Frequently Asked Questions

WHO IS THE CSOP FOR?

Who should attend the CSOP? Do I have to be an academic or an experienced activist?

People who can benefit from the school include NGO staff and interns, peace educators and activists, teachers and professors, students (university or graduate), government officials, community leaders, religious leaders, people interested in peace work. Anyone with an interest in peacebuilding is welcome.

I am not Mennonite or Christian. Am I really a good fit here?

Yes, The CSOP is for peacebuilders from all faiths, countries and identity groups. The CSOP is a learning community of diverse peacebuilders who come together to learn, network and engage in peacebuilding. The school is designed to be an environment characterized by (a) education for peace and justice, (b) learning through thinking and doing, (c) generous hospitality and radical dialogue, and (d) the modeling of invitational community.

The CSOP is hosted by CMU, a Christian university that is rooted in the historic Anabaptist tradition of peace, justice and service. Drawing on our 450-year faith-based peace tradition, we want to create a space where people from different backgrounds and perspectives can connect in positive and respectful ways—learning together, supporting each other and creating networks of engaged peacebuilders.

Am I qualified to attend?

All participants must:

be fluent in spoken and written English, and
have a secondary school diploma and at least two years of university or equivalent work experience.

LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS

Will I have access to the university library and other resources?

Yes, while participating in the program you will have access to the Canadian Mennonite University library, internet, and other resources on campus.

How do I arrange for on-campus meals and lodging?

Arrangements for lodging and meals must be made in advance with CMU Hosting (rental@cmu.ca; phone: (204) 487-3300; toll free: (877) 231-4570; fax: (204) 837-7415).

Meals are available in the CMU dining hall at a cost of $5.75 per breakfast, $9.17 per lunch and $12.10 per. All CSOP participants who choose on-campus housing will be lodged in dormitory rooms or apartment suites. Accommodation in dormitory rooms (including bedding) is available for $31.97 per person per night for double occupancy and $43.27 per person per night for single occupancy.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

What is the application process?

On our website you can apply online or download a pdf form and send it to csop@cmu.ca or mail it to the address on the form. We suggest that you submit your application as soon as possible, especially for participants requiring visas for Canada, as the visa process can take a long time. Payment is required to complete your application and to reserve your place in the course. Once your application is complete, we will review it and will be in touch by mail or e-mail.

I am a currently a student at another university. Can I take a CSOP course for academic credit?

As a current student of another institution, you are required to have a Letter of Permission (LoP) sent from your home institution to CMU. This process allows your home institution to evaluate if/how a CSOP course will fit into your degree program. This letter is important as it ensures that the credit you earn at the CSOP can be transferred to your program at your home institution. Please request that an LoP be sent as soon as possible to:

Canadian School of Peacebuilding – Letter of Permission
Canadian Mennonite University
500 Shaftesbury Blvd
Winnipeg MB R3P 2N2
CANADA

What is the application process for graduate students?

In order to evaluate your eligibility to receive graduate credit we need a copy of your undergraduate transcript in addition to the Application & Registration form. Please ask the institution at which you completed your undergraduate degree to send a transcript of your work to:

Canadian School of Peacebuilding – Transcript
Canadian Mennonite University
500 Shaftesbury Blvd
Winnipeg MB R3P 2N2
CANADA

I’m having trouble with the online form. What should I do now?

If you have trouble with the online form, please download our PDF application and registration form . You can complete the form and then either scan and e-mail it to csop@cmu.ca or mail it to:

Canadian School of Peacebuilding
Canadian Mennonite University
500 Shaftesbury Blvd
Winnipeg MB R3P 2N2
CANADA

If you do have trouble with the online form, please send and e-mail to csop@cmu.ca, explaining as precisely as possible what the problem was. We would like to know about any problems so that we can improve our form and processes for our participants. Thanks.

Can I take more than one class each week?

No. Each class meets from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, so it is possible to take only one class per week.

Can I come for just one week or do I have to come for both weeks?

You can come for one week or stay for two. Classes are 5-days, Monday to Friday.

I’m not able to come for a 5-day class. Can I sign up for just one or two days?

No, it is not possible to sign up for just part of a course. CSOP courses are designed to build community and learning over the full-length of the course. However, if you want a taste of the CSOP, but it doesn’t work to take a full class, consider attending one of our Peacebuilder Banquets or other special events.

PAYMENT QUESTIONS

How much does it cost to attend the CSOP?

All costs are detailed on our website The course fees are the same for international participants and domestic participants.

What are my payment options?

If you apply online, it is possible to pay online with a credit card. Offline payment options are as follows:

a.   Credit Card. We accept Master Card or Visa. If you wish to pay offline by credit card, please call (204) 487-3300 and ask to speak with Valerie Smith or Shirley Thiessen, either one of whom can take your credit card information.
b.    Cheque. We accept payment by personal cheques from Canada and the US ONLY. All cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Mennonite University
c.   Money Order. All money orders should be made payable to the Canadian Mennonite University.
d.    Western Union or MoneyGram. Please be sure the money order has the micro encoding number along the bottom. Also please be advised that our preference is to receive payment in Canadian dollars. If this is not possible we will also accept US dollars. We do not accept any other currencies.
e.    Wire Transfer. Our preference is to receive payment in Canadian dollars. If this is not possible we will also accept US dollars. Please contact csop@cmu.ca for more details on payment by wire transfer.

