Participants’ Frequently Asked Questions
(This information may be downloaded in PDF format.)
How do I register for an Executive Education program?
You may register online or by one of the following methods:
Phone
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Call 877.833.3974 U.S./Canada or 434.924.3000 Worldwide |
Fax
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434.924.4402 |
Mail
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Darden Executive Education
P.O. Box 7186
Charlottesville, VA 22906-7186 |
Courier
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Darden Executive Education
100 Darden Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA 22903 |
Email
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Darden_Exed@Virginia.edu |
Web
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http://www.darden.virginia.edu/exed/ |
What happens after I register?
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Upon receipt of your registration, a letter of confirmation and invoice will be mailed. Approximately 3–4 weeks before the start of the program, you will receive advance reading materials and assignments for the program as well as general information.
What do the program fees include?
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Program fees include tuition, program materials, lodging, most meals, and certificate of participation.
How do I pay? Do I need to pay immediately? Do you accept credit card payments?
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Payment is due upon receipt of invoice and/or acceptance into a program. We accept payment by check, American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.
Can I wire international payments?
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Yes. For details call 877.833.3974 U.S./Canada or 434.924.3000 Worldwide. You may also send an email to Darden_Exed@Virginia.edu.
What is the cancellation/transfer policy?
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General Registration Cancellation/Transfer Policy
- Qualified substitutes for confirmed registrations can be accommodated prior to the program start date with written notice and will incur no fee for substitution.
- Cancellations made within 15-30 calendar days of the start date will incur a fee equal to 25% of the published tuition cost.
- Cancellations made within 14 calendar days of the start date will incur a fee equal to 50% of the published tuition.
- Withdrawals on or after the first day of a program are subject to forfeiture of the total tuition.
- All transfers made within 7-30 calendar days of the program start date will incur a $500 transfer fee.
- One transfer per registrant to a subsequent offering within 12 months is allowed.
- Transfer requests received less than 7 days before the start date will incur a fee equal to 25% of the published tuition.
- A transfer request followed by a subsequent cancellation will be subject to the applicable cancellation fees noted above.
The Executive Program (TEP) Cancellation/Transfer Policy
ALL cancellations and transfers must be received in writing. Submit your request via email (with the name of the program, followed by “cancellation” or “transfer” request in the subject line) to Nancy Stahon, Director of Finance (StahonN@darden.virginia.edu), or call 434.982.2005.
What is the closest airport to fly into?
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The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) is about nine miles north of The Darden School and is served by USAirways Express, United Express, Delta Connection, and Northwest Airlines. Taxicabs are available outside the baggage area. Cab fare to The Darden School is approximately $28.00. If you are being housed at a local hotel, a courtesy shuttle phone is located beside the baggage pickup. For more information regarding the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, visit www.gocho.com.
The next closest airports to Charlottesville are the Richmond International Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Reagan National Airport. Driving time from Richmond Airport via I-64 West (75 miles) takes about 90 minutes. Driving time from Dulles International Airport via Route 28 South, I-66 West, and Route 29 South (90 miles) takes about two hours. Driving time from Reagan National Airport via I-395 South, I-495 North, I-66 West, and Route 29 South (115 miles) is about two hours and 20 minutes.
AMTRAK serves the Charlottesville area at Union Station, 810 West Main Street, and is located just three miles from the Sponsors Executive Residence Center. Yellow Cab taxi service is available by calling 434.295.4131.
How do I get to Darden from the airport?
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Driving directions from nearest airports; map of the area surrounding Darden; contact your Client Operations Manager for more information.
Should I rent a car? What is the parking like?
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A rental car is NOT needed for your stay. We recommend driving only if necessary because parking is limited at The Darden School. For multi-week programs, there is free time on the weekend to rent a car. For events during the week, however, we will provide transportation. If you must bring your car, please obtain a parking permit when checking in at the Gatehouse. This permit will only be valid in the Sponsors Executive Residence Center (D-5) lot.
Where should I stay? Where do I eat?
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Lodging is included in the program fee. Living accommodations for most Executive Education programs will be reserved at Sponsors Executive Residence Center—conveniently adjacent to The Darden School—which includes air-conditioned private rooms with bath, telephone, color TV, clock radio, and individual temperature control (handicapped rooms are also available); discussion-group rooms; two meeting rooms; a fully equipped exercise room; and a recreation area. Valet laundry service is available. At times it may be necessary to house participants at a partnering hotel, which has been specifically chosen for use by Darden Executive Education for its excellent service and facilities. If the program you are attending is housed off-site at a partnering hotel, daily bus transportation will be provided. Any incidental charges incurred during your stay may be paid for at check-out with cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or personal check.
The Executive Residence Center is a nonsmoking facility. Pets are not allowed. (Please contact us if a service animal is required.)
Most meals are served in the Abbott Center dining room. If you have special dietary needs or any other special needs, please inform us in advance and we will do our best to meet your requirements.
What do I do when I arrive at Darden?
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Housing registration for Executive Education programs is in the Gatehouse at the Sponsors Executive Residence Center. The Gatehouse is located just inside The Darden School entrance on the right side of Duffy Boulevard.
Where can I stay if my flight arrangements require that I arrive a day early?
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If travel plans require early arrival or late departure, we can often accommodate you at Sponsors Executive Residence Center. Please contact the Gatehouse directly at 434.243.5000 to determine room availability. In the event the Sponsors Executive Residence Center is booked, we suggest you make reservations at one of the following hotels:
Please call us directly at 434.924.3000 if we can be of assistance.
