education. They are cleared to teach topics in their field of study, or cleared according to their experience and other credentials. Each presentation that is made at a CES Continuing Education program has been cleared by the Church Correlation Department. Every effort is made to help make the presentations uplifting, edifying, and designed to build testimonies in the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
We know there are many excellent teachers throughout the Church. We welcome your suggestions and recommendations concerning potential faculty. As described above, there is a formal process by which a person applies, is selected, and approved to become a teacher for (CES) Continuing Education programs. Approval to teach does not automatically result in an invitation to participate in a program.
