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Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I learn about FEI courses?
• How can I arrange Custom Seminars and Consulting?
• What grade levels can participate in FEI courses?
• Who teaches at FEI?
• How can I pay for courses?
• What is included in the tuition/program price?
• Do I get per diem?
• What if I need to cancel?
• How when do I get a detailed schedule of my program?
• Where do I stay at FEI? What are accommodations like?
• Are telephones, faxes, and computers available for participant use?
• Should I bring a laptop?
• How can co-workers, family and friends contact me at FEI?
• Can a spouse or guest accompany me? Pets?
• How will my special diet needs be accommodated?
• How are physically challenged persons accommodated?
• What is the dress code?
• What is the weather like?
• Is there an exercise area?
• Where can I get driving directions to FEI?
• What are the nearest airports?
• Do I need a rental car?
• What can I do on unscheduled evenings and week-ends?
• Are meals served at FEI on weekends?
• Does Charlottesville have an airport?

How can I learn about FEI courses?

FEI courses include Leadership for a Democratic Society and the courses and services offered through our Center for Executive Leadership (CEL). Information about all of these offerings is described in detail via this Web site.

How can I arrange Custom Seminars and Consulting?

We design customized leadership development courses as well as provide consulting help in addressing organizational challenges and opportunities. To arrange for custom design or consulting help, please contact: Donna Sweeney at 434/980-6200.

What grade levels can participate in FEI courses?

FEI courses are designed for members of the Senior Executive Service or equivalent pay systems and GS-15 managers as well as for State, local, or international government leaders. Custom designed courses and consulting projects may include participants and team members at other levels.

Who teaches at FEI?

FEI faculty include a small number of resident faculty and a large number of adjunct faculty. All resident faculty have earned doctorates as do most adjunct faculty. Faculty represent a variety of disciplines, such as education, political science, behavioral science, international affairs, economics, public administration, adult education, and others.

How can I pay for courses?

Participants in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program and in the Center for Executive Leadership's focused skill development courses arrange their attendance through their agency training offices. The training offices then submit training forms to FEI. International, state, and local executives arrange for attendance in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program through their training or personnel offices.

What is included in the tuition/program price?

FEI program charges include the following: All instructional services, Course materials (including program notebook and videotapes where appropriate), Lodging at FEI in Charlottesville, All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Breaks-coffee, tea, juice, fruit, and morning and afternoon snacks

Do I get per diem?

All meals, breaks, and accommodations are included in your course tuition. Your agency covers your travel to and from Charlottesville separately. Check with your agency to see if they permit you to claim any additional per diem for incidental expenses.

What if I need to cancel?

For the Leadership for a Democratic Society program: FEI terminates acceptance of nominations or substitutions for Leadership for a Democratic Society courses two weeks prior to each session. The Institute does not refund charges if agencies cancel attendance or fail to fill purchased slots. For the Center for Executive Leadership courses: If you must cancel, send a qualified substitute from your organization in your place. If you cannot find a substitute, notify us as early as possible. Because our courses are designed to facilitate personal attention, each offering accommodates a limited number of participants. Therefore, we cannot refund your tuition if you cancel within two weeks of your program start date.

How when do I get a detailed schedule of my program?

An overview (weekly) schedule for participants in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program is sent out approximately six weeks prior to the program start date or as soon thereafter as we receive the name and address of a participant. A detailed (day by day) schedule is provided upon registration at the Institute. For Center for Executive Leadership courses, an overview schedule is generally sent out three weeks before the start of the program, and a detailed scheduled is provided upon registration at the Institute.

Where do I stay at FEI? What are accommodations like?

Participants stay in comfortable private guest rooms and eat well-prepared, health-conscious meals. On occasion, if all FEI rooms are occupied, participants in courses of the Center for Executive Leadership may be housed in well-appointed hotel rooms within easy walking distance of the Institute. When not in class, executives may exercise in the Alumni Fitness Center or play volleyball or basketball. Quiet spaces for walking, relaxation and conversation, in addition to the Susan B. Anthony Library, round out the facility. All facilities used for courses are accessible to persons with disabilities. For a virtual tour, go to the Web site and click on the FEI Icon at the bottom of the page.

Are telephones, faxes, and computers available for participant use?

There is a telephone in each participant bedroom. Also, there is an administrative area, the Executive Support Center, dedicated for your use located off the Lobby in Room 201. The Executive Support Center has three computer workstations, a color laser printer, photocopier, fax machine and telephone. All of the computer workstations have direct Internet access, however, email is not available nor provided as this is a public area. In addition, there is an area in the alcove of the Susan B. Anthony Library located in the Annex with three computer workstations, a color laser printer, and individual tv/vcr units.

Should I bring a laptop?

You may bring a laptop, although it is not needed for the program you will participate in. For those of you who wish to bring laptops, detailed information is provided to assist you in connecting in your bedrooms upon your arrival at FEI.

How can co-workers, family and friends contact me at FEI?

