Knauss Fellows

Placement Week 03 — 09 December 2006; Washington DC

***updated 30 August 2006***

Greetings URI 2007 Knauss Fellows! Congratulations on being selected to represent Rhode Island Sea Grant and URI in the 2007 Knauss Fellowship Program. The following information will get you started on preparing for your upcoming fellowship. Be aware that you need to arrive in Washington not later than 4:00PM on Sunday December 3rd, with a 6:00PM reception dinner and Knauss presentation that evening. Finalists are expected to stay through 6:00PM Friday December 8th. Section A is URI/RISG centric, but necessary. Section B comes from the National Sea Grant office, and may in part be duplicative. The URI system takes precedence for all travel arrangements. Contact Heather Rhodes (hrhodes@gso.uri.edu; 401-874-6149) or Alan Desbonnet (aland@gso.uri.edu; 401-874-6813) with any questions and/or as requested following.

You should also reference the National Sea Grant Knauss web site at www.seagrant.noaa.gov/knauss/knauss.html for pertinent information and updates at a national level. Also see the Knauss Program Manual and the Lessons Learned information.

SECTION A

In order for you to travel to Washington for “Placement Week” we need the following information to set up your Travel Authorization Request (TAR) forms:

1.     Visit the RISG Knauss Fellow web site and complete the W-9 form. Return to Heather in the RISG office by FAX at 401-789-8340 or stop by and drop it off in person. No travel arrangements can be made until Heather has your W-9 form.  

2.     Once we receive your W-9 form a TAR number will be assigned and the paperwork sent to the GSO Travel office. Once approved by the Travel office, the TAR will be sent to Donovan Travel Agency who is to be used for making all travel arrangements. Once Donovan has your travel paperwork you may contact either Leslie (lparenteau@donovantravel.com) or Georgina (ggeremia@donovantravel.com). The general phone number for Donovan Travel is: 401-769-1720.
 

3. You are responsible for making flight and hotel arrangements for Placement Week through Donovan Travel. Donovan Travel will bill the University directly for these costs. Please be sure to inform either Leslie or Georgina at Donovan Travel that you must be placed in the Marriott Residence Inn; aka Residence Inn by Marriott Capitol; 333 E Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024 for Placement Week. Placement Week is a week before Thanksgiving, so you should book your flight and your room soon to ensure a seat/room.

 

4. URI no longer permits cash advances to students for travel incidentals such as taxi fare, food, etc. All such costs will have to be "out-of-pocket" and then reimbursed. To be reimbursed at the end of the trip for miscellaneous expenses, you must collect and submit to RI Sea Grant the following original receipts:

Meals do not require receipts as you receive a fixed per diem rate for Washington, DC.

If you are using your personal car for any part of Placement Week travel, please supply Heather with the following for mileage reimbursement:

Once we have received the receipts, we will generate a Travel Expense Voucher (TEV) which is submitted to URI accounting. A reimbursement check will then be processed in 2-3 weeks and sent directly to you by the University at your home address.

5.     During the orientation in Washington DC, the RI Sea Grant office will pay for your Placement Week travel and boarding costs, up to a maximum of $1,500 from Sunday through Friday night. Any costs incurred from arriving before Sunday the 3rd or from staying on in Washington after check out on Saturday the 9th will not be covered or reimbursed by RISG/URI. Those costs will be yours to bear if you arrive early or stay late.

6.     Please call Heather before the end of September to set up a time to stop by the RISG office on the Bay Campus to fill out your employment papers. Please be sure to bring a picture ID (driver’s license or passport) and your Social Security card when you see Heather. URI and the US Government require us to inspect, photocopy and keep on file these identification forms.

SECTION B

Please refer below to excerpts of an internal email from the National Sea Grant Office regarding Placement Week. Contact Jacques Oliver with any questions, as appropriate and/or requested in the following (jacques.oliver@noaa.gov). 

Hotel & travel plans for Placement Week (December 3-9, 2006, Washington, DC)
There is a cap of $1,500 for all hotel and travel expenses. Reimbursable expenses include airfare, hotel, subway, bus, taxi, phone, tolls, personal car mileage and meals.

For your records, the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement for the Knauss fellowship program includes language specific to coverage of Placement Week expenses.

