Frequently Asked Questions
General
Campus Life
CIT Courses
Register & Pay
What will my mailing address be while at CIT?
YOUR NAME
c/o CIT
P.O. Box 250
Union Mills NC 28167
For ground shipping (that which utilizes UPS, FedEx, etc.), the physical address for CIT (please do NOT use this for USPS mailing) is:
YOUR NAME
c/o CIT
6494 Hudlow Rd.
Union Mills NC 28167
What do we do for meals while we are at CIT?
The first night of Equipping and LLA, dinner is provided. Additionally, two lunches per week are provided in the dining hall for community building.
During Debrief Retreat, all lunches and dinners are provided.
All other meals are the responsibility of the participant.
Please let us know, if you have any food or dietary restrictions before you arrive.
Note: All CIT accommodations have fully-equipped kitchens for meal preparation.
Can someone pick me up at the airport?
CIT does provide shuttle service for participants. Those requiring shuttle service must coordinate arrival times with CIT prior to finalizing your flight arrangements.
CIT charges $100 per adult each way and $10 per child each way to provide transportation to and from the airport.
Most of the time, our pick up time will be scheduled for the Sunday morning/ afternoon prior to the beginning of class. However, please confer with CIT before confirming your travel schedule so as to enable you to make your arrangements to coincide with our pick up schedule.
What airport is the best for me to use when I fly into CIT?
The Asheville airport (AVL) i sbeginning to have more choices and could also be an option.T he Charlotte-Douglas Airport (CLT) as it is the largest airport and often the most economical.
If you will need to be picked up at the airport, you will need to make prior arrangements with the CIT office.
Is there a dress code or style at CIT?
We enjoy a very casual atmosphere at CIT. During the warmer months, participants often wear modest shorts
How far is it to the nearest grocery store?
There are several grocery stores in the surrounding area of the CIT campus. There is a Dollar General on the corner of Hudlow and Hwy 221 which is almost walking distance from the campus. Larger grocery stores are within 20-25 minutes driving time.
Is there hiking nearby?
If you love to hike, backpack, or even fish, you will love the many trails in the Blue
Ridge Mountains. Linville Falls and Linville Gorge, Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain, and Mount Mitchell are just a few of the many places with trails in the area that wind through the countryside. More information on these and other areas of interest can be found in the CIT Administration building.
What can I expect weather or temperature to be while at CIT?
In Union Mills, North Carolina, we enjoy four very distinct seasons. The extremes of winter and summer are often mild compared to the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains as we are located in the foothills known as the Isothermal Valley.
Winter temperatures are cool with mid-day highs ranging from upper 40s to the lower 60s. Snow and ice are not uncommon but are generally sporadic and short lived.
Summer months are warm and on the humid side. High temps ranging from the mid to upper 80s to the mid 90s.
Spring and fall are somewhere in between. Autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains is always a beautiful time of year as the trees change into spectacular colors making the mountainsides a breathtaking panorama.
Will I be free on weekends?
Classes do not formally meet on the weekends. However, a couple of the weekends contain outside-of-class learning activities. We strongly advise participants against making weekend plans away from CIT during their training time here because the workload can be heavy enough that the stress on the individual and especially a family is significant. The pace here at CIT is steady and saturated with learning new information (your mind will be tired!)—you will need the weekend to rest for the next week’s module. Support raising during your training is tough! We strongly discourage it while you are here. Whatever downtime you have, we recommend you use it for physical and spiritual refreshment.
Note: From a former CIT participant several years ago who spent most weekends away doing support development: At the end of the term, he told us, “Tell any future CIT participant that comes through here NOT to try to do support raising while at CIT. It was hard on me, it was hard on my wife, it was hard on our family life, and it was hard on my learning. And it wasn’t worth it. Tell them not to do it!
How big are the apartments?
Each of the Boyer apartments are two-bedroom apartments, though some are larger than others, ranging in size from 600-800 sq. feet.
