Click any of the Frequently Asked Questions below to reveal the answer.
General
When are the dates for each 8-week session announced?
Is CCH offered in-person?
CCH is only offered live/online, which means the class meets virtually at a specific time each week. Classes are not recorded.
Is there a minimum age to enroll in a Compassion Course?
Yes, students must be at least 18 years old to participate in the courses.
How can I find a Compassion Course in my area?
A number of individuals throughout the world were trained and certified as Compassion Cultivation Teachers when that training was still offered by CCARE. Browse CCARE’s Global Directory of Compassion Teachers organized by location to find someone in your area. Please contact these teachers directly using the email link or website provided in their bio to inquire about their teaching schedules and locations.
Payment & Registration
Are grants or scholarships available?
Yes. A limited number of scholarships are available to help make the course accessible to participants who might not otherwise be able to attend. Scholarships may cover 50% to 100% of tuition, and we anticipate awarding scholarships to approximately 15% of participants. Applications are accepted until two weeks before registration closes. Learn more about and apply for a scholarship here.
If you are interested in supporting access for others, we welcome donations to our scholarship fund. As a nonprofit program, 100% of scholarship donations go directly toward helping participants who would not otherwise have the financial resources to participate. To learn more, please contact compassioneducation@stanford.edu. We are grateful for your support.
What is the cost of the 8-week course?
The registration fee for the 8-week course, Cultivating a Compassion Heart, is $425 and includes 16 hours of live instruction on Zoom, printable materials, recommendations for supplemental readings and videos, and guided meditation recordings.
I want to register for CCH, but will need to miss a class or two – is that ok? Are the classes recorded?
It’s to the student’s advantage to attend all eight classes in order to get the most out of the course, as each class involves lectures, group discussions, and experiential exercises that are key components of the training process, but we understand that people have busy schedules and things come up.
Live sessions are not recorded. If you miss a session, you will have temporary access to an archived recording covering the core content for that week. Archived recordings may feature a previous cohort and are intended to help you stay current with the course. Participant discussions and breakout sessions are not included.
Are there prerequisites for enrollment in CCH?
No. All of CCARE’s compassion courses are open to the public and no previous education or experience is required. The only admission criterion is that participants must be at least 18 years of age.
I’m Stanford staff – can I pay for the course with STAP funds?
Yes! You may request reimbursement from your STAP funds by submitting the request through your department’s administrator or manager. Unfortunately, CCARE cannot directly charge your STAP funds.
What’s the cancellation policy for course registration and how do I receive a refund?
Full refunds are available up to 2 weeks prior to the class start date. Cancellations between 2 weeks and 3 business days prior to the class start date incur a $75 cancellation fee. No refunds are available after 3 business days prior to the class start date.
Academic Questions
How is CCH different from the CCARE Compassion Lab?
Cultivating a Compassionate Heart (CCH) is an 8-week class designed to be a powerful introduction to the science and practice of compassion for self and others. It provides a meaningful foundation and offers a potent reinforcement for the ongoing journey into compassion.
The CCARE Compassion Lab (CCL) takes that foundation to the next level, offering a longer 4-month immersion into the study and practice of compassion through progressive skill building experiences. CCL combines small group peer collaboration, simulated role-play exercises, in-depth community practice sessions, and experiential compassion labs that integrate applied learning and practice.
Although attending CCH is not a requirement for CCL, it would provide a beneficial foundation for anyone.
How much time is needed outside of the class meetings for the 8-week Compassion Course?
Since this course is about cultivating compassion, the most important work between classes is the daily meditations. Each week you are given various versions of the same guided meditation, ranging from 10-20/min each. Students are strongly encouraged to practice one of these daily, as the development of compassion during the class is “dose dependent” and the meditations support that development. The course is as much about experiencing compassion as learning about it. (60-120 min/week)
Each week students are also given optional Daily Informal Practices intended to be done in the midst of their daily lives. On average, these take a few minutes a day. (0-30 min/week)
Participants are encouraged to take on an optional Peer Support Partner who they can connect with between classes on their own terms. This is someone to discuss the material with and also share wins and challenges in your growing compassion practice. (0-30 min/week)
Finally, there is recommended, but not required, reading for the course that ranges from books to peer-reviewed and popular articles, to first-hand writings from ancient and contemporary compassion meditation experts, leaders, and poets. Each student can take on as much or as little of that as they like (0-60 min/week)
Total ≈ between 1-4 hours per week
Are Continuing Education (CE) credits available for CCH?
CE credits are not offered for Cultivate a Compassionate Heart. CCARE offers 12 CE credits for healthcare professionals who complete the Compassion & Wellbeing in Healthcare course–learn more here.
Is academic credit offered for Compassion Courses?
No, Compassion Courses offered by CCARE do not offer academic credit.