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How can I learn about FEI courses?
The Federal Executive Institute courses include Leadership for a Democratic Society along with courses and services offered through our Open Enrollment: Center for Organizational Performance. Information about all of these offerings is described in detail via this Web site and in our catalog. For a copy of our catalog please call the National Sales Office at 304-870-8008 and ask to speak to one of our Customer Outreach Representatives.

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 Bonnie Boston at 434-980-6277.

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 are the instructors at the FEI?
FEI faculty includes a small number of resident faculty and a large number of adjunct faculty. All resident faculty have earned doctorates as do most adjunct faculty. The faculty represents a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to education, political science, behavioral science, international affairs, economics, public administration, and adult education.

How can I pay for courses?
Participants in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program and in the Open Enrollment: Center for Organizational Performance focused skill development courses arrange their attendance through their agency Training Officers. The agencies then submit registration and information to the FEI for the LDS, or to the National Sales Office for the Open Enrollment Courses. The National Sales Office’s phone number is 304-870-8008. 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? Do I get per diem?
FEI tuition/program charges include all instructional services, all course materials, lodging at FEI in Charlottesville, and all meals. Meal service is comprised of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee, tea, juice, fruit and morning and afternoon snacks. 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 my course registration?
For the Leadership for a Democratic Society program the FEI will terminate acceptance of nominations or substitutions four weeks prior to each session. The Institute does not refund charges if agencies cancel attendance or fail to fill purchased slots. If you are unable to attend an Open Enrollment: Center for Organizational Performance course, you must 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 and when will I receive a detailed schedule of my program?
An weekly overview 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 day by day detailed schedule is provided upon registration at the Institute. For Open Enrollment: Center for Organizational Performance 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 the Federal Executive Institute? What are accommodations like?
Participants stay in comfortable private guest rooms and eat well-prepared, health-conscious meals. On occasion, if all onsite FEI rooms are occupied, participants in Open Enrollment: Center for Organizational Performance courses 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. In addition to the Susan B. Anthony library, the FEI offers quiet spaces for walking, relaxation and conversation. All facilities used for courses are accessible to persons with disabilities.

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 weekends?
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, an ice skating rink, Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, river rafting, hiking on the Blue Ridge, to name a few. Charlottesville maintains a visitor website: http://www.cvillechamber.org/visitors_info 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. 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 telephones, faxes, and computers available for participant use? Should I bring a laptop?
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. 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; 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. USPS 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. You may of course bring cell phones and Blackberries.

Can a spouse or guest accompany me? May I bring a pet?
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to stay at the 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 or physical challenges be accommodated?
Please alert us to any special dietary needs, and our kitchen staff will work with you to make the necessary arrangements. Additionally, the Institute has made extensive adaptations 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?
Professional business dress (men must wear a tie) is only required at FEI on the last Friday at graduation in the Leadership for a Democratic Society program, and additionally 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 and more casual attire are, of course, perfectly acceptable during all fitness activities and at non-class times.

What are the nearest airports? Does Charlottesville, VA, have an airport?
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 east of Charlottesville, and Dulles International Airport (outside of Washington, DC) is located about 2 hours north of Charlottesville.

Are meals served at FEI on weekends?
Yes, meals are served on the weekend, but the menu is more limited. Only bag lunches consisting of sandwiches & chips are offered for lunch rather than a hot entree.

What is the weather like?
The climate of Charlottesville and Albemarle County is modified Mid-Atlantic 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) are available onsite, as well as an outdoor swimming pool. In addition, we have a small number of bicycles which participants may check out and use, and participants may also store their personal bikes in an available onsite locked room.

What are the driving directions to the FEI?
To approach Charlottesville, VA, 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. The 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 Route 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 – this information is included in your registration packet. When approaching Charlottesville, VA, from Richmond, VA, 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.

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