Frequently Asked Questions about the London Program Directorship
What does being the London Program Director entail?
The London Program Director serves as the coordinator of UNH's program at Regent's College in London for the academic year. S/he works in close conjunction with the UNH London Program Office on the UNH campus. The Director has several duties:
- in the year before leaving for London, the Director works with the UNH London Program Coordinator (Doug Lanier) and the London Program Administrator (Lisa Mulvey) on recruitment and pre-orientation. The Director is expected to attend information meetings (early in the fall and spring semesters) and the pre-orientation meeting (on the last Friday of the fall and spring semester), as well as to answer e-mail queries from students. It is important that the director be available by e-mail during the summer before s/he takes residence in London.
- for one academic year the Director will reside at Regent's College in London. During that year, s/he will:
- teach 3 courses for Regent's College in his/her specialty area (to be negotiated with Regent’s College).
- provide orientation sessions and support for UNH students in the London Program.
- provide some recreational and social activities for UNH London Program students.
- manage a small budget and keep track of receipts, coordinating with the COLA Business Service Center.
- attend the Affiliates meeting in early January.
- be point person in London in the case of an emergency.
- work closely with Doug Lanier and Lisa Mulvey as a liaison with Regent's College and the students.
- serve as an advisor for students in such matters as drop-add, pre-registration, and the like. It will be your responsibility to enforce the Program’s policies about registration matters. However, final approval for all changes in student schedule remains in the hands of the student's home advisor at UNH, with whom students will stay in touch by e-mail.
Your heaviest workload will come in the first and last two weeks of the semesters.
How will I be trained?
We’ve created a lengthy and detailed manual for the Director in which many details of the position are explained. In addition, you will be expected to meet at least twice with Douglas Lanier before leaving, so that the two of you can go over program policies and expectations. However, one of the duties entails troubleshooting, so you can expect to rely on your good judgment and ingenuity in some unanticipated situations. Most former Directors have reported that September requires a steep learning curve as you settle into life in London and at Regent’s; however, they also report that after September work typically settles into a routine.
What is Regent's College like?
Regent's College is located in central London, in the midst of Regent's Park. The location is ideal not only for its proximity to the city but also for its bucolic beauty and calm. The student body of Regent's College numbers roughly 400. The student body is split in half among two main constituencies. One half consists of US study abroad students, mostly small groups (4-5 students) from colleges all over the country; UNH is the largest group among these study abroad students. The other half of the Regent's College student body consists of international students, many of whom are enrolled in Regent's European Business School. Your classes might include students from both of these constituencies.
How many UNH students attend the London Program?
This number varies from semester to semester. In the fall semester, we've typically had 20-25 students; in the spring semester, we've typically had 40-50 students.
Where does the London Program Director live?
The UNH London Program pays for an on-campus flat for the Director. The 4-room, third-floor flat includes an en-suite bathroom (with toilet and shower), a fully-equipped kitchen, a bedroom, and a living room, as well as storage space. The flat is fully furnished and fairly well-appointed; it includes a telephone, TV, DVD and VCR hookups, a port for an internet connection, a printer-copier-fax machine, and a fold-out sofa for accommodating guests. Most former directors have found it quite comfortable. Pictures of the flat are available on request. Though the flat is on-campus, it is isolated from the student dormitory and has a separate entrance which includes a security system.
How long does the directorship last?
The London Program Director is required to live on campus throughout the academic year. We expect the director to arrive no earlier than mid- to late-August. The director may leave as soon as the spring semester has completed, but the director is welcome to remain in residence in the flat until the first of August. We expect the director to vacate the flat by the first of August so that it can be cleaned and refurbished for the in-coming director.
Must I remain in residence on campus all the time?
We expect the Director to be available to UNH students while the academic semesters are in session. It's perfectly OK to leave for travel for a weekend occasionally if you make yourself available by mobile phone. When classes are not in session, you are free to travel at your leisure.
What will the London Program pay for?
For the Director the London Program will pay for the following:
- a single round-trip ticket between London and Boston. (If you choose to travel more than once during the year between London and the US, you must pay for any additional tickets.)
- all expenses related to getting the proper visas. (We will also help you with the paperwork for all visa applications.)
- the rental on the faculty flat (which includes utilities, but not phone service, normal incidental supplies, or food).
- office-type expenses related to the program (for copy paper, print cartridges, and the like).
- provisions for the College and home department to arrange suitable course replacement.
You will also receive your regular UNH salary.
The London Program will not reimburse the following expenses:
- food, except in those cases where you are entertaining UNH London Program students.
- items for the Faculty Flat, except with prior approval.
- transportation costs in London.
- compensation for the fluctuating exchange rate.
- gym membership.
- personal expenses related to living abroad.
- mobile phone and phone service to the flat (except those long-distance calls which are related to program business).
What are the tax implications of living abroad for the year?
You should consult with your accountant or financial advisor for a definitive answer to this question. However, you should know that if you live abroad for a certain number of days within a single year, you may be eligible for an exemption from US taxes.
What is teaching like at Regent's College?
Classes are taught on a two-day schedule, either MW or TR; there are no Friday classes. Typically Regent's classes are rather less demanding than UNH classes, so that students can take advantage of the opportunity to travel on the long weekends. Library services are somewhat limited, so courses that demand in-depth research projects are not appropriate. Your classes might include not only US study-abroad students but also international students enrolled at Regent's. Typically the London Program Director will teach two classes in the fall and one class in the spring. You'll find the regular teaching staff at Regent's College welcoming and friendly. The College does have typical audio-visual and computing resources for classroom use, and copying services are provided for free.
How expensive is it to live in London?
London is an expensive city for Americans these days. The exchange rate in late 2011 was roughly $1.70 to one British pound, which means that many daily items are more expensive as they might be at home. However, food staples remain relatively cheap in Britain, and you will quickly learn several ways to economize. It's important to remember that you will not have the expense of a car (groceries and shopping are within walking distance) and that the flat and basic utilities are fully paid for. Travel to Europe is quite cheap if you are willing to take economy airlines and travel at inconvenient times (early morning, evening).
