Travel Logistics
The conference will be held in Northfield, MN, at Carleton College. It begins at 8:00 am Central on Thursday, March 27 and ends at 12:00 pm Central on Friday, March 28. Participants are expected to attend the entire conference. Friday return flights from MSP airport should be scheduled for after 2:45 pm to include time for the shuttle from Northfield to MSP airport and the airport security checkpoint.
This conference is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. We currently have access to these funds and are moving forward as planned, however, things are continuing to evolve rapidly. We will actively communicate any changes to registered participants as they may arise.
Conference Location
The conference venue is the Weitz Center for Creativity (Google Maps location open in a new tab) at Carleton College. The address is 320 3rd St E, Northfield, MN 55057. When you arrive, there will be signage to direct you to the main conference room, Weitz 236 (Larson Room).
Getting there
- Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) is the closest airport to Northfield. Carleton College is located south of MSP and travel to and from the airport takes approximately one hour.
- The conference organizers will arrange shuttle service between the MSP airport and Northfield, MN, for all participants.
- Only Economy/Main Cabin tickets are reimbursable, other tickets (e.g., business class) are not allowable expenses.
- To attend the entire conference, Friday return flights from MSP airport should be scheduled for after 2:45 pm to include time for the shuttle from Northfield to MSP airport and the airport security checkpoint.
- There are Amtrak routes that serve the Minneapolis-St Paul region.
- Only Coach tickets are reimbursable, other tickets (e.g., business class) are not allowable expenses.
- The hotel is 0.4 miles walking (0.6 miles driving) from the venue.
Parking at the Conference Venue
For those driving directly to the venue, parking is free of charge at the hotels and meeting venue.
Hotel Information
Lodging is provided at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 114 2nd St W, Northfield, MN 55057. Check-in is at 3pm and checkout is at noon. There are many restaurant options located near the hotel.
Checking in
A room has been reserved in your name for the nights you indicated on your registration form. The room will be billed directly to the grant, so you will just need to provide a credit card for incidentals.
Parking at the Hotel
The hotel has a parking lot on site and overnight parking is included in your room reservation.
Meals
Breakfast
A continental breakfast is provided and will be open 7:00–8:30 am. Allergies have been communicated to the hotel, so they should be aware of specific accommodations.
Lunch and Dinner
Lunch and dinner will be covered at federal per diem rates. Please keep and plan to turn in receipts. Northfield has many restaurants within walking distance of the Weitz Center and the Fairfield Inn.
- Dining options:
- Dining options near campus (Acrobat (PDF) 160kB Mar12 25)
- Sayles Cafe (on campus dining open for lunch)
FAQ
- Do I need to book a hotel? No, you do not need to book your room.
- Should I make my travel arrangements? Yes! Please go ahead and book transportation if you haven't already done so.
- Should I rent a car? No, the conference organizers will arrange shuttle service between MSP airport and Northfield, MN.
- How do I access the travel funds? Travel expenses will be reimbursed (up to $400) after the event. You will be asked to provide digital copies of your receipts for airfare, baggage fees, ground transportation, and/or parking (if applicable). Gas in your personal vehicle is not reimbursable, but mileage will be accounted for. Details on the reimbursement process will be posted on the conference website prior to the event.
- Is the hotel part of my $400 travel funds? No, the hotel costs will be direct billed to the grant and you have the full $400 available for your additional travel costs.
- What if I need more than $400? We understand that people coming from different locations will have different travel costs. We will use the estimates you provided in your registration to do our best to accommodate additional needs as we are able during the reimbursement process.
- What if my expenses are less than $400? You will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred. Any funds you don't need will go to help offset costs for those coming from further away.