Every day, important decisions get made that have an impact on your life and future. Those decisions don't just get made in the halls of government, they get made in your local community center, on your campus, in your neighborhood, within organizations to which you belong, and in any environment where people are working together to make things happen. Participating in civic and political activities means being a part of the decision-making process and making your voice heard. At NEW Leadership Puget Sound, you'll get a chance to meet all kinds of women leaders who are making a difference. NEW Leadership will help you build the skills to join them.

What can participants expect to gain?

Participating in NEW Leadership Puget Sound is a time to:

• Further your professional development
• Enhance existing skills and develop new ones
• Join a network of emergent and established leaders
• Work and have fun with real-world women leaders and students from across Puget Sound.

How much does it cost?

The only cost to students who are accepted for admission is a $150.00 non-refundable registration fee. For students who have concerns about being able to meet this cost, first apply using the on-line application below, and then email NEW Leadership Puget Sound (newlead@u.washington.edu) for information about scholarship support.

Who is eligible?

Any undergraduate who attends a two-year college or a four-year university in the Puget Sound region (or has a permanent address in the Puget Sound area) and is enrolled for the 2008-2009 academic school year is eligible to apply. You don't need to be a political science major or be involved in formal political roles to be considered. In fact, we're looking for students with all kinds of interests and backgrounds: we've had students with majors as diverse as music, engineering, journalism, neuroscience, Spanish, and business.

What are the expectations for students who participate in the institute?

NEW Leadership Puget Sound participants are expected to attend all scheduled events and meals during the program, which will begin the morning of Monday, June 15, 2009, and end on the afternoon of Saturday, June 20, 2009. Our typical day of scheduled events will begin at 8:00 am and end at 7:00 pm. Students are expected to remain on site at the Talaris Conference Center for the duration of each day's activities. Students with responsibilities for pets, children and households are advised to arrange for assistance during the institute so that they can devote full attention to the NEW Leadership experience. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the institute. Parking is free and bus service is available.

Application period

We will begin accepting applications for the 2009 institute in January 2009. Please return to our website to apply at that time.

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