Hotel Information and Reservations
Marriott Residence Inn (aka Residence Inn by Marriott- Capitol Hill) 333 E Street S.W., Washington, DC 20024  http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASCP
Map and directions:  http://marriott.com/property/mapandnearbyairports/default.mi?marshaCode=wascp
Closest metrorail station:  Federal Center SW is a 2 minute walk from the hotel. http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/Stations/station.cfm?station=58 

The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) has reserved a block of suites from Sunday, November 13 through Friday, November 18 (check out on Sat., Nov. 19). The suites are intended to be shared by 2-3 of you so as to minimize costs and to give you a chance to get to know your fellow finalists. Here's the process for reserving a room:

Reservation phone #:  1-888-236-2427
Check In Time: 4:00PM (early check in is available but please call ahead to arrange this)
Check Out Time: 11:00AM (late check out is available; there is a room for luggage storage)
Parking Fees: $30.00 per day 

All suites have kitchenettes (i.e. refrigerators, sinks, microwaves) and some have stove tops and even ovens (varies according to suite type). The suites have TVs, coffee makers, and iron/ironing board. 

NOTE on breakfast and dinner at the hotel: A breakfast buffet (hot and cold items) each morning is included, as are several lunches and dinners. Specific lunches and dinners provided still to be announced.

Travel Information to and from Washington, DC
Airports
Washington National Airport (DCA):  http://www.mwaa.com/national/
DCA is in Arlington, VA and is located just south across the Potomac River of DC. This is the closest airport to DC. Metrorail is easily accessible from DCA and it’s only a 15 minute ride to Federal Center SW station. Cost is $1.35 to $1.50 depending on the time of travel (non-peak vs. peak). Cabs are also available, but considerably more expensive. All major airlines fly into and out of DCA with the exception of Independence Air, Southwest and perhaps a few others. US Air is the major carrier for DCA.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD):  http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/
IAD is 40-45 minutes west of DC in Dulles, VA. Despite its distance from downtown DC, you can get to and from IAD via public transportation (see below). All major carriers fly into and out of IAD, although United is the largest carrier that operates.  

When commuting from IAD to downtown, try this website for options: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/Stations/station.cfm?station=58. The Supershuttle and Metrobus are great choices. Metrobus (bus 5A) is the cheapest option for public transportation and it'll take you all the way downtown to L'Enfant Plaza which is one metrorail stop from the hotel at Federal Center SW. Washington Flyer is also easy to use and it drops you off at West Falls Church metrorail station. From there it’s a 30 minute ride to Federal Center SW. Taxis are also an option, but will run you from $50-60 one way. Splitting cabs with other finalists will of course be cheaper, but that requires another layer of planning and coordination. 

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI): http://www.bwiairport.com/
BWI is a good 1.5 hours from downtown DC and is the farthest of the three airports. Despite its distance from DC, BWI has affordable flights via Southwest Airlines (a major hub) and other major carriers do fly into and out of BWI. You can get to downtown DC via the Metrobus http://www.bwiairport.com/ground_transportation/washington_dc__wmata_/ which will take you to the Greenbelt metrorail station on the Green line. Or you can take the MARC train (Maryland commuter rail) or Amtrak from an offsite station (free shuttle from BWI to the offsite station) to the red line Union Station metrorail station in DC (http://www.bwiairport.com/ground_transportation/marc_train/). In either case, once you arrive at a metrorail station you'll be able to navigate the DC metrorail system without any problems. It’s very easy to follow. 

Other transportation information
D.C. Metrorail and Metrobus: http://www.wmata.com/
You can get transit maps, schedules, and fare information at this website.

Rental cars
I would not advise renting a car as you will find getting around DC is pretty easy using the metrorail system. Plus, parking is expensive and not always available. Renting before or after Placement Week for sightseeing, apt. hunting, etc. is up to you.

Send Jack your hotel and travel information
Once you have made your hotel and travel arrangements, please send Jack jacques.oliver@noaa.gov an email with this information. Please include who you are sharing a room with. Also, please include a cell phone # (if you have one) so you can be contacted in case of an emergency, etc. 

Looking for housing before or after Placement Week
Many finalists come to DC before and/or stay after Placement Week to look for housing. Feel free to do so. Staying later might be a better option as you may want to talk to the current class about good neighborhoods, easy commutes, owning a car, residency (i.e. VA, MD, or DC taxes), etc. Feel free to drop them an email (oar.sg.knauss.2006.executive@noaa.gov and/or oar.sg.knauss.2006.legislative@noaa.gov) for more information. Also, you may want to wait to meet other finalists with the intention of searching for a roommate for next year. Contact the Class of 2007 using oar.hq.seagrant.knauss2007@noaa.gov.

Also see the HOUSING 101 information developed specifically to help Knauss Fellows find suitable housing in DC.

Here are some websites to consider in your search:
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/rentals/?nav=left

 Be aware that a number of rental properties offer discounts on leases. The concessions vary, but ask for them when you call or go in. Kola can help you with Silver Spring and Capitol Hill area housing. Jack can assist those interested in housing in northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria).