FAQ
Frequently Asked General Questions
Frequently Asked Student Program Questions
Answers to Frequently Asked General Questions
The Indianapolis Peace Institute operates programs designed to encourage every person to explore his or her role as a peacebuilder. The diverse programs of the Institute work together to create transformational experiences for college students and for Indianapolis residents. Our participants reflect on the question of change: what can I do to implement change?
•Undergraduate Semester Program: Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines
•Graduate Program: Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines
•Summer Program: Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines
•Alternative Spring and Fall Breaks
•Weekend Workshops: A variety of topics
•Graduate Program: Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines
•Summer Program: Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines
•Alternative Spring and Fall Breaks
•Weekend Workshops: A variety of topics
•Weekend Workshops: A variety of topics
•If you would like to see your office, business, or community be more actively involved in peacebuilding, please contact our office to see how we can assist you.
Answers to Frequently Asked Student Program Questions
Who is eligible for Peacebuilding Across the Disciplines?
Peacebuilding can be part of almost any profession, and the skills developed at the Indianapolis Peace Institute are useful in almost any field of work, so students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Previous students have majored in biology, communications, computer science, history, interdisciplinary studies, journalism, peace studies, psychology, religion, women’s studies and more.
•Undergraduate Program: Second semester sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.
•Graduate Program: Admission to this program is intended for individuals from any discipline interested in peace, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation. This program is open to individuals with an undergraduate degree and to non-degree- holding individuals with relevant work-related experience.
•Summer Program: Undergraduates who have completed at least one year of college and graduates may apply for the summer program.
Peacebuilding can be part of almost any profession, and the skills developed at the Indianapolis Peace Institute are useful in almost any field of work, so students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Previous students have majored in biology, communications, computer science, history, interdisciplinary studies, journalism, peace studies, psychology, religion, women’s studies and more.
•Undergraduate Program: Second semester sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.
•Graduate Program: Admission to this program is intended for individuals from any discipline interested in peace, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation. This program is open to individuals with an undergraduate degree and to non-degree- holding individuals with relevant work-related experience.
•Summer Program: Undergraduates who have completed at least one year of college and graduates may apply for the summer program.
What courses are offered and what are they like?
For a list of courses, please see our Course Offerings page. Classes are designed to be small and interactive. Field trips, visits from local practitioners and community leaders, and student presentations are as vital to learning as texts, journal articles and student papers.
For a list of courses, please see our Course Offerings page. Classes are designed to be small and interactive. Field trips, visits from local practitioners and community leaders, and student presentations are as vital to learning as texts, journal articles and student papers.
How do my credits transfer?
In order to ensure the granting of credit for the courses, students will need to discuss Institute courses and credit with their academic advisor as well as their institution’s faculty and/or registrar. Many colleges and universities will accept our courses as equivalencies to courses offered on campus. Please do not hesitate to contact us for guidance and support in undertaking these conversations. Visit our Courses Offered page to download course descriptions and the Academic Credit Approval Form to take with you when you meet with your advisor.
In order to ensure the granting of credit for the courses, students will need to discuss Institute courses and credit with their academic advisor as well as their institution’s faculty and/or registrar. Many colleges and universities will accept our courses as equivalencies to courses offered on campus. Please do not hesitate to contact us for guidance and support in undertaking these conversations. Visit our Courses Offered page to download course descriptions and the Academic Credit Approval Form to take with you when you meet with your advisor.
If the student and/or the Institute are not able to negotiate a course equivalency on your campus, you may take a leave of absence from your school and enroll in our program through Earlham College. In this case, you will receive a transcript showing your credits from Earlham College, which you transfer to your institution.
What are the internship possibilities?
Our Internship Opportunities section offers a glimpse of our partner organizations. The list provided is by no means exhaustive. Since we tailor the internship to your interests, we will work with you to make sure your placement provides you with an excellent experience
Our Internship Opportunities section offers a glimpse of our partner organizations. The list provided is by no means exhaustive. Since we tailor the internship to your interests, we will work with you to make sure your placement provides you with an excellent experience
What is the student residence like?
Peace House, the Institute’s student residence, is located in a downtown residential neighborhood of Indianapolis. Coffee shops, churches, a movie theater, a soccer field and the heart of downtown are all within walking distance of the house.
Peace House, the Institute’s student residence, is located in a downtown residential neighborhood of Indianapolis. Coffee shops, churches, a movie theater, a soccer field and the heart of downtown are all within walking distance of the house.
On the main floor of the house, common rooms--the kitchen, library, den, billiard room, dining room and sunroom--offer students a variety of places in which to nurture their community. Students’ rooms and bathrooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The finished basement provides a computer lab, laundry facilities and more than a few nooks and crannies to be discovered.
What is provided at the house, and what will I need to bring with me?
•Between the computer lab and library, six computers are provided for student use. Wireless internet access is available should you wish to bring your own computer.
•Sheets and comforters are provided but students should bring a pillow with case and a towel or two.
•Students will need to use a cell phone or calling card to make long distance calls as the house phone offers only local service for outgoing calls.
•Parking for student vehicles is limited and not every student will be able to bring a car. The local bus system can provide transportation to almost any destination within the •Indianapolis metropolitan area for those who do not bring cars. Several bus stops are within three blocks of the house
•Between the computer lab and library, six computers are provided for student use. Wireless internet access is available should you wish to bring your own computer.
•Sheets and comforters are provided but students should bring a pillow with case and a towel or two.
•Students will need to use a cell phone or calling card to make long distance calls as the house phone offers only local service for outgoing calls.
•Parking for student vehicles is limited and not every student will be able to bring a car. The local bus system can provide transportation to almost any destination within the •Indianapolis metropolitan area for those who do not bring cars. Several bus stops are within three blocks of the house
Structured programs such as Orientation, Internship Reflection sessions and house meetings guide the development of the Peace House community. Many additional activities are planned by students throughout the semester. Examples include group volunteer activities, an appreciation dinner for students’ mentors, a student-run weekend workshop for the Indianapolis community and, of course, many opportunities to explore all that Indy has to offer. In addition, there will be opportunities for the students to open their home to visiting practitioners of peacebuilding.
Is there a meal plan? What if I am vegetarian or have special needs?
Students taking part in the Semester program will develop a community plan with regards to meals – what food to buy, who will cook, how often the group will eat together. A weekly food allowance is provided to the group as a whole with a smaller individual allowance given to each student to use as he or she wishes. Vegetarian students or students with special needs will be a part of the community decision making process and will be able to voice their needs at that time. The individual allowance ensures that you will be able to purchase specific items that you need and want over and above what is purchased as a community.
Students taking part in the Semester program will develop a community plan with regards to meals – what food to buy, who will cook, how often the group will eat together. A weekly food allowance is provided to the group as a whole with a smaller individual allowance given to each student to use as he or she wishes. Vegetarian students or students with special needs will be a part of the community decision making process and will be able to voice their needs at that time. The individual allowance ensures that you will be able to purchase specific items that you need and want over and above what is purchased as a community.
Students in the summer program are responsible for their own foods and household supplies.
Will I have the same academic calendar as my college?
The 2008-2009 calendar is as follows. For information on future academic years, please contact us. Each semester runs for 16 weeks with a one-week break during which students may choose to travel, stay at the house, or enroll in special Institute programming.
•Spring 2009: January 4 – April 30
•Summer 2009: June 7 - Aug 7
•Fall 2009: Aug. 23 – Dec. 18
The 2008-2009 calendar is as follows. For information on future academic years, please contact us. Each semester runs for 16 weeks with a one-week break during which students may choose to travel, stay at the house, or enroll in special Institute programming.
•Spring 2009: January 4 – April 30
•Summer 2009: June 7 - Aug 7
•Fall 2009: Aug. 23 – Dec. 18
What does the average day look like for a student in the program?
During the semester, students attend class two or three days a week. Internship schedules are set by the students with their mentors, and range from full-time two days a week, to part-time every day (for a total of 20 hours per week). During the summer there are no classes and internships are 32 hours per week. Summer students also spend one day a week carrying out a group service project. Tuesday evenings are set aside to spend as a community. In their free time, students play pool, read the newspaper, go running, watch movies, go to the farmer’s market, volunteer and more. Students eat dinner together in the evenings, usually splitting the chores of cooking and cleaning. Dinner is often a time when students engage in spontaneous discussions on important issues and topics or further thoughts about their classes. Some evenings might be spent lingering over these conversations. Other nights, students go to coffee shops, take walks, or go dancing. Most weekends they go downtown or to the other five “Cultural District” neighborhoods to listen to jazz, salsa dance, attend festivals and conferences, read in bookstore cafes, eat in the wide variety of Indy restaurants and, occasionally, visit home colleges.
During the semester, students attend class two or three days a week. Internship schedules are set by the students with their mentors, and range from full-time two days a week, to part-time every day (for a total of 20 hours per week). During the summer there are no classes and internships are 32 hours per week. Summer students also spend one day a week carrying out a group service project. Tuesday evenings are set aside to spend as a community. In their free time, students play pool, read the newspaper, go running, watch movies, go to the farmer’s market, volunteer and more. Students eat dinner together in the evenings, usually splitting the chores of cooking and cleaning. Dinner is often a time when students engage in spontaneous discussions on important issues and topics or further thoughts about their classes. Some evenings might be spent lingering over these conversations. Other nights, students go to coffee shops, take walks, or go dancing. Most weekends they go downtown or to the other five “Cultural District” neighborhoods to listen to jazz, salsa dance, attend festivals and conferences, read in bookstore cafes, eat in the wide variety of Indy restaurants and, occasionally, visit home colleges.
What is the cost of the program?
Please visit our semester and summer program pages for a list of fees. If you have specific questions, please e-mail us or call (317)631-7322.
Please visit our semester and summer program pages for a list of fees. If you have specific questions, please e-mail us or call (317)631-7322.
Can I visit before I decide to apply?
You are welcome to visit before you decide to apply. Please e-mail us or call (317)631-7322 to arrange a visit.
You are welcome to visit before you decide to apply. Please e-mail us or call (317)631-7322 to arrange a visit.
When are applications due?
•Spring semester applications are due on October 15.
•Summer applications are due on April 1.
•Fall semester applications are due on April 15.
•Spring semester applications are due on October 15.
•Summer applications are due on April 1.
•Fall semester applications are due on April 15.
What if I miss the application deadline?
Applications sent in after the deadline will be considered if space in the program remains. Completing your application before the deadline ensures that Institute staff will have plenty of time to dedicate to securing the best possible internship for you.
Applications sent in after the deadline will be considered if space in the program remains. Completing your application before the deadline ensures that Institute staff will have plenty of time to dedicate to securing the best possible internship for you.