The University of Washington Leon CenterCreating a Program at the Leon Center
OVERVIEW OF THE LEON CENTER
The University of Washington Leon Center is administered by the College of Arts & Sciences. It is staffed year-round by an On-site Coordinator, and is supported on campus in Seattle by the Director of Program Development and the Executive Director.
PROGRAM PLANNING
The Director of Program Development in Seattle can advise faculty on matters of program length, activities to supplement coursework, student orientations, and budget. Program Directors should contact the Director of Program Development regarding program scheduling, including the availability of space at the Center. In conjunction with the Director of Program Development, our On-site Coordinator in Leon will assist with arranging student housing, excursions, and special permissions for program visits.
If you are considering proposing a study abroad program, please keep in mind that the University of Washington Study Abroad Office has established deadlines for when proposals and budgets must be turned in. For the most up-to-date information, please consult their Proposing a Program webpage.
PROGRAM BUDGET
The Director of Program Development can help you create a budget for your program or conference in Leon. If you would like to put together your own budget, this Budget Guidelines Sheet can be used to estimate the cost of your program. You may also want to consult the UW Study Abroad Office's Creating a Proposal Budget webpage for additional information.
SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES IN LEON
It is possible to arrange a 2-5 credit Spanish language and/or culture class as part of your program in Leon, given by local faculty at the University of Leon Language Center. Students can either be enrolled directly in an appropriate class at the University of Leon Language Center, or participate in a class open only to your students (provided that at least 10 of your students are at the same level of Spanish). Upon arrival in Leon, students will be given a placement test by the University of Leon Language Center in order to enroll them in a class at the appropriate level. At the end of the program, the Director of Program Development will report the grades for the Spanish class to the Program Director, and you should include them on the grade report you turn in to the Study Abroad Office.
PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to award SPAN credit for the Spanish class in Leon, you must contact the Chair of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, Donald Gilbert-Santamaría (donalgs@uw.edu), for permission.
FACULTY EXPECTATIONS
Program Directors should plan to arrive at least 1 day before the program start date, provided your program begins in Leon. If your program ends in Leon, you should also plan to stay at least 1 day after the end date, to be present for student departures and tie up any loose ends.
Although there is an on-site coordinator in Leon to assist you, Program Directors are expected to be the first point of contact for their students. This includes being available for students in the case of weekend and evening emergencies. We strongly encourage Program Directors to plan any personal travel prior to or following the completion of the academic program in Leon. When it is necessary for program faculty to be absent, arrangments should be made with the On-site Coordinator in Leon to assist with student emergencies.
FACULTY APARTMENTS
Program Directors will stay in apartments in or near the city center, and housing will be arranged by Leon Center staff. If you have a special housing request, please let the Director of Program Development know as soon as possible so that we can try to accommodate it.
STUDENT HOUSING
There are two options for housing in Leon: homestays with local families, or placement in a university residence hall. Please let the Director of Program Development know which housing option you prefer for program participants, so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
CHILD CARE
Program Directors planning to bring family to Leon are responsible for arranging for child care (if necessary). Although our On-site Coordinator in Leon may be able to suggest child care options, Leon Center staff cannot guarantee the quality of any provider or organization.
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
Due to the complexities of arranging excursions, Program Directors should communicate their excursion information/needs to the Director of Program Development as soon as possible- at least two months before the start of the program. This is especially important if you plan to visit sites requiring reservations or special permission.
If you make changes to the dates and/or locations of your excursions after reservations have been made, please be aware that the prices originally quoted for the trip cannot be guaranteed. Changes in reservation dates for transportation and hotels can often be costly and may prove impossible at certain times of the year.
ORIENTATIONS IN SEATTLE AND LEON
Seattle: It is required by the UW Study Abroad Office that Program Directors hold a number of orientation sessions in Seattle prior to departing for Leon. These sessions should include the specific issues covered on the pre-departure information page for students. As part of these sessions, Program Directors should impress upon participants that their individual actions in Leon affect the entire group, and that they represent the University of Washington and the Leon Center itself while participating in the program.
The Director of Program Development is available to attend one or more of your orientations in Seattle to cover Leon-specific information and answer any participant questions. This is especially recommended for those directors who are new to leading a program in Leon.
Leon: During the first few days of the program, our On-site Coordinator in Leon will conduct a student orientation session. This orientation will cover Leon Center rules and various aspects of living and studying in Leon.
CLERICAL SUPPORT IN LEON
The Leon Center is not staffed to provide clerical support to Program Directors. Our On-site Coordinator cannot provide assistance with typing, photocopying, running errands, or assist with personal travel arrangements.
COMPUTERS
We recommend that Program Directors bring a laptop to Leon, as the Center is outfitted with high-speed Wi-Fi and you will be able to print wirelessly to the Leon Center printer. The Leon Center does have one computer on site, though it is intended for student use.