UCSF Medical Center CPE Program Admissions Policy [ACPE Accreditation Manual, 2020, Standard 4]
PURPOSE
To provide a clear and effective admission process to any UCSF Medical Center CPE program that does not permit any discrimination against persons because of race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability.
POLICY
UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Health, and the Accredited CPE Center do not discriminate against persons because of race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability. Equal access to educational opportunities is extended to all qualified persons. All members of the CPE faculty, professional advisory group, and consultants are expected to adhere to this policy.
CPE students at all levels are expected to sustain sufficient physical, emotional and spiritual health to deliver spiritual care. The students we seek will demonstrate an openness to clinical learning; a readiness to use the clinical setting for personal and professional learning; an ability to provide effective spiritual care in our clinical settings; and the potential to make a contribution to the field of spiritual care and ministry.
PROCEDURE
In order to be considered for admission into the CPE program at UCSF Medical Center, the following procedure is followed.
- Applications are received throughout the year, and ideally should be submitted six to eight months before the unit in which an applicant wishes to enroll. The standard ACPE application form is utilized, and no application fee is required.
- When the CPE Center receives the application and has determined that the application materials are sufficient for consideration, the applicant will be notified to set up an appointment for an admissions interview.
- An admissions interview will be held to determine the applicant’s readiness for clinical learning. It is preferred that this interview is done by at least two members of the CPE faculty at a UCSF campus when circumstances permit. For residency applicants, the interview process involves two separate sessions: the first with members of the CPE faculty, and a second with other members of the Spiritual Care Department staff. Department Staff only have access to applicant’s ACPE Cover Sheets and Resumes.
- At the discretion of the faculty, applicants may be interviewed by means of a UCSF secure Zoom meeting.
- The applicant must have graduated from high school or earned a GED, hold a baccalaureate degree and present documentation of academic credentials (exceptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis), and be in good standing with her/his/their faith or spiritual community. It is preferred that she/he/they be ordained (or hold the equivalent of ordination) by a faith community, interfaith organization, or be commissioned to function as a recognized leader by an appropriate religious authority.
- Participating in the CPE program at UCSF Medical Center can be a challenging experience because of the acuity of the illnesses of the patients being served. This ACPE Center seeks mature applicants who demonstrate self-assertiveness, a sense of personal and professional identity, exceptional communication skills, intra- and interpersonal awareness and an inner motivation to learn and serve, as evidenced in the admissions interview.
- The CPE program and almost all clinical communications at UCSF are conducted in the English language, and therefore it is important that the applicant fluently speaks, reads, and writes in English.
- When a decision has been made whether or not the applicant has been selected to participate in the CPE program, a letter may be emailed and also will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service. A decision will be made within thirty (30) days after the admission interview.
- Once an admissions decision has been made and the applicant has been informed, the applicant’s written materials are disposed in the following manner:
a) If the applicant is not accepted to the program, or if an applicant is accepted, but later decides not to enroll in this center’s CPE program, that applicant’s materials will be destroyed in a confidential manner.
b) For policy regarding the records of accepted students, please see “Student Records Policy” in CPE Handbook Chapter 3. - It is this Center’s policy not to offer explanations or reasons to an applicant if she/he/they have not been admitted to the CPE program.
- Any applicant who is invited to participate in a UCSF Medical Center CPE program must successfully pass a background check and hold U.S. citizenship or a valid U.S. visa before she/he/they can enroll in the program. All offers of admission are contingent upon successful completion of background checks, health clearances, and all other on-boarding requirements. If an applicant is an international student, it is that student’s responsibility to maintain proof of current lawful immigration status (and authorization to work, if the student is receiving a stipend) in the U.S., throughout the duration of her/his/their program.
- In the unusual event that the Center cannot recruit at least three (3) students for a training unit, that unit will not begin, and the admitted persons will be invited to enroll in a future scheduled unit of training that matches their level (Level 1 or Level 2). If they need to enroll in a CPE unit immediately, the Center will negotiate with ACPE certified educators at other accredited centers to assist the students in finding appropriate placements.
- Applications will be accepted for Certified Educator CPE as openings become available. Normally a certified educator student’s contract is extended for successive years, if it is determined that the student has made adequate progress.
- Certified Educator CPE applicants should refer to the Student Handbook Chapter Five regarding requirements for admission into the program.
Inquiries regarding UCSF Health’s equal opportunity policies may be directed to: UCSF Human Resources, 3360 Geary Boulevard, Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94143. This policy notwithstanding, all students accepted in the program shall be able, with reasonable accommodation, to physically perform the essential duties contained in the position descriptions for Certified Educator Students and CPE Students, which can be found in chapters 4 and 5 of the Student Handbook.