FAQs
April 7 Contemplative Semester Info Session and Q&A, part 1
Is the campus ADA accessible?
Yes! All buildings at Potash Hill comply with the ADA standards for accessible design.
Will I be able to leave campus? If yes, how often?
We want to be intentional about creating a sense of community and a container that also allows everyone to feel autonomy and choice. Students will be able to leave campus as the schedule allows, including on weekends and holidays. We will ask you not to leave campus during retreat weeks. We will have a system of letting staff know what days you plan on leaving campus.
Can I come for only part of the Contemplative Semester?
No. We ask all participants to commit to the entire semester. That said, if there is an extenuating circumstance to missing a few days, we can connect about that and try to make it work.
Are there prerequisites i.e. prior meditation or retreat experience required?
No, though some experience with mindfulness meditation is recommended!
How much silence will there be?
The Contemplative Semester balances deep silent meditation experience with verbal connection, community building and learning through dialogue. We engage in 4 separated weeks of silent meditation retreat over the course of the semester. In addition, each off-retreat week includes a full day of silent meditation practice and each off-retreat day includes a period of 2-3 hrs of silent meditation practice.
What is the policy around phones, computer and other tech use?
For the first week of the semester, participants will be completely without phones or computers. This is intentional - we want to support you to get to know each other and settle deeply into the space and the meditation practice. After the first retreat week, we will have a community conversation about device agreements and etiquette, which the group will have a chance to create themselves. Phones are never permitted during programming time or on retreat.
Will partners, family or friends be able to come visit me?
Yes, there will be days when friends and family will be welcome on campus. We won’t be able to accommodate overnight guests.
Will there be “class work,” such as reading or writing assignments? Or is the learning just practice-based?
Yes, there will be a few reading, writing and creative assignments scattered throughout the semester that are flexible enough to meet a diversity of learning styles. The Contemplative Semester is primarily a chance to get in touch with more intuitive and embodied ways of knowing; the volume of reading and writing assignments will *not* be as intense as a typical college semester.
What support will there be on campus in terms of mental health and wellness?
One of our core full time faculty is a licensed therapist, and will be supporting students' individual mental health as needed. Additionally, all participants will be in small groups with two mentors that meet regularly each week to support their well being; students also have a scheduled 1-1 support meeting with their mentor once a week. However, this is not an in-patient mental health program. We do not have the capacity to support young people who are actively suicidal or in on-going mental health crisis.
Will I be asked to take the “Mindfulness Trainings” for the whole 14 weeks, i.e. no substances and sex for the whole time?
Creating a safe and caring community through ethical trainings is an essential part our program.
During the 4 meditation retreat weeks over the course of the semester we will ask you to commit to the following agreements:
Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the commitment to:
Protect life
Speak truthfully and kindly
Take only what is offered to me
Abstain from drugs and alcohol
Remain celibate
While not not on retreat, we ask participants to commit to the following slightly modified agreements:
Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine, I undertake the commitment to:
Protect life
Speak truthfully and kindly
Take only what is offered to me
Abstain from drugs and alcohol
Use my sexuality wisely and protect relationships
What are the qualifications of Contemplative Semester teachers and mentors?
Our diverse group of teachers and mentors has decades of experience teaching mindfulness meditation and working with young people; many of them are leaders in the growing field of mindfulness education. They bring years of personal mindfulness and meditation practice into their roles as mentors, modeling authenticity, compassion, ethical conduct and respect for the young people they work with. They also bring work and life experience as educators, therapists, wilderness guides, lawyers, youth workers, activists, parents, and more. Biographies for our teachers can be found on the home page.
Can you accommodate participants with food allergies or special dietary needs?
We can accommodate common food allergies and dietary needs (such as gluten-free diets, lactose intolerance, peanut allergies, and vegetarian and vegan diets). If a participant has a very specific food need that is challenging for us to accommodate, we may ask them to bring some of their own food to supplement the options provided.
What if I am currently 17 and will turn 18 during the semester, or am currently 25 but will turn 26 during the semester?
We prefer if students are already 18 by the beginning of the Contemplative Semester. However, if you are a 17 year old who turns 18 during the semester, and your application is strong and are a great fit for this program, you will still be considered. As long as you begin the program as a 25 year old, turning 26 over the course of the semester is okay! :)
Can I get college credits for participating in the Contemplative Semester?
We are currently engaged in an accreditation process. We are hoping to offer optional transferable college credits for participating in the Contemplative Semester — if we become accredited and you would like to receive college credit, there will likely be an added fee of between $2,000 and $3,000. We hope to know our accreditation status sometime in Spring 2024. We will update the website as soon as we know.
Do I need to be Buddhist to Attend?
No! While this is a program focused on Buddhist contemplative studies, students of all faiths & religious backgrounds are absolutely welcome and encouraged. Our staff is made up of folks from different faith backgrounds as well, and not all identify as “Buddhist.”
Have further questions that weren’t answered here? Email us at ContemplativeSemester@gmail.com!
