“DreamClass helped us bring theological education into the modern era, without losing who we are.”
For nearly five decades, Facultad has been serving a very specific mission: providing rigorous theological education to ministry leaders who feel genuinely called to serve.
Founded in 1976 in Southern California, Facultad began as a Spanish-speaking theological institution focused on supporting Hispanic ministry leaders who lacked access to affordable, formal theological education. Over the years, the school evolved into a bilingual institution offering Associate, Bachelor’s, and now Master’s programs in Biblical Theology.
Today, Facultad serves pastors, ministry leaders, and adult learners across multiple denominations; all while remaining deeply committed to accessibility, academic rigor, and practical ministry preparation.
But as the school evolved, its operational systems struggled to keep up.
A School Built on Calling, Not Convenience
What makes Facultad different is that its students are not traditional university students.
Most are already active pastors, ministry leaders, or church staff balancing ministry, work, and family life while pursuing theological education.
As Dean Jeff explained during the interview:
“We don’t want to be a place that simply gives answers and asks students to repeat them back. We want to educate, not indoctrinate.”
That philosophy shaped everything Facultad did, including how they approached technology.
The institution intentionally kept tuition affordable so students could graduate debt-free, something increasingly rare in higher education.
But behind the scenes, managing the institution had become increasingly difficult.
Before DreamClass: Paper Files, Multiple Systems & Operational Friction
Before implementing DreamClass, Facultad’s operations were spread across multiple disconnected systems.
For decades, the school relied heavily on paper records. Student transcripts from the 1980s and 1990s were still physically archived and manually retrieved when requested.
As technology evolved, the school adopted FileMaker to manage student records and finances. While functional, it lacked any student-facing experience.
Students couldn’t:
- check balances,
- access records,
- make payments,
- or interact with the institution digitally.
Everything had to be handled manually by staff.
Later, Facultad moved to another system called Orbund, hoping to unify academics, finance, and student management into one platform.
While Orbund improved some operational processes, the team quickly encountered new frustrations.
Jeff described the system as: “Clunky.”
The platform required too many clicks, complicated workflows, and constant staff guidance just to complete simple tasks like payments or student navigation.
Even experienced staff struggled with the interface.
Support was another challenge.
According to the team, getting assistance from the provider often took weeks, creating bottlenecks in daily operations.
Searching for Something Better
The search for a new system started internally.
Sean, who led much of the technical evaluation process, researched multiple platforms extensively; comparing pricing, flexibility, usability, and long-term scalability.
The school wasn’t simply looking for an LMS.
They needed a system that could:
- support complex theological programs,
- accommodate customized payment structures,
- simplify administration,
- and remain accessible for non-technical staff and adult learners.
What ultimately stood out about DreamClass was its simplicity.
Not simplicity in functionality, but simplicity in usability.
Jeff immediately noticed the difference:
“When I started using DreamClass, I realized we wouldn’t even need training videos for most of our faculty.”
That mattered enormously for Facultad.
Many faculty members had decades of ministry and academic experience but limited technical confidence.
The team jokingly referred to some professors as “the dinosaurs” (brilliant theologians who struggled with modern software).
Yet even those faculty members adapted quickly to DreamClass.
Why DreamClass Worked for Facultad
One of the biggest operational improvements came from billing and payment management.
Unlike traditional universities, Facultad doesn’t operate with rigid, standardized tuition structures.
Every student has unique financial circumstances.
Some students:
- pay monthly,
- some pay weekly,
- some pay upfront,
- while others make custom installment arrangements.
DreamClass allowed the school to personalize payment plans for each learner without creating administrative chaos.
For the team, this became transformative.
The institution also gained:
- automated invoicing,
- integrated student payments,
- centralized student records,
- easier transcript workflows,
- direct classroom communication,
- and simplified grade management.
Most importantly, everything existed in one place.
Students no longer had to navigate multiple systems just to:
- attend class,
- check balances,
- or request records.
Technology That Supports Ministry, Not the Other Way Around
For Facultad, adopting DreamClass was never about becoming a “tech company.”
It was about removing operational friction so the school could focus more deeply on its mission.
Jeff summarized it best:
“DreamClass helped us bring Facultad into the digital world without losing who we are.”
The platform enabled the school to modernize while preserving:
- affordability,
- accessibility,
- and the deeply human nature of theological education.
Today, the team uses DreamClass daily for:
- financial management,
- grading,
- communication,
- transcript requests,
- applications,
- and student administration.
The system has also positioned Facultad for future growth, including digitizing historical student records and streamlining transcript generation across decades of alumni data.
Schedule a meeting with our experts to discover how DreamClass can perfectly meet your school’s needs!
Looking Ahead
As Facultad approaches its 50th anniversary, the institution is focused on sustainable growth rather than expansion for expansion’s sake.
Their mission remains deeply intentional:
serving students who are genuinely called to ministry.
DreamClass has become a foundational part of that journey.
Not by replacing the human side of education, but by supporting it.
“DreamClass has allowed us to stay ahead technologically while continuing to serve the people we were called to serve.”