Leadership Skagit FAQs

Leadership Skagit is a program of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, in partnership with Skagit Valley College. Over the past 20+ years, the program has graduat¬ed more than 600 participants. The vision of Leadership Skagit is to develop leaders at all levels in our community. 

The lessons provide the skills needed to engage in complex issues, increasing the capacity to be reflective, build trust, listen to diverse viewpoints, and collaboratively seek solutions. You will learn about your own strengths and the leadership roles where you can make a difference.

The monthly Challenge Days introduce you to varied facets of the county, with themes such as Economic Vitality, Ecology Skagit, Law & Justice, and Arts & Culture. You’ll meet govern-ment officials and Tribal representatives, as well as nonprofit and business leaders.

Life-long residents report that they may have thought they knew everything there was to know about the region, but they were surprised at how much they learned during partici-pation in the Leadership Skagit program. 

Leadership Skagit’s curriculum is developed and led by Skagit Valley College, with input from community members working in related fields and Leadership Skagit alumni. The rigorous program is based on the latest research on community leadership models, incor-porating elements of adaptive, collaborate and servant leadership concepts, among others. It is eligible for 17 college credits upon completion.

Graduates universally say that they made lasting relationships not only among their peers in their class but also feel comfortable and encouraged to seek out other graduates for networking and collaboration. 

No. Participants may either live or work in Skagit County.

Leadership Skagit is conducted entirely in English. There is a Latino Leadership program at Skagit Valley College for Spanish speakers. We do encourage all to apply, even if English is not their first language.

Tuition is $3,250 for companies and public agencies. Small businesses (10 employees or fewer), individuals and nonprofits pay a discounted rate of $2,650.

Often, employers pay the tuition of the student they nominate for the program. It is encour-aged that participants pay a portion of their tuition, as decided between them and their em-ployer. Independent business owners and community members need to fund their own tuition, but are also encouraged to seek support through civic, business or community groups they are affiliated with.

Yes, partial scholarships as well as payment plans are available. Requests are reviewed by the program’s scholarship committee.

The Challenge Days and Retreats are held during the work week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s important to get your employer’s support of the time you will need to devote to the program. The graduation is a weekday evening event. The group projects are planned by each group according to their capacity and interests. 

Be advised the program is a significant time commitment, and we wish for all attendees to be aware and plan accordingly. Challenge and retreat days involve about four hours of pre-work and group projects take additional time, determined by the group members. Estimate at least 150 hours total.

We allow up to 8 hours of absence for personal or health reasons. Any additional time missed needs to be discussed with the EDASC program manager. It’s our goal that you get the most out of the program, and we ask you look at your schedule to compare program dates and en¬sure you can manage it within your current obligations.