Workshop Logistics

Travel | Accommodations | Communications | Meals | What to Expect in State College, PA

Workshop Details

The program will begin on Tuesday, May 30th, at 4 pm at Penn State University and will conclude on Thursday, June 1st at 2 pm. If you cannot arrive on Tuesday in time for the 4 pm opening session, please plan to travel on Monday and indicate that on your travel information form.

Travel

Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the workshop. Maps and directions to Penn State University are available on the Penn State University website.

Travel by Air

University Park Airport is the main airport in State College. We recommend arriving no later than 3:00 pm on Tuesday, May 30th, and departing after 4:00 pm on Thursday, June 1st because travel to and from the airport takes 20 minutes. There is a hotel shuttle to and from the airport. Alternatively, Penn State is also 3.5 hours from Baltimore (BWI) airport, 3 hours from Pittsburg (PIT) airport, and 1.5 hours from Harrisburg (MDT) airport.

Participants should arrange their own flight and ground transportation. The Nittany Lion Inn offers a complimentary shuttle service from 6 AM to 11 PM. Shuttles must be reserved in advance, which can be done from the hotel website. Rental car service is available at both airports. Taxi service is available from the University Park Airport to the Nittany Lion Inn hotel.

Travel by Car

State College is located within driving distance of many major cities including Harrisburg (1.5 hrs., 90 mi), Pittsburgh (3 hrs., 137 mi), Philadelphia (3.5 hrs., 194 mi), Baltimore (3 hrs., 155 mi), Washington D.C. (4 hrs., 190 mi), New York City (4.5 hrs., 250 mi) and Toronto (6.5 hrs., 304 mi).

For complete driving instructions, Pennsylvania State University has a useful website that provides directions and maps from major cities. The Nittany Lion Inn is on the Penn State campus. Complete driving directions to the workshop venue.

Accommodations

A hotel block has been reserved at the Nittany Lion Inn arriving on Tuesday, May 30th and departing on Thursday, June 1st. We will be making the hotel reservations for accepted participants following the close of the registration period.

The hotel is 3 blocks from the workshop building. Please let us know if you have any concerns about accommodations or mobility. Accepted participants in need of other arrangements can include information on the registration form.

Hotel location
Steidle Building location

Communications

All applicants that have been accepted to this workshop will be added to a workshop participant email list. The email lists will be used by the conveners and support staff to send out additional information about the workshop program and logistics.

The hotel rooms and workshop meeting rooms all have free wireless internet access.

Each participant will need a laptop computer during the workshop. Please let us know when you register if you are unable to bring your own laptop.

Meals

Breakfast will be available at the Nittany Lion Hotel each morning of the workshop.

For lunches and dinners, we will have a combination of dining hall and catered meals with time for excursions to local restaurants. All meals will include vegetarian offerings. If you are selected to attend the workshop, you will have the opportunity to provide information about requirements for special meals. The price of all meals during the workshop is covered.

What to Expect in State College, PA

State College is the location of the main campus of Penn State University. The Town of State College (population around 39,000), located right in the middle of Pennsylvania in Happy Valley, is called a quintessential college town, with quaint eateries and small shops in their downtown area. Pennsylvania State University is just blocks from downtown, within easy walking distance. The area around the university is know as University Park. State College has been ranked the lowest stress city in the United States by Psychology Today. Mount Nittany is a famous landmark, named for the mythical princess Nita-Nee of the Delaware tribe. Late May/early June should be temperate with some chance of precipitation; you can expect temperatures between 56 and 78 degrees. You might want to come prepared with an umbrella or rain coat.

Contact Numbers

John McDaris (SERC staff): 507-222-7938