Compassion Courses FAQs
Is CCARE offering in-person Compassion Courses?
How can I find a Compassion Course in my area?
A number of individuals throughout the world have been trained and certified as Compassion Teachers. 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.
When are class schedules announced?
CCARE publishes quarterly Compassion Course schedules on our website and in our newsletter. You may subscribe to the CCARE Newsletter by entering your email address in the “JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER” box at the bottom left of the CCARE homepage.
What is the cost of an 8-week Compassion Course?
The registration fee for 8-week Compassion Courses is $425 and includes course instruction, materials, and guided meditation recordings.
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.
How much time is needed outside of the class meetings for the 8-week Compassion Course?
There is recommended, but not required, reading for the course and a compilation of writings and videos (made available online) that range from peer-reviewed to popular articles, to first-hand writings from ancient and contemporary compassion meditation experts. Each student can take on as much or as little of that as they like. More importantly are the daily meditations. They are 15-20 minutes, and they evolve each week. Students are strongly encouraged to practice those daily, as the development of compassion during the class is “dose dependent” and the meditations, as well as other quick, informal weekly practices support that development. The course is as much about experiencing compassion as learning about it.
I want to register for a Compassion Course, but will need to miss a class or two – is that ok? Are the live online 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 and group discussions that are key components of the training process.
Since classes are not recorded, if you know ahead of time that you will need to miss one class or more, we suggest you wait to register for a course at a time when you’ll likely be able to attend all sessions. Having said this, our instructors are familiar with and understand the unpredictability of modern life and will help orient you to any materials if you miss a class.
If you’re an enrolled student and know you will miss the first class in advance, please contact the instructor by emailing CompassionEducation@stanford.edu.
What’s the cancellation policy for course registration and how do I receive a refund?
For a full refund, the cancellation request must be received via email 2 weeks (14 calendar days) before the first class meeting. For a refund minus a $75 processing fee, the cancellation request must be received via email between 2 weeks and 3 business days before the first class meeting. No refunds will be issued for cancellation requests received fewer than 3 business days before the first class meeting. All cancellation requests must be submitted by email to CompassionEducation@stanford.edu.
Is academic credit offered for Compassion Courses?
No, Compassion Courses offered by CCARE do not offer academic credit.
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.
Can Compassion Courses be audited?
No, due to the participatory nature of the courses only registered students may attend.