FEI's main telephone number is 434/980-6200. Callers may contact you by directly dialing bedroom extensions (434/980-6xxx). The last three digits are your room number (with six exceptions). Direct-dial telephone numbers are noted on your bedroom phone. If you are not in your room to answer your phone, the caller may leave a message on voice mail at your extension. If there is an emergency and you cannot be reached directly, callers may dial 434/980-6200 and the security guard will assist them. Mail is delivered daily, Monday through Friday. Correspondence should be addressed to participants at:Your Name Federal Executive Institute 1301 Emmet Street Room xxxx Charlottesville, VA 22903-4899, Room numbers are assigned upon arrival. Please include room number on all correspondence.

Can a spouse or guest accompany me? Pets?

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to stay at FEI during all non-working weekends. They may stay in your room and take meals here (no cost for the room but you will need to reimburse the government for their meals). However, visitors are not permitted during times when class is in session. The first weekend (between weeks 1-2) is a working weekend for participants in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program. If you are in that program, you will be in session all day Saturday and Sunday - so please do not make any plans to be away or have visitors on that weekend. As we are a government facility, pets may not be brought to the institute.

How will my special diet needs be accommodated?

Please alert us to any special dietary needs, and our kitchen staff will work with you to make the necessary arrangements.

How are physically challenged persons accommodated?

The Institute has made extensive changes to ensure that all aspects of the facility are accessible to those with physical disabilities. Please notify us of any accommodations you may need, and we will work with you to make the needed arrangements.

What is the dress code?

Business dress (e.g. suit and tie) is only required at FEI in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program at graduation on the last Friday and for some of the off-campus site visits. Dress for class sessions at all other times is "business casual." While participants dress casually, we ask them to keep in mind that they represent the government when interacting with noted speakers and visitors to FEI. Athletic clothes are, of course, perfectly acceptable during all fitness activities and at non-class times.

What is the weather like?

The climate of Charlottesville and Albemarle County is modified continental with mild winters and mild and humid summers. The mean annual average temperature from June through August is 75 degrees and from December through February is 37 degrees. Both warmer and cooler temperatures than the mean can, of course, be expected on any given day. Program participants, especially those staying for a month-long program, should expect a range of temperatures and bring appropriate clothing.

Is there an exercise area?

A state-of-the-art Fitness Center equipped with Keiser air-driven muscle strength equipment and a number of aerobic machines (e.g. treadmills, Stairmaster), as well as an outdoor swimming pool, are available onsite. In addition, we have a small number of bicycles participants may check out and use, and participants may also store their bikes in a locked room available on site.

Where can I get driving directions to FEI?

When you're approaching Charlottesville from Washington, DC or the Dulles airport, take Route 66 West until the Gainesville/Route 29 South exit. Once on Route 29, go south about 90 minutes to Charlottesville. FEI is located directly on U.S. Route 29 South in Charlottesville. Once in Charlottesville, Route 29 turns into Emmet Street just after you pass the signs for the Rte. 250 bypass. About 200 yards past the bypass signs, look for the two large white brick pillars on the right. Turn right and proceed up the drive. Follow the signs for registration for your program.[Charlottesville Map]. When you're approaching Charlottesville from Richmond, take Route 64 West for approximately 70 miles to exit 118B to the Route 29 Bypass (Route 250 bypass). After 3 miles, take the Route 29 South/Emmet Street exit. About 200 yards after exiting, look for the two large white brick pillars on the right. Turn right and proceed up the drive. Follow the signs for registration for your program.

What are the nearest airports?

The nearest airport, Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Airport, is located about 8 miles north of Charlottesville just off Route 29. The airport is served by the following airlines: United, US Airways, Continental Express, Comair (the Delta Connector) and Colgan Air. Richmond International Airport is about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the east of Charlottesville, and Dulles International Airport (outside of Washington, DC) is located about 2 hours north of Charlottesville.

Do I need a rental car?

A rental car is not needed to participate in any program activities. There are shopping locations and other services (post office, dry cleaning, bank, drug store, etc.) within walking distance of the FEI campus. Entertainment and some noted sites in the area (e.g. Monticello) do require transportation.

What can I do on unscheduled evenings and week-ends?

For unscheduled evenings and non-working weekends, the Charlottesville/Albemarle area offers a variety of activities — movie theaters, a refurbished historic downtown area with outdoor eating and specialty shops; ice skating rink, Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, river rafting, hiking on the Blue Ridge — to name a few. Charlottesville maintains an excellent Web site, which you can access at: http://www.cvillechamber.org/visitor.html. The University of Virginia (UVA) offers tours of the Rotunda and the Lawn. FEI executives also attend UVA sporting events and performances of the University of Virginia Players and the Heritage Repertory Theater, throughout the year. Alderman Library at UVA is available for FEI executives' use. The University of Virginia Web site, http://www.virginia.edu , offers a full calendar of activities.

Are meals served at FEI on weekends?

Yes, meals are served on the weekends; however, if only a few are staying for the weekend, there may not be as many entres offered, or for example, lunches may only be sandwiches & chips rather than a hot entree.

Does Charlottesville have an airport?

Yes, but flights are limited. The Charlottesville Airport is served by the following airlines:

• US Airways 800-428-4322
• United Express 800-241-6522
• Comair the Delta Connection 800-354-9822

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