U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Program Information:
January 21 - February 1, 2019 USPAS Session in Knoxville Tennessee, USA
Classes, meals, sleeping rooms, the Computer Lab and the Study Room will all be held at the Hilton Knoxville (501 West Church Ave, Knoxville Tennessee 37902-2591). Classes ending on Friday, January 25 or Friday, February 1 will finish at 12:00 (noon). When booking return air tickets students should allow time for their class to end at noon plus transportation time to the airport before selecting their flight time home.
Registration Fee
The Registration Fee is $1,700.00 if your Application Form is received before September 14, 2017; after September 14 the Fee increases to $1,800.00. The Registration Fee is prorated to $1,200.00 for students attending a one-week class. Please note: you do not have to pay the Registration Fee by September 14, you must send in the Application Form before September 14. The $1,700/$1,800 Registration Fee includes12 breakfasts and dinners. The $1,200 registration fee includes 5 breakfasts and dinners.
Scholarships
To be considered for financial support you must submit four documents: an application form; a cover letter explaining why the USPAS is important to your career and describing prior research experience, work with or as a user of particle accelerators; your CV; at least one letter of recommendation. USPAS scholarships are awarded without regard to race, gender or national origin. Consideration will be given to balancing class sizes.
Note: International students requesting a scholarship who are NOT from U.S. visa-waiver countries must already be in possession of a visa that is valid for the entire period of the USPAS session. A copy of your visa must be faxed (630-840-8500) to the USPAS before the September 14th deadline date.
If you are AUDITING your course
If you are auditing your course(s), you will not enroll at Northern Illinois University and will not earn a grade. You are not required to complete homework assignments nor take any exams. Please submit the USPAS Audit Form (sent to you via email) by December 3, 2018.
If you are taking your course for CREDIT
If you are taking your course(s) for credit, you will enroll at Northern Illinois University through the USPAS and will fully participate in class. Students enrolled for credit are expected to complete homework, take all exams and participate fully in class. If you successfully pass your class you will earn 3 NIU credits. Please submit the NIU/USPAS Enrollment Form (sent to you via email) and return to us by December 3, 2018.
Academic Status at Northern Illinois University
Students must make final confirmation of their choice to take their course for credit or audit on or before Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Official transcripts will be maintained by Northern Illinois University. Students receiving financial support from the USPAS must enroll for university credit. Foreign nationals receiving financial support from the USPAS may not enroll for credit, but they must participate fully in all aspects of their session.
International participants
This USPAS program is open to participation by both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. The program is an intense learning experience sponsored by Northern Illinois University from January 21 - February 1, 2019 only. Because this program is not a course of full-time study, an F visa (student visa) is not appropriate. We believe a B visa (visitor/business visa) or Visa Waiver is appropriate. International participants not currently residing in the U.S. may attend the program and may request financial sponsorship, but they may not earn credit from NIU. International participants receiving financial support from the USPAS must participate fully in all aspects of their session and will receive a letter confirming their attendance and rating their performance. Failure to turn in assignments or take exams could jeopardize financial support awarded by the USPAS.
Note: International students requesting a scholarship who are NOT from U.S. visa-waiver countries must already be in possession of a visa that is valid for the entire period of the USPAS session. A copy of your visa must be faxed to the USPAS at (630-840-8500) before the September 14th deadline date.
Please submit an International Participant Registration Form (emailed to you) and return to the USPAS Office by December 3, 2019.
USPAS Registration and Course Check-In
Registration will be held on Sunday January 20, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Hilton Knoxville (501 West Church Ave, Knoxville Tennessee 37902-2591) with dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The USPAS Director will give a talk at 7:00 p.m.
If you do not register with the USPAS on Sunday night, you must register on Monday morning, January 21. If you arrive after registration hours Sunday night, please check the hotel information boards to locate the breakfast room. If you are scheduled to arrive for classes the second week only (January 28 - February 1), information will be provided so that you know when and where meals will be served, what your classroom assignment is, and to remind you to check-in with the USPAS staff Monday morning of the second week. The USPAS Office will be open weekdays beginning Monday, January 21, during normal business hours.
