Friday, May 29, 2009

GREAT NEWS: The International Buddhist Education Foundation is Now Offering Scholarships to UWest's M.Div. Students!

University of the West has just received word that our friends at the International Buddhist Education Foundation are offering $3,000 scholarships to qualified students admitted into the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy Program.

IBEF makes 50 of these scholarships available to students each semester, and we're thrilled that they've included us.

Please be aware that the deadline for the IBEF scholarship is July 15, so prospectives and others should make sure to apply soon! Applications can be downloaded here. (You will also find information about other scholarships at that link. M.Div. applicants are welcome to apply for all scholarships benefitting graduate students.)

Meet UWest's New President

C.F. Lee, the new President of University of the West.

At our faculty retreat on campus this week, President Allen Huang delivered the sad news that he will be stepping down June 30th after two years of invaluable service to the university.

Dr. Huang also informed us that his successor, pictured above, will be C.F. Lee--the current Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong.

Those of us in the Chaplaincy Program look forward to meeting and working with Dr. Lee. We also extend a fond farewell to Dr. Huang, who has been such a great ally and advocate for us.

One interesting note: Dr. Lee delivered the Convocation Address at the International Buddhist College's first convocation in 2008. You can read that address here.

(Thanks to Bil Owen, our spectacular Extended Education Coordinator, for the links!)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

New Books for the Library

I recently submitted a list of titles to our wonderful librarians, Ling Ling Kuo and Judy Hsu, for the UWest Library to acquire. These books will be the first volumes in our holdings purchased expressly for the chaplaincy program. Hopefully, we will see more and more come into the library in future years. I'm sharing the titles below, hoping it will be beneficial to our students as well as others who might be reading:
  • The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling (Expanded Edition with CD-ROM) by Rodney J. Hunter
    ISBN: 0687497515

  • Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling: Vol. 1 (Expanded Edition) by Richard D. Parsons, Robert J. Wicks, and Donald Capps
    ISBN: 0809133512

  • Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling: Vol. 2 by Robert J. Wicks and Richard D. Parsons
    ISBN: 0809133253

  • Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling: Vol. 3 by Richard D. Parsons, Robert J. Wicks, and Donald Capps
    ISBN: 0809140616

  • Practical Psychology for Pastors (2nd Edition) by William R. Miller and Kathleen A. Jackson
    ISBN: 0131718290

  • Legal Issues and Religious Counseling by Ronald K. Bullis and Cynthia S. Mazur
    ISBN: 0664253865

  • Counseling for the Soul in Distress: What Every Religious Counselor Should Know about Emotional and Mental Illness (2nd Edition) by Richard W. Roukema
    ISBN: 078901629X

  • The Work of the Chaplain by Naomi K. Paget and Janet R. McCormack
    ISBN: 0817014993

  • Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity of Healthcare: Increasing the Competency of Chaplains by Robert G. Anderson and Mary A. Fukuyama
    ISBN: 0789025566

  • Making Chaplaincy Work: Practical Approaches by Laurel A. Burton
    ISBN: 0866567437

  • Becoming a Healthier Pastor by Ronald W. Richardson
    ISBN: 0800636392

  • In Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling by Emmanuel Y. Lartey
    ISBN: 1843107503

  • Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches by Larry VandeCreek, Hilary Bender, and Merle R. Jordan.
    ISBN: 155635889X

  • Pastoral Care of Older Adults by Harold G. Koenig and Andrew J. Weaver
    ISBN: 0800629647

  • Pastoral Care of Alcohol Abusers by Harold G. Koenig and Andrew J. Weaver
    ISBN: 080066261X

  • Hospital Ministry: The Role of the Chaplain Today by Lawrence E. Holst
    ISBN: 1597528145

  • Pastoral Care in Hospitals by Neville A. Kirkwood
    ISBN: 0819221910

  • Hospice and Palliative Care: The Essential Guide (2nd Edition) by Stephen Connor
    ISBN: 0415993563

  • The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century by Doris L. Bergen
    ISBN: 0268021767

  • Chaplaincy in Law Enforcement: What is It and How to Do It by David W. De Revere, Wilbert A. Cunningham, Tommy W. Mobley, and John A. Price
    ISBN: 0398075964

  • Disaster Spiritual Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional, and National Tragedy by Stephen B. Roberts and Willard W.C. Ashley
    ISBN: 159473240X

  • Ministry and the American Legal System by Richard B. Couser
    ISBN: 0800626036

  • The Zen of Helping: Spiritual Principles for Mindful and Open-Hearted Practice by Andrew Bein
    ISBN: 047033309X

  • Ethnicity and Family Therapy (3rd Edition) by Monica McGoldrick, Joe Giordano, Nydia Garcia-Preto
    ISBN: 1593850204

  • Genograms: Assessment and Intervention (3rd Edition) by Monica McGoldrick, Randy Gerson, and Sueli Petry
    ISBN: 0393705099

  • Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling: Resources for the Ministry of Healing and Growth by Howard John Clinebell
    ISBN: 0687024927

  • Pastoral Care and Counseling: Redefining the Paradigms by Nancy J. Ramsey
    ISBN: 068702224X

  • Care of Persons, Care of Worlds: A Psychosystems Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling by Larry Kent Graham
    ISBN: 0687046750

  • The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology by James Woodward and Stephen Pattison
    ISBN: 0631207457

  • Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains by the U.S. Department of the Army
    ISBN: 0898756073

  • subscription to the Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling
    ASIN: B00006KKLD
  • Tuesday, May 19, 2009

    UWest Badminton Tournament!

    Just a snapshot from some fun on campus. Watch out for Dr. Bill Chen in the Department of Business Administration (pictured, wearing khakis)--that guy's got game!

