Workshop Logistics

Workshop timing | Location | Travel | Accommodations | Meals

Workshop Timing

The workshop will begin on Sunday afternoon, October 25^th, 2026, at 2:00pm at Carleton College, with optional small group Mentoring Sessions. The formal workshop begins at 5:00pm on the 25^th. The workshop concludes at 2:00pm on Tuesday, October 27^th. If traveling on Sunday will make you late for the 5:00pm all-group opening session, please plan to travel on Saturday instead to enable you to be present for the entire workshop.

Optional Pre-Workshop Mentoring Sessions

Participants can sign up for and attend Mentoring Sessions with MATLAB experts on Sunday afternoon, October 25^th. The program for this session will begin tentatively at 2:00pm and conclude around 4:00pm. Workshop participants who sign up for this session should plan to arrive at MSP Airport no later than 12:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet with mentors 1-on-1. Although there will be some scheduled self-paced trainings, you can use the sessions to focus on what matters most to you.

A sign-up sheet will be shared closer to the workshop.

A few suggestions for focus areas for the session:

• Curriculum Planning: Seek advice on refining your curriculum.
• Teaching Activities: Discuss your teaching activity and gather feedback.
• Teaching Tools: Get tips on using MATLAB teaching tools effectively.
• MATLAB and Application Areas: Explore new areas of MATLAB and computing.

Location

The workshop will be held at Carleton College, at the Weitz Center for Creativity (Google Maps location; opens in a new tab). Lodging is available at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield. See accommodations for more on booking your lodging.

Northfield, MN

Northfield is a small town about 40 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (about a one hour drive). Minnesota's weather in October is highly variable, so please pack accordingly. Check the weather close to the workshop to prepare for snow, rain, or sun!

• Campus Map
• Carleton Visitor Info
• Northfield Current Weather and Forecast (NOAA)

Travel

Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the workshop.

• Book your travel early! Flights to Minneapolis-St Paul Airport are quite affordable when booked well in advance.
• Ground transportation to and from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport will be provided for you (see below).
• For planning purposes, we ask that you provide us with your travel information in advance. 

Travel by Air

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) is the closest airport to Northfield. Participants should plan to arrive at MSP Airport no later than 12:00pm on Sunday, October 25 to attend the Mentoring Sessions (2:00pm, if not). Flight departures should be no earlier than 4:30pm on Tuesday, October 27^th. Travel between Northfield and MSP Airport takes approximately one hour.

Shuttles to/from MSP Airport

Transportation between MSP Airport and the workshop will be provided for workshop participants traveling through MSP Airport. Shuttle services are available for participants only when requested via the Travel Information Form. Shuttle times and schedules will be arranged at the discretion of the workshop conveners and shuttle company. Shuttles from MSP airport to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield will be available:

• Saturday, October 24 - shuttles between 7:00am-10:00pm
• Sunday, October 25 - shuttles between 7:00am-3:30pm
• Tuesday, October 27 — a single shuttle departing at 2:00pm following the conclusion of the workshop

Please fill out the Travel Information Form and indicate whether you plan to utilize the shuttles.

If you book your travel outside the provided shuttle windows, you are responsible for arranging your transportation. Participants do not need to be flying through MSP Airport to take advantage of the shuttles, but you do need to be able to meet the shuttle at the airport pickup zone at the appropriate time.

If you have not scheduled a flight within the times of the offered shuttles, or need to leave the workshop earlier than the scheduled end time, we recommend scheduling a ride ahead of time using a rideshare program such as Lyft or Uber. Rideshare vehicles, particularly leaving from Northfield, may be harder to hire at the time of departure without scheduling them ahead of time.

Another option for any rides needed outside the shuttle times is the Northfield Metro Lines which runs from the airport and drops off at Willis Hall on the Carleton campus.

Travel by Rail

There are Amtrak routes that serve the Minneapolis-St Paul region.

Travel by Car

Northfield is about 40 miles south of Minneapolis-St.Paul. Participants within the region may choose to drive; parking is free of charge at the hotels and the meeting venue.

Accommodations

Participants are responsible for booking their own room at the workshop hotel (Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield). We have secured a group rate in a reserved block at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield. This is the closest hotel to the Carleton College campus and the workshop location.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield

A hotel block is reserved at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield for participants, including options for Saturday arrivals. The cost is approximately $199/night (after added taxes) within the reserved block. The last day to book in the room block is Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Book your room at Fairfield now »

The Weitz Center for Creativity is within walking distance of the selected hotel. Car transport between the hotel and Weitz Center can be arranged as needed with advance notice.

Meals

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Northfield will serve continental breakfast each morning.

Lunches, dinners, and refreshments that are part of the official workshop program will be catered or provided in Carleton dining facilities. All meals will include vegetarian offerings. You will have the opportunity to indicate dietary restrictions if you require special meals. The cost of all meals during the official workshop program is covered.

Questions?

Please contact Mitchell Bender-Awalt (mawalt@carleton.edu)