Housing
By reserving your hotel room via the link we provide to you, you may take advantage of a special reduced hotel room rate and any extras (discounted parking, free Wi-Fi in your sleeping room, etc) that we have negotiated for our participants at the Hilton Knoxville. Hotel rooms are available for $97.00 plus tax per night for a single room and a double room (shared by 2 people) will be $48.50 plus tax per person per night. Rooms may be reserved at our rate 3 days before and 3 days after our program dates, based on hotel availability.
The Hilton Knoxville has a fitness room. Each sleeping room has a hair dryer, alarm clock, iron/ironing board and coffee-maker with complimentary coffee. There is an ATM on-site as well as a 24-hour fitness facility. There is a full service Starbucks bar in the hotel lobby. Hotel check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out is 12 p.m. (noon).
Please confirm your departure date when you check-in to the hotel as they will charge an Early Departure Fee (equal to one night of housing) if you change your departure date after check-in.
As is true with any hotel, this hotel may impose access and service charges in addition to time charges for phone calls (even for credit card or 800-number calls) so it is wise to confirm applicable charges from your sleeping room before using the telephone in your room.
All USPAS participants should make their hotel room reservation through the link we sent in your acceptance email. All reservations require a one-night deposit to hold your room. No charge will be made to your credit card unless you fail to cancel your reservation as directed on the form, i.e., 72 hrs. in advance of your scheduled arrival. If your deposit is made by check, it will be credited to your stay or it will be refunded if cancellation is made before the deadline (or returned to you if you are a scholarship student). We never recommend using a debit card for your one-night deposit or to pay for your hotel room. The hotel will "hold" an amount of money on your debit card and it could take your bank several days (or longer) to release that hold. You would not have access to those funds during the "hold" period.
Even if your accommodations are being paid for by the USPAS, you must guarantee your arrival by credit card or by a check in US dollars (the one-night deposit). Please remember that this is only a guarantee (a deposit). After your arrival, the room charges for housing scholarship students will be paid directly by the USPAS and your deposit (if made by check) will be returned to you. If your guarantee is made by credit card and you arrive as scheduled, no room charges will be put on your card. It is important that you tell us if your travel plans do not match what is on the web form; note that some date changes may make you responsible for payment, e.g., if you arrive earlier than or stay later than School dates. Also, if you are scheduled to have a roommate and one does not appear, notify the USPAS Office the following morning so that your room can be reassigned if necessary. Otherwise you may be responsible for room charges.
Supported students are also advised that the hotel will require a credit card or a cash deposit upon arrival to guarantee payment of any personal charges to your room which are not included in USPAS financial support; these charges would include telephone calls, room service, restaurant charges, in-room movies, etc. We do not recommend that you use a debit card for this type of payment guarantee.
Please note if you are receiving financial support from the USPAS to cover your sleeping room: the USPAS will only pay for your room during the dates of the program. If you arrive earlier or stay later than those dates, you are responsible for paying the extra cost.
The hotel has a parking garage and our discounted rate to self-park is $10.00 per day.
Meals
Breakfasts and dinners are included in the USPAS Registration Fee. USPAS dinners will be provided from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning Sunday, January 20 through Thursday, January 31 (including the weekend, i.e. 12 dinners). Breakfasts will be provided from 7:30 to 9 a.m. daily from Monday January 21 through Friday February 1. USPAS meal tickets for accompanying persons must be purchased separately from the USPAS Office. Attendees are free to make their own lunch arrangements and there are many places within walking distance of the hotel including Market Square which is about a 3 minute walk.
Study Room
USPAS Study is scheduled at the hotel every evening from 7:00 p.m. to midnight (including the weekend).
Computer Lab and Internet Access
The USPAS will provide a Computer Lab with Internet access for classroom, homework and email purposes. Participants are free to use the PCs in the Computer Lab when the room is not scheduled for class. The Computer Lab is open from 6:30 a.m. to midnight (including the weekend). There is complimentary Wi-Fi in all of the classrooms.
Airport and Ground Transportation
McGhee Tyson International Airport (TYS) http://flyknoxville.com/ is the nearest airport at about 15 miles from the hotel (approx drive time is 20 minutes). A taxi is approx $35.00 each way.