Do the bedrooms have computers with Internet access? Do I need to bring a laptop computer?
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Sponsors Executive Residence Center rooms include air-conditioned rooms, each with a private bathroom, cable television, telephone with voicemail, and high-speed Internet hookup. Participants whose e-mail systems reside on servers directly accessible from the Internet will be able to access their systems from Darden and process their e-mails. If your e-mail server is not accessible from the Internet, the only other available method to access your e-mail is via the below-mentioned dial-out process from the Sponsors Executive Residence Center. Your computer must be able to accept a Darden IP-address and not be restricted to a proxy server for your LAN. It is your responsibility to have your computer configured properly with the assistance of your company's information technology department. There will not be technical computer assistance available on-site at Darden.
A laptop is not required; however, participants who bring a notebook computer can access their corporate e-mail systems from their sleeping rooms using the Ethernet port. Those participants who must use a modem to log on to their corporate e-mail systems will have access to analog phone lines in specified Sponsors Executive Residence Center learning team rooms. For modem use, dialing for outside access is 9, and we recommend that you insert a 4-second pause to connect to an external line. From that point, you can access any commercial long-distance provider through your regular protocol. All guestrooms are equipped with 110VAC, 50 Hz, standard American electric outlets. We do not have international conversion devices available to participants. To ensure compatibility, please plan to bring the necessary adapters with you to Darden.
The Darden computing environment is based on microcomputers using Intel-compatible computers that run versions of Microsoft Windows Vista or XP. Darden has an extensive Ethernet with over 1,140 network connections, including 18 "wired" classrooms. Workstations are available in all Darden School classrooms, learning team rooms, and the library. Darden computers are supported by local printers (HP LaserJet) in each learning team room and conveniently placed network printers. In addition, learning team rooms have a workstation and attached LaserJet printer. Every general-purpose workstation can access the Internet.
What should I wear?
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Dress will be casual for the program unless otherwise noted in the cover letter or preliminary schedule. We do suggest a coat in the winter and a lightweight sweater or jacket at other times of the year.
What time does the program begin? What time does it end?
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Typically, most programs begin on the evening of the first day. Programs usually end midday on the last day, and, in such cases, we recommend flights after 2:00 PM on that day. Some programs, however, will conclude at other times. Please contact your Client Operations Manager directly regarding your particular program schedule. Cab service to the airport can be arranged at the front desk of the Gatehouse while you are here.
What sort of recreational facilities are available?
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The Darden Fitness Center is located on the ground level of the East Wing of the Sponsors Executive Residence Center. The Center offers equipment oriented towards both aerobic and strength conditioning, and includes exercise bikes, a treadmill, stair machine, and universal weight machine.
The North Grounds Recreation Center is located across from the Sponsors Executive Residence Center. The main gym floor houses two full basketball courts which can also be used for volleyball and badminton. This facility also includes cardiovascular equipment, light weight dumbbells, strength training machines, three handball/
racquetball courts, two squash courts, two multipurpose/group exercise rooms, and locker rooms with showers. Equipment and towels are available for rental. Court shoes with white-bottom soles must be worn in the North Grounds Recreation Center. When requested, participants will be issued a guest pass which is valid at this and ALL other University athletic facilities, including tennis courts and an aquatic/fitness center that is located 1.5 miles from Darden. Those interested in playing golf should contact the program's Client Operations Manager.
Do you offer an Executive MBA?
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This innovative degree program combines the compelling strengths for our highly regarded Executive Education and full-time MBA programs--the enterprise perspective, the rigor and relevance, and the outstanding faculty. In a 22-month format, the charter class of the Darden MBA for Executives met from June 2006 to March 2008. More complete information.
Are course hours transferable if you are working on an MBA through another program/school? 
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Darden Executive Education hours are not applicable to MBA studies at Darden. Darden Executive Education offers three Certificates of Specialization options. (Refer to image at right to learn more about these options.)
Participants should contact the school in which they are enrolled to determine if Executive Education courses are transferable for credit.
Do you offer CEUs and CPEs?
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Darden Executive Education programs may count toward continuing education units (CEUs). For information on obtaining these credits, please contact the Client Operations Manager for your program or call 434.924.3000.
CPE credits are calculated according to a formula from the Department of Accountancy and are based on the number of class contact hours. Evening study groups and activities outside of the classroom do not count toward CEUs or CPEs. Please contact us to inquire about your particular program of interest.
May I bring my spouse/guest? If so, is there an additional cost for lodging and meals?
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Due to the time commitment and expectations of the program, we discourage bringing outside guests with you to Darden. However, if you choose to bring a spouse/guest, there is a $10 per night charge. If guests opt to join participants for any meals, the additional charges are as follows: breakfast $10, lunch $16, dinner $40, and reception $12. Please, no pets (with the exception of service animals).
Is there any shopping within walking distance to The Darden School?
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Barracks Road Shopping Center is located within walking distance from Darden; the walk will take approximately 15 minutes. This shopping area has a variety of restaurants together with clothing, grocery, and specialty shops.
Does Darden offer off-site or online programs?
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Because we believe that the complete learning experience is best delivered at Darden, we do not frequently offer off-site programs. We offer custom programs at specific organizations, although this is usually done after the inaugural program and several additional sessions have been held at Darden.