    Tuesday, May 12, 2009

    Schedule for this Weekend's Two-Day Interview of Prospective M.Div. Students

    SCHEDULE FOR THE TWO-DAY INTERVIEW
    OF PROSPECTIVE M.Div. STUDENTS

    FRIDAY, MAY 15th, SCHEDULE

    9:30 a.m.
    AD204
    Welcome
    Jason Kosareff and Rev. Danny Fisher

    10:00 a.m.
    AD204
    Group Interview
    Dr. Amy Demyan, Dr. Kenneth A. Locke, Rev. Danny Fisher

    12:00 p.m.
    Cafeteria
    Lunch with the Religious Studies Faculty
    available REL faculty

    1:00 p.m.
    Campus Tour
    Jason Kosareff

    1:45 p.m.
    AD207 (“Smart Classroom”)
    President’s Welcome
    Dr. Allen Huang

    2:00 p.m.
    AD207 (“Smart Classroom”)
    Keynote Address: “UWest’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Program in Context”
    Rev. Danny Fisher

    2:30-4:30 p.m.
    ED313
    Introduction to Group Process Work
    Rev. Danny Fisher


    SATURDAY, MAY 16th, SCHEDULE

    9:00 a.m.
    ED225
    Individual Interviews
    Dr. Amy Demyan, Dr. Kenneth A. Locke, Rev. Danny Fisher
    [Individual meeting times will be assigned to each student.]
    [Breakfast food/snacks will be available in the employee break-room nearby.]

    12:00 p.m.
    WASC Room
    Optional Lunch Out
    Jason Kosareff and Rev. Danny Fisher

    Frequently Asked Questions about Our Program

    1. What are the admissions requirements?

    The admissions requirements are as follows:
    1. A B.A. in any major from an accredited college or university with a G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher.
    2. Three (3) letters of recommendation.
    3. A 500-word autobiographical essay.
    4. Copies of diplomas for all degrees earned, and official transcripts.
    5. Attendance for a two-day, in-person interview process on campus. Individual and group interviews will evaluate assess interpersonal skills and assess the candidates' readiness for the program.
    6. A $50 application fee.
    2. What are the residency requirements?

    On-campus housing is available to students (see below), but they are not required to live on campus. Students living off-campus should be aware that the requirements are such that it would be very difficult to live too far outside of Los Angeles County and complete this program. The long hours and intensive nature require regular attendance on campus for classes, as do group processes and other events. This program was designed to serve students living locally, and should not be considered a low-residency program.

    3. Does UWest ordain monks, nuns or ministers?

    No. The purpose of the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy is to prepare students for ministries of care and counseling in vocational environments. Students interested in ordination should seek it from their temple, church, mosque, community, or practice center.

    4. Are UWest and the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy program accredited?

    Yes. Both University of the West and the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy have been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

    5. Does UWest have housing? Can I live on campus with my spouse?

    University of the West has two residence halls, one for me and one for women. Spouses can cohabitate in a dorm room if space is available. Off-campus apartment housing can also be arranged through University of the West for married couples.

    6. Can I take the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy program online?

    The program in its entirety cannot be completed online. Some courses included in the program’s curriculum are offered online and count toward fulfillment of the program, but there is no M.Div. online degree program.

    7. Are international students accepted into the M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy program?

    UWest will only accept Applications for Admission from students currently living inside the United States, including international students who reside in the U.S. at the time they submit their application. International students are also required to submit a TOEFL score or IELTS score in accordance with the University of the West admissions policy.

    8. Will UWest’s M.Div. in Buddhist Chaplaincy program help me become professionally certified as a chaplain?

    Yes. Professional chaplains are generally certified by whatever organization serves and supports spiritual care work in their particular area. (Healthcare and hospice chaplains are certified by the Association for Professional Chaplains, police chaplains by the International Conference of Police Chaplains, military chaplains by the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, and so on.) All of these organizations have their own standards and competencies. For all intents and purposes, though, we could think of board certification with the A.P.C. as the "gold standard" for professional chaplains. Among their requirements is 72 semester-hours of graduate education covering nine core areas (ritual/liturgy, comparative religions, religious education, pastoral care and counseling, spiritual formation, religious history, institutional organization and administration, sacred literature, and theology/philosophy). UWest has designed its program specifically to cover those nine areas in 72 semester hours (see curriculum design).

    Saturday, May 09, 2009

    HBO's The Alzheimer's Project Now Available to Watch Online for Free

    HBO has made their new documentary series The Alzheimer's Project available online for free download. I've embedded each segment below, and I especially encourage current/prospective students interested in health care chaplaincy to watch them.

    The Memory Loss Tapes



    Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? with Maria Shriver



    Momentum in Science, part one



    Momentum in Science, part two



    Caregivers

    Monday, May 04, 2009

    Danny's elephantjournal.com Post about Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Programs in the United States

    I recently blogged for elephantjournal.com about Buddhist chaplaincy training programs in the United States. I've blogged about these training programs here and elsewhere, but this post has the most up-to-date information. (There have been updates even in the couple of days since I posted about these programs here for this blog!) I hope you'll take a look.

    Saturday, May 02, 2009

    Updates on UWest's Website!

    Thanks to UWest's enrollment counselor (and blogger for this site) Jason Kosareff and web designer/media specialist Patrick Gonzaga, we've made some important updates to the website this week. As some of you might have noted, we did not have much information up on the website about the program until now. We're happy to be able to offer much more now. You can take a look at the new and improved page for the M.Div. program right here.

    Among other things, you will find:
  • application information;
  • a robust new description of the program;
  • a detailed breakdown of the curriculum;
  • faculty bios;
  • information about tuition and fees;
  • and updated contact information.
  • There are more changes and updates yet to come, but this information ought to answer some initial questions for prospective students out there. Take a look, and let us know what you think.