Spiritual Care Services and Clinical Pastoral Education at University of Colorado Hospital

The University of Colorado Hospital Department of Spiritual Care Services is an accredited ACPE Center for clinical pastoral education (CPE). We offer Levels I, II, and the Supervisory Level of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education.

We serve the University of Colorado Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver and Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy at Anschutz Medical Campus.

Questions? See our contact information below.

Descriptions of Programs

Level I ACPE

Summer Level I ACPE engages students in a full-time program of education and clinical pastoral service, 40 hours per week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a total of 400 hours/unit plus an additional on-call rotation responsibility, which includes some overnights and weekends. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours of educational time and 300 hours of clinical service time during the course of the unit. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of volunteer services and health requirements of the University of Colorado Hospital.

The University of Colorado Hospital ACPE Center will not be offering a Level I unit during the summer of 2012. We are, instead, offering two extended Level I units during the 2012-2013 program year. Please see below for Extended Unit information. 

Extended Unit Level I ACPE engages students in a part-time program of education and clinical pastoral service. The weekly time commitment is arranged with supervisors and peers. In addition to the 400 hours required to complete one unit of CPE, Extended Unit students participate in the on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of volunteer services and health requirements of the University of Colorado Hospital.

Extended Unit Level I Program Dates:

Fall Extended Unit: August 20 through December 21, 2012 (20 hours/week)

Application deadline:  July 15, 2012

Winter Extended Unit: January 7 through May 3, 2013 (20 hours/week)

Application deadline:  November 1, 2012

Tuition for one ACPE/CPE unit (2012-2013) is $1,200 with a $100 non-refundable deposit due from the student upon acceptance into the program and the balance due when the session begins. Tuition cost is subject to change.

ACPE Level I Clinical Pastoral Education Program:

• Clinical Pastoral Education Seminars focused on pastoral formation, pastoral competence and pastoral reflection
• Clinical Rotation - medical and surgical
• On-Call Responsibilities-hospital wide
• Biomedical Ethics Training

If academic course credit is granted, this Center will provide your theological (or other) school with a pass/fail grade.

Level II ACPE

Level II ACPE engages students in a program of education and clinical pastoral service. The program year for Level II residencies begins August 20, 2012 and concludes August 24, 2013. Residencies are a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year for a total of 1600 hours of supervised learning per year. Additionally, residents participate in an on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 400 hours of educational time and 1200 hours of clinical service time during the course of the year. Single units are not offered at this level.

Application deadline is February 1, 2012.

Residency positions have an accompanying salary and benefits. It is expected that applicants for residency have completed one ACPE Unit of clinical pastoral education. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of human resources and health requirements of the University of Colorado Hospital.

ACPE Level II Clinical Pastoral Education Program:

• Clinical Pastoral Education Seminars focusing on pastoral formation, pastoral competence, and pastoral reflection
• Clinical Rotation - medical, surgical, palliative care, and addiction rehabilitation units
• On-call responsibilities hospital-wide
• Participation on the University of Colorado Hospital Ethics Committee
• Participation in CU School of Medicine Courses
• Participation in CU Program in Health Care Ethics, Humanities and Law

Supervisory Education

Supervisory Education engages students in a program of continued clinical pastoral education and service. Education will focus on the practice of clinical pastoral education with this center's supervisors and other supervisors and peers throughout the South Central Region of ACPE. The program year begins August 20, 2012 and concludes August 24, 2013. Residents in the ACPE Certification process are accepted for three years and reviewed annually for continued participation. Residency is a full-time committment, 40 hours per week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year for a total of 1600 hours of supervised learning per year. Additionally, residents participate in the on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Supervisory residents are expected to complete a minimum of 1600 combined educational and clinical service hours per year. Single units of supervisory education are not offered.

Application deadline is February 1, 2012.

It is expected that applicants for residency have completed prerequisite Levels of ACPE clinical pastoral education. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of human resources and health requirements of the University of Colorado Hospital.

ACPE Supervisory Education Programs incude:

• All Level II Components
• Supervisory Seminars
• Supervisory Peer Group
• Supervisory Practice

Contact Information

The Rev. Julie R. Swaney
Manager and Certified Supervisor, ACPE
Julie.Swaney@uch.edu

The Rev. Wayne A. Van Kampen
Senior Chaplain and Certified Supervisor, ACPE
Wayne.VanKampen@uch.edu

Betsy Benjamin
Administrative Secretary
Elizabeth.Benjamin@uch.edu

Accrediting Agency

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
1549 Clairmont Road
Decatur, Georgia 30033

tel (404) 320-1472
www.acpe.edu