U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Program Information:
June 17-28, 2019 USPAS Session in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Classes, meals, sleeping rooms, the Computer Lab and the Study Room will all be held at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque Downtown (330 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102). Classes ending on Friday June 21 or Friday June 28 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 March 14, 2019; after March 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 March 14, you must send in the Application Form before March 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 five 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 and A NEW REQUIREMENT is: your advisor/supervisor must complete a Financial Aid Disclosure Form. 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 March 14th deadline date.
If you are AUDITING your course
If you are auditing your course(s), you will not enroll at the University of New Mexico and will not earn a grade. You are not required to complete homework assignments nor take any exams. You will be asked to complete a USPAS Audit Form.
If you are taking your course for CREDIT
If you are taking your course(s) for credit, you will enroll at the Unviersity of New Mexico 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 UNM credits. You will be asked to complete a UNM Application for Extension Course.
Academic Status at the University of New Mexico
Students must make final confirmation of their choice to take their course for credit or audit on or before Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Official transcripts will be maintained by the University of New Mexico. 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 the University of New Mexico from June 17-28, 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 March 14th deadline date.
You will be asked to complete an International Participant Registration Form.
USPAS Registration and Course Check-In
Registration will be held on Sunday June 16, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque Downtown (330 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102) 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, June 17. 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 (June 24-28), 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, June 17, during normal business hours.
Housing
By reserving your hotel room via a link we provide to you, you may take advantage of a special reduced hotel room rate and any extras (free parking, free Wi-Fi in your sleeping room, etc) that we have negotiated for our participants at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque. Hotel rooms are available for $94.00 plus tax per night for a single room and a double room (shared by 2 people) will be $47.00 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 Hyatt Regency Albuquerque has a fitness room and rooftop pool. Each sleeping room has a hair dryer, alarm clock, iron/ironing board, ipod docking station and coffee-maker with complimentary coffee. There is an ATM on-site. 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 a link we send 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.
Parking
We negotiated free self-parking at the Hyatt Regency for USPAS attendees who are also registered guests at the Hyatt Regency. If you are commuting, staying at the Embassy Suites or the DoubleTree Hotel, we will email parking information to you.
Meals
Breakfasts and dinners are included in the USPAS Registration Fee. USPAS dinners will be provided from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning Sunday, June 16 through Thursday, June 27 (including the weekend, i.e. 12 dinners). Breakfasts will be provided from 7:30 to 9 a.m. daily from Monday June 17 through Friday June 28. 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.
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). The USPAS will provide Wi-Fi in all of the classrooms.
Airport and Ground Transportation
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is the closet airport. A taxi from the aiport to the hotel will cost approx $25 (one way). An Uber or Lyft is $12 or less (one way). It is also possible to take the New Mexico Rail Runner (commuter train) from the airport to downtown Albuquerque, the hotel is about a 2 block walk from the Rail Runner station. Here is a some info on the Rail Runner.