Few missionaries living cross-culturally will live in accommodations similar to what they are used to in the States. This transition (among others) is one of the biggest hurdles for families to overcome in living in another culture. We have sought to create an atmosphere that has many of the conveniences most Americans are used to but is slightly tighter than perhaps they are accustomed to…at the same time centered in the protective bubble of an English-speaking community and trainers who have “been there” to assist and guide you through the process.
What if I have a large family?
CIT has two apartments that can house a family with four children. In one apartment, the extra bedroom is equipped with two twin-sized bunkbeds. With a small crib, it could also house five children. The other apartment has 3 bedrooms.
CIT also has some housing arrangements possible in the Sorensen Dormitory for large families with older children or groups with multiple large families. Contact CIT at the time of your registration for more specifics.
How do I register for housing?
When you register for a class at CIT, you are automatically register for housing. An email will be sent out approximately 2 weeks before class starts with your housing assignment.
How much is housing at CIT?
For current housing costs: Click Here
Are there TVs in the rooms?
The Boyer Apartment building’s main “Common Room” area and the Student Center each have a television and DVD player for participants’ use.
However, CIT does not supply televisions or DVD equipment to individual dwellings.
Can I bring pets?
We are unable to allow pets in any of our accommodations.
Are there laundry facilities available?
There are three laundry facilities on the CIT campus. One is adjacent to the Boyer Apartment building, another is on the lower level of the Sorensen Dormitory, and there is one in the basement of the Triplex apartments.
Use of these facilities is free to CIT participants. You’ll need to provide your own detergent, etc.
Are linens provided?
For Equipping and LLA, you will need to bring your own bed and bath linens, which would include towels, wash cloths, bed sheets, pillow cases. The following will be provided in the apartment: kitchen linens, pillows, blankets, mattress covers, bedspreads.
For Debrief, both bed and bath linens will be provided.
If you are flying to CIT or have a specific need, we will make linens available for your use here. Please contact us with any questions.
Are the rooms/apartments furnished?
All of CIT’s accommodations are furnished. Kitchens are fully equipped including full-sized stove, full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, hand mixer, pots/pans, flatware, tableware, etc. Some apartments also have a blender and/or crock pot.
Kitchen linens, bed pillows, mattress pads, blankets, and bedspreads are also supplied. You will need to bring your own bed and bath linens. Also provided is an iron, ironing board, laundry basket, some clothes hangers, vacuum cleaner, mop, and broom.
Do I have a choice about housing?
The answer to this question is yes and no. Housing will be assigned by our hospitality department based on availability and needs of the team. If you have any housing preferences, please describe it in the comments section of your registration form and we will do our best to accomodate you as circumstances allow.
Participants will generally be assigned to the Boyer Apartment building as lond as there is availability. Singles may sometimes share an apartment with abother single, if there are not enouhgt to open the dorm, as heating and cooling the entire dormitory for just one or two people is cost prohibitive, Much training is gained through the community living and activities in this environment.
How do I get my keys when I arrive?
Upon receipt of your registration deposit, you will be given a link to sign into the CIT learning platform and enrolled in a ‘Welcome to CIT and Forms’ course. In these courses, you will find all the information you need for your arrival and stay at CIT. There are specific check-in times where someone will be there to greet you in the main reception.
Is there internet access and phone services in the rooms?
CIT has campus-wide wireless internet service available for CIT participants/staff only. There are no public phones in the housing or common areas.
How is CIT different from other missionary training programs?
Many training programs focus on either the worker, the context or culture, the message, or a combination of these. CIT focuses on all of these as well as the one who will receive the message.
Our philosophy is that you can culturally prepare the family and have a theologically sound message. But if you don’t thoroughly understand your audience and have a strategic plan to successfully penetrate their culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you are only partially prepared.
With that goal in mind, some of the elements included in our training are:
- Tools for cultural understanding and analysis
- A cross-cultural experience
- Tools for strategic cultural entry and effective ministry
- History giving and life mapping
- Team dynamics and ways of dealing with conflict
- Community living to reinforce training
We strive to provide an opportunity for community living and growth not just with our training program, but also with our location. Our campus is family friendly, providing a peaceful environment geared toward helping families as they transition to living overseas. We are surrounded by nature in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with many places to explore and hike. Being in a somewhat rural area with certain amenities not far from reach, allows participants to separate from some of the busyness of everyday demands.
