XFVU uses MOODLE, an open-source learning platform that enables us to provide interactive courses anywhere in the world. We are experimenting with being able to do this in both English and Chinese and ask for everyone’s patience as we test different models. We are also developing the Xuanfa Five Vidyas Seminary Program to offer more meditation retreats and seminars where we do intensive bilingual (English and Chinese) study of select groups of dharma discourses by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. It is our hope that we will be able to offer student visas (F-1) for those enrolled in the seminary and have facilities for long term retreats and residency at the site of the Ancient Buddha Temple in southern California. We offer three ten week trimesters (plus time for final exams) each year starting in July, September, and February with retreats, seminars, and pilgrimages to holy sites planned during the intersessions as well as during the trimesters.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS—You have several options:
OCCASIONAL STUDENT: This is like auditing a course. Since we want as many people as possible to understand the teachings of the Buddhas, we also want to make the courses available to as many people as possible. Therefore, these courses are free and require no credentials as to previous education or background. If you find you would like to switch to one of the degree or certificate programs, you can, upon paying the required tuition and any processing fees, be retroactively enrolled in those programs and, if you satisfactorily completed the course, receive appropriate credit toward a degree or certificate. Mentor services will not be available to the occasional student.
DEGREE VERSUS CERTIFICATE: As far as course requirements and content, they are the same. The certificate program is to enable those who do not have undergraduate degrees from accredited colleges or universities to participate. XFVU offers two programs: The on-line distance-learning Buddhist Studies and Practice Program and the residence-based Xuanfa Five Vidyas Seminary Program.
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES: Use enrollment form located under the “ENROLLMENT” tab. If you do not receive a response, contact XFVU at 626-375-6328 or xuanfainstitute@gmail.com directly. You will be given a Username and a temporary password. You should change the password to something you can remember. The login page tells you what to do if you lose or forget your password or username. You need one for us to search our database for your information. If you to not have either, just send us an email and we will tell you what to do. Even without enrolling, you can use “guest access” to review the various courses offered at XFVU. The ones that are available for the current or next trimester are shown on the upper left side of the Welcome page for MOODLE (“COURSES” tab).
Each Trimester, you need to request permission to enroll in the courses that are offered that trimester. Not every course is offered every year and certain courses require that you take other courses before enrolling. Be sure and check the on-line Catalog of Courses that is available under the “SCHEDULE” tab to see what is available and if you have the necessary prerequisites.