Please note that your registration is not complete and your place in the course is not reserved until we have received full payment.

Are there scholarships or travel subsidies available?

Unfortunately, we do not have scholarships, student sponsorships or travel subsidies available this year, though we hope this will be a possibility in the future. We are aware that the costs may be a barrier to attending the CSOP for some qualified applicants and we would like to be able to provide assistance to such candidates. However, we simply do not have any funds available for scholarships, subsidies or grants at this time. We hope you are able to find alternate sources of funding and that you will be able to join us at the CSOP this summer.

Can I pay when I arrive?

No. We require payment in advance in order to complete your application and reserve your seat in the course. Fees for lodging and meals, arranged in advance with CMU Hosting (rental@cmu.ca; phone: (204) 487-3300) are due the first day of your first CSOP course.

What is your refund policy?

If a student wishes to withdraw from a class, and does so by April 1, 2012, we will refund 100% of the tuition fee, minus a $40 administrative fee. That gives us time to contact others to fill that seat. A student can receive a 50% refund if he or she withdraws between April 1 and the start of the second day of classes. However, in the case of an international student who must withdraw because his or her visa was denied, between April 1 and the first day of class we will provide a 100% refund, minus a $70 administrative fee. After the start of the second day of classes we will no longer give a refund.”

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

How do I find out if I need a visa? For which type of visa should I apply?

A list of Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors can be found http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp. If you require a visa, You will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Since our program is less than six months, a Study Permit is not required. The TRV is sufficient and is normally a simpler process.

What support can you provide to help me as I go through the visa process?

Once we have received full payment and your application has been approved, we will to send you an official letter of invitation to use in the visa application process. Normally these letters are scanned and sent by e-mail, as scanned copies are acceptable and e-mailing is much quicker than mail. If you wish, we can send you the original. If you wish us to send the original via XpressPost, you will need to assume those costs ($50-$100).

What should I include with my visa application?

As you are preparing to apply for a visa, you may find the information on the website, http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp#s, to be helpful. This should lead you to the website for the visa office at which you will be applying, which should have a checklist of documents you should include with your application and other useful information.

Often, visa applications are denied because the applications aren’t complete and visa officers can’t take the time to track down information that is missing. Be sure your application is complete and accurate.

Required documentation normally includes:

Proof that the you have adequate finances, including the funds for tuition, lodging meals, return travel, health insurance and incidentals. Proof is required in the form of bank statements, etc.
Support to demonstrate that the you will return home after the CSOP. Such support can include a return airline ticket, proof of a stable family life (marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, proof that your parents live in the country in which the you live), as well as proof of current employment or school enrollment.
If you are a student, documentation from the school demonstrating enrollment and a current transcript.
If you are employed, documentation of employment, wages, etc.
Proof of health insurance

If you are connected with an NGO or another recognized organization, ask them if they would be willing to write a letter on your behalf to strengthen your application. It would be valuable if that letter could confirm your integrity, your financial stability and your ties to your home country.

Why do I have to pay before receiving a letter of invitation? Do I get a refund if my visa application is denied?

We do not issue letters of invitation unless we have received full payment. The reasons for this are:

When an applicant has paid, we can include this information on the letter of invitation. We believe that being able to confirm an applicant’s ability to cover the costs of being here strengthens the application.
Only issuing letters of invitation to those applicants who have paid helps to ensure our letters go to support only serious applicants, which protects the credibility of the CSOP and serious CSOP applicants.

While we feel this policy is important, we also want to be supportive of international applicants and we have developed our refund policy with this in mind. Our refund policy is as follows:

“If a student wishes to withdraw from a class, and does so by April 1, 2011, we will refund 100% of the tuition fee, minus a $40 administrative fee. That gives us time to contact others to fill that seat. A student can receive a 50% refund if he or she withdraws between April 1 and the start of the second day of classes. However, in the case of an international student who must withdraw because his or her visa was denied, between April 1 and the first day of class we will provide a 100% refund, minus a $70 administrative fee. After the start of the second day of classes we will no longer give a refund.”

We have tried to develop policies that minimize the risk for serious applicants and also help them to present the strongest application when applying for a visa.

Can I get a letter of acceptance before I pay to assist me as I seek funding?

Once you apply, as long as you meet the entrance requirements for the CSOP, we would be able to send you a letter of conditional acceptance which you could use to assist you as you seek funding to attend the CSOP. Please note that such acceptance would be conditional and that without full payment you would not be accepted to the CSOP and your place in the courses would not be reserved. If you wish to pursue this, please fill out the attached application form or apply online and send a note to csop@cmu.ca requesting a conditional acceptance letter.

Do I need health insurance?

Yes. If you do not have valid health insurance for Canada, you are required to purchase health insurance before you come to Canada.