Frequently Asked Questions

Contacts:

Please first try e-mail to reach the workshop contacts. workshop+inres@ks.uiuc.edu.

If a matter is particularly urgent, contact David Brandon, Manager, TCBG:
Phone: 217-265-6480
Fax: 217-244-6078

Registration and Fees

Q: Does the workshop provide any financial aid?
A: Unfortunately we are unable to provide any financial assistance.

Q: What is covered in the registration fee?
A: Housing options, some workshop materials and some other instructional and event costs are included in the fee. Meals are not included.

Travel/Transportation

Q: I am not sure whether I could legally stay in the US for the workshop without a visa, or if this is not the case, what visa I would need. Do you know what the current regulations are and can you sponsor my visa application?
A: Please check all US entry-related matters on your end, as different countries have different immigration agreements with the US. We are not able to help with the entry processes to the US. As of October 26, 2004, there are some changes that international travelers to the U.S. should be aware of.  For the latest information about obtaining visas, visit the web site:  http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html

Q: What airport should I fly to?
A: The Willard Airport is approximately 10 miles from the university area. You can also fly to Chicago O'Hare airport (3 hr. driving to Champaign), to Indianapolis International airport (2 hr. driving), or to Bloomington, IL (45 min.).

Q: How can I get from and to the Willard airport to the UIUC campus?
A: Taxi service (~$15) and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD) bus system are popular options.

Q: Is there any shuttle service between Chicago/Indianapolis airports and the University campus?
A: Yes. LEX (Lincolnland Express) provides shuttle services from Chicago O'Hare, Midway airports and Indianapolis International airport to our campus. You need to make a reservation beforehand. From Chicago area you may also check Suburban Express, Baldwin Shuttle and Greyhound for transportation to Champaign-Urbana.

Q: What about train or automobile directions?
A: See the travel page "Directions to the Beckman Institute" for instructions on getting to the Champaign-Urbana area, and to the Beckman Institute which houses the TCBG.

Housing/Accommodations

Q: Where is the provided campus housing?
A: The housing is provided within the Illinois Street Residence Halls, in Wardall Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois. Check-in will be at the Illinois Street Residence Hall (ISR) front desk, at 1010 W. Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, phone number is 217-333-1766. If you arrive after 5:00 pm you will need to call the front desk from the call box located near the entrance to gain entry (after check-in, you will have an access card that provides entry).

Q: Can I stay longer before/after the workshop?
A: Housing is provided for 6/15 (check-in) and 6/28 (check-out). To extend your stay in the campus residence before or after the workshop, please complete this form. Or, you can arrange with other local area housing providers if you want to arrive earlier or stay longer than the listed dates.

Q: Is there parking at the housing facility?
A: Parking is available in lot D9 next to the Illinois Street Residence Hall (ISR) for $7 per day or $45 per week. In order to purchase a parking permit guests will need to complete a form at check-in that asks for vehicle information including the license plate number.

Q: Can I bring a spouse or significant other to share my workshop housing with me?
A: No. Anything outside of provided housing options you will have to arrange and pay for by yourself.

Q. Can TCBG help me pay for housing outside of the campus housing providers?
A: Possibly. TCBG may be able to pay for a few days of housing at other local housing providers, so long as it is for the participant only.

Training Location at the Beckman Institute

Q: Where is training provided?
A: Participants will be officed in the Visitor Center, Room 3029/30301, at the offices fo the Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, 405 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801.

Q: How do I get to the workshop location from the housing location?
A: Exit the residence halls to either Illinois Street or Green Street, and head west to find Goodwin Avenue; follow Goodwin north to Clark Street, and take it west to Mathews Avenue. The Beckman Institute is at the corner of University and Mathews, across from the parking garage (click here for the Google map version of the route). You will see a circular driveway between two brick gates, enter there and follow it to double doors into Beckman. Go to the elevators just past a large tv monitor, and take them to the third floor. Head south across the walkway, then head west to the end of the building to find Room 3029/3031.

Dining

Q: Where can I eat?
A:  There is a cafe in the Beckman Institute, and there are restaurants with good prices within a few minutes walking distance of the housing and the Beckman Institute - click here for a list and map. Also check the Champaign/Urbana restaurant guide for more information. We estimate meals cost $20 to $30 daily.

Miscellaneous

Q: Am I registered as a University of Illinois student for the workshop?
A: No. The workshop participants are not legally registered as students at UIUC. Attending the workshop is comparable to participation in any conference or a professional meeting and does not establish any formal association with UIUC.

Q:  Will I have internet access at the campus housing? And at the workshop site?
A:  Yes, the University of Illinois has a guest wireless system, participants will also be given short-term accounts, and workstations at TCBG provide internet connections.

Q: What weather conditions should I be prepared for?
A: Click here for the current/predicted weather or use display below.

Click for Urbana, Illinois Forecast


Note: workshop advertised in part via the Computational Chemistry List Conferences page.