April 19, 2002

TO: NSF Summer Institute Participants

FROM: Joan Farland

2002 NSF Summer Institute on Evaluation

Contact Information

The Evaluation Center's office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday. The main office telephone number is (616) 387-5895; the fax number is (616) 387-5923; and the mailing address is The Evaluation Center, 401B Ellsworth Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5237. Phone messages, faxes, and mail may be sent in care of The Evaluation Center.

Travel Expense Reimbursement

Participants flying into the Kalamazoo airport should take a cab to campus. Please be sure to keep all of your original receipts. You will be staying in Davis Residence Hall. It is located southwest of the Read Fieldhouse. Please consult the campus map included in this mailing for directions.

Should you choose to rent a car, the project will not be able to reimburse you for this expense. As stated in the application materials, the project will reimburse you, within University guidelines, for travel costs up to $1,000 for one round trip to Kalamazoo, MI. We will not be able to reimburse you for any other travel (e.g., a trip home on the weekend or travel to other meetings), even if your travel costs to Kalamazoo were under the $1,000 limit.

Housing and Meal Allowance

Each participant will receive a housing allowance of $30 per night (the cost to stay in the residence hall). Each participant will also receive a meal allowance for any meals not otherwise provided. Housing and meal allowance checks will be distributed on Monday, June 10.

Evaluation Center Facilities

You are randomly assigned to one of five teams for the Institute. This determines your office/work space. The office/work spaces will have a phone, computer, and other standard office materials. Teams will work individually and together on tasks related to the Institute, including presentations to the other participants.

Residence Hall Facilities

For those of you who indicated you will be staying on-campus, space (single assignment) has been reserved for you at WMU's Davis Hall for June 9-27. PAYMENT IS REQUIRED AT CHECK IN (check or cash). Because your plans may have changed since you sent in your participant survey forms, we will e-mail each of you on May 1 to confirm that you will or will not be staying in Davis. An e-mail reply will be expected by Friday, May 3.

Davis is a typical residence hall with single rooms and private baths. The building is NOT air conditioned. Box fans will be provided. Each guest will receive two sheets, one pillow case, two towels, one wash cloth, one pillow, and one blanket. You will be responsible for making your own bed. Coin-operated laundry machines are located in the basement level of the hall. Rooms have a small refrigerator and small microwave available. All floors have a lounge with a larger microwave, table, and chairs (pots and pans are NOT provided).

Parking Permits

Permits are required for on-campus parking. We will purchase parking permits for those participants who indicate they will have a car on campus. The cost of the permit ($15 per week) will be considered a travel expense. Because your plans may have changed since you sent in your participant survey forms, we will e-mail each of you on May 1 to confirm that you will or will not have a car. An e-mail reply will be expected by Friday, May 3. You will receive the parking permits the last week of May via U.S. mail. Please remember to bring them with you. You are responsible for the cost of a replacement parking permit.

Visitors Information

A campus map and some Michigan travel information are enclosed. The campus map is a good source for directions to WMU and Davis Hall. Additional information about WMU, Kalamazoo, and the region is available through the Center's Web site.

Computer Labs

You will have access to on-campus computer labs during open hours. A photo ID is required.

Student Recreation Center

Should any of you wish to use the WMU Student Recreation Center, your names have been forwarded to the Center for inclusion on their preapproved guest list. Without preapproved guest status, you would have to be accompanied by a WMU sponsor while using the facilities. Guests are charged $7.00 per visit or $37.50 per session (unlimited access). In order to purchase and use the guest pass, you will need a picture ID and the name badge that we will issue you on the first day of the Institute. The project will not reimburse you for this expense.

Name Preference

We will be printing your name on name tags and table tents. If you prefer a different first name on those items other than the one included at the beginning of this letter, please indicate that name in your e-mail reply on May 3.

Additional Information

Some of the reading materials and preparatory assignments are included in this mailing. Information will also be posted on the Institute web site; please check regularly for updates. The Center's web address is

http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr

You can navigate to the Institute section of the site by clicking the Projects button, Project MTS, and then MTS Summer Institute 2002.

Confirmation

Again, please confirm via e-mail whether or not you will be staying on-campus in the residence hall, whether or not you will have a car, and your first name preference. E-mail this information to me (joan.farland@wmich.edu) by Friday, May 3.

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the above information.

enc

c Farland
Gullickson