Have more questions? Give us a call at 800.887.1786 or email us and we will be happy to help however we can.
What is the typical daily/weekly schedule for the classes?
How much homework will I have?
Do both spouses have to take the classes?
Though CIT strongly encourages both spouses to take the classes, it is up to the sending church/agency and the missionary to decide which classes are the best fit for them.
That said, it is the general rule that both husband and wife are significantly involved in ministry and because of this, both will be significantly impacted by the training they will encounter at CIT.
Can a person simply audit classes at CIT?
CIT does not have provision at this time for auditing classes. However, when on home assignment, we encourage alumni to sit in on classes they took previously as a refresher course. In this case, classes are tuition-free.
Are any of your courses accredited?
Do you offer any degrees or certificates?
When should I register?
The earlier you register for any module, the more certain you will be of assuring your place in the module. The pre-work begins four weeks before arrival. However, we do not set a specific deadline for registration. If there is a spot available and housing available, you are welcome to register.
It helps us in planning and preparing books and materials for the class if students will register as soon as they can. At the same time, it is also important that participants be as certain of their attendance as possible prior to registration, thus avoiding last-minute cancellations which in turn avoids the layoff of childcare workers hired to staff a projected need based on those registrations. Staffing decisions and material preparation take place many weeks before a given course. Registration should ideally take place at least 6 weeks before the start of the class although many of our classes are filling up before that.
How can I register for CIT?
It’s easy to register for courses at CIT: Register online
How do I pay for my bill?
There are two ways for you to pay your bill.
The first is to pay by cash, check, or money order.
Secondly, we can invoice your church or sending agency for your expenses while at CIT. If for some reason your church or sending agency denies payment of your invoice, you will be responsible to make arrangements for paying your bill.
When is my bill due for the courses I’m taking at CIT?
Your registration deposit is due as soon as possible after registration. You will receive an invoice either upon your arrival or within the first few days of class for your projected fees (including housing) which is payable (either by the participant or agency) at the beginning of the term.
Do you accept credit cards?
As a general practice, we do not accept credit cards as payment for the main invoice. However, we do accept them for the registration fee if that is preferred. When we receive your registration form, you will receive an email usually within a day or two with payment options and instructions for the online payment option.
Can you bill my agency directly for the tuition?
Absolutely! Please be sure to give us the information on your registration form on who your contact person is (if there is someone who needs to approve your invoices) and the mailing address where it needs to be sent.
Our general procedure is to give you a copy of your invoice to approve after you arrive so that if there are any errors they can be corrected before sending the invoice on to your agency.
Is there a fee to register?
CIT requires a (non-refundable, non-transferable) $100 registration fee (per adult registrant) at the time of registration. You can send a check or money order to:
CIT
P.O. Box 250
Union Mills, NC 28167
If you prefer to pay online, instructions will be sent for this option when the registration form is received.
Can you bill my agency directly for the registration fee?
Yes, and if you need an invoice for your registration fee, just contact us and we’ll be happy to take care of that for you.
Can I transfer my registration to another date/time?
Unfortunately, no. Registration deposits are non-transferable. They can’t be transferred to another date/time or from one person to another.
How do I register for housing?
When you register for a class at CIT you are automatically registered for housing. An email will be sent out approximately 2 weeks before class starts with your housing assignment.
What other expenses can I expect?
Some of the other expenses that are common to CIT participants (in addition to food) are copier usage fees, CIT vehicle usage, and additional books that are not required as part of a class but recommended by an instructor.
How much can I expect my books and materials to be?
For the Equipping Course, there is one book that participants are required to purchase before beginning the pre-work (4 weeks before arrival at CIT), Cross-Cultural Connections by Duane Elmer.
All other materials for all the courses are included in the tuition costs.
