UPAYA BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY TRAINING PROGRAM 2021 Information and Application
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UPAYA BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY TRAINING PROGRAM 2021 Information and Application Thank you for your interest in the Upaya Chaplaincy Training Program. Please read all the following information carefully to ensure that your application is complete and that you understand Upaya’s policies for this training program. APPLICATION PROCESS Spaces in this training program are limited; early application is advised. Applications are considered in the order they are received, up until one month before the start of the training program or until all places have been filled. Please know that not all applicants are accepted. This is a unique training program that requires a high level of commitment, and we strive to ensure that the training program is a good match for each applicant’s aspirations, experience, and goals. We prioritize applicants who have a strong background in Buddhist practice and who have studied with a Buddhist teacher. Note: If you have never been to Upaya before and never attended a retreat or workshop with Roshi Joan Halifax, we highly recommend that you consider registering for a Upaya retreat prior to applying for the program. Please visit our website, www.upaya.org, to see program offerings. If there are ethical or other concerns that arise during the application process or while enrolled in the program, Upaya Zen Center reserves the right to terminate a candidate’s participation in the Chaplaincy Training Program. If you have further questions about the training program or the application process, please contact the Program Coordinator, [email protected]. PROGRAM COST The total cost for the two-year program is $11,200, which is paid in two annual payments of $5,600 each (see below for payment and cancellation policies). This fee covers your tuition, food, dorm lodging, and program costs for a total of 26 Upaya Learning Days each year (Core Training Days, plus Elective Days which may be related to your training path). The cost also covers mentoring, full-cohort conference calls, mentoring circle calls, and most study materials such as the Student Handbook. It does not cover books that may be required for study during the course of the year. For 2021, the Core Training dates that all participants are required to attend are scheduled for March 7-14, 2021 and August 13-22, 2021. In addition to the 26 Learning Days, chaplaincy students are eligible to take other courses at Upaya at a 10% discount on program fees and lodging (international travel programs are excluded from this discount). Please note that Upaya is not able to offer payment plans for this training program; however you may use a credit card to pay for tuition. If you need financial support to enter the training program, we suggest that you explore inviting your sangha or community to sponsor you. ACCOMMODATIONS Your tuition covers dormitory lodging and three meals a day at Upaya during your Learning Days (you may upgrade to a double room for an additional $25/night and we have a few single rooms for an additional $50/night). The Upaya campus has five beautiful adobe buildings with kiva fireplaces, shared bathrooms, and simple accommodations providing space for two to four retreat participants per room. Not all buildings are on main campus but on 3-5 minutes walking distance. The food is vegetarian, healthy, and delicious. Participants may stay at Upaya before and/or after the training program for an additional fee. Please speak with the Upaya Registrar about adding days onto your visit; contact [email protected] or call 505-986-8518 ext 112. DEPOSIT, PAYMENT, AND CANCELLATION POLICIES Please note that Upaya Zen Center has invested a great deal of time, effort, and expense into the planning for faculty and curriculum for each chaplaincy training cohort. For this reason, the following policies for deposits, payments, and cancellations are necessary, and we ask that you are ready to make a commitment to the program. Please make sure that you understand these policies before you apply for the training program. If you have any questions about the training program or these policies, please contact Chaplaincy Coordinator, at [email protected]. Deposit Policy All applications must include a $400 deposit. Please note: This $400 deposit is refundable only if an applicant is not accepted into the training program; in that case, the deposit will be refunded less a $100 processing fee. You may pay the deposit by check or by credit card (MasterCard or Visa only). To charge your deposit to your credit card, please call the Upaya Registrar at 505-986-8518, ext 112. (For your own protection, please do not send your credit card number by email.) Rev 12/2019 Late Application Fee If you are submitting your application after January 31, please enclose an additional $150 along with your deposit. The purpose of this fee is to encourage early applications. Each cohort requires a great deal of planning and preparation on our part. Therefore it helps us to know, as much as possible, who will be in each cohort by January. Deferral Policy If you are accepted and decide to defer your start date, your deposit is transferable for one year only. After a year, you must reapply to the training program and your deposit is non-refundable. If you need to defer, please do so no later than one month before the start date of your cohort. Contact [email protected] to request a deferral. Payment Policy Upon acceptance to the training program, 50% of the annual tuition ($5,600) is due in order to guarantee your space in the training program and to make you eligible to take Upaya classes at the 10% chaplaincy discount rate. Your final payment must be received at least 30 days before the first elective you choose to take. If you wish to take advantage of this early payment discount benefit, please note that you cannot register for electives that in total exceed the tuition you have paid up to that point in time. The remaining balance is due no later than 30 days before the core training retreat that begins your cohort. If the entire balance due is not received by 30 days prior to the start of the training program, your registration may be cancelled and any tuition you have paid to that point may not be refundable. Tuition for the second year of the training will be due 30 days before the start of the second year core training retreat. Cancellation Policy If you cancel your enrollment in the Chaplaincy Training Program 30 days or more prior to the start of the training program and have not taken an elective, you will be refunded 50% of any tuition payments you have made up to that date. If you cancel 30 days or more prior to the start of the training program and you have taken an elective, you will be refunded 50% of any tuition payments you have made up to that date, minus the full cost of the elective (tuition and housing). If you cancel your enrollment in the Chaplaincy Training Program 29 days or less prior to the start of the training program, you will forfeit any tuition payments you have made up to that date. Please note: if you cancel your enrollment, the $400 deposit is non-refundable. Rev 12/2019 Checklist for Chaplaincy Program Applicants Note: If you have never been to Upaya before and never attended a retreat or workshop with Roshi Joan Halifax, we highly recommend that you consider registering for a Upaya retreat prior to or while in the process of applying for the training program. Please visit our website, www.upaya.org, to see program offerings. 1. Fill out application completely and return it to Upaya Institute and Zen Center. Please send the application by email to [email protected] or by postal mail to: Upaya Zen Center, Chaplaincy Training Program, 1404 Cerro Gordo Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87501. We prefer email. 2. Please complete the Needs Assessment Form and return it with your application. This will help us in our preparation for your arrival should you be a participant in the training program. 3. Please attach a recent photograph of yourself to your application. 4. If you are not a student of Roshi Joan Halifax, a letter of recommendation from your current Buddhist teacher or spiritual mentor is required. This letter should include this person’s assessment of your spiritual formation as well as your capacity to apply your practice in a service role (e.g. chaplain). Please have the author of the letter send it via email to [email protected]. 5. All applications must include a $400 deposit. Please note: This $400 deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to your tuition if you are accepted. If you are not accepted to the training program, the deposit will be refunded less a $100 processing fee. Applications submitted after January 31 also need to include a $150 late fee, which is non-refundable. You may pay the deposit (and late fee if applicable) by check or by credit card (MasterCard or Visa only). To charge your deposit to your credit card, please call the Upaya Registrar at 505-986-8518, ext. 112. For your own protection, please do not send your credit card number by email. 6. Once your application and deposit have been received, we will contact you to confirm receipt and inform you of further steps. In some cases, we may wish to schedule an interview with the program director to ascertain if the program is an appropriate match for your goals and needs.