Frequently Asked Questions

What are the accommodations like?
What is the campus like? What is the town like?
Will there be coffee in the morning?
What guidelines concerning alcohol consumption should be observed?
What about smoking?
Are there phones in the rooms?
Can I do my laundry or should I pack enough changes of clothing for the whole week?
What recreational facilities are there?
What kinds of clothing should I pack for the week’s activities and events?
Where will we be eating most of our meals?
What is the daily schedule like?
What are the seminars like?
What will we be doing during the evenings?
What about transportation?

What are the accommodations like?
The Peter and Emajean Cook Residence Hall opened for the 1997-98 school year and was enlarged in 2006-07. It is an upscale residence hall serving up to 250 students during the school year and providing additional housing for conference attendees during the summer. The rooms are in a "suite" set-up with a full bathroom joining two bedrooms. The rooms are carpeted with tile in the bathrooms. The rooms are furnished with twin extra long beds, two dressers, desks with a bookshelf and desk chairs. There is also internet and cable available for each room. There is an exercise room, computer room, laundry room, lounges and cafeteria in this building.

The Haworth Inn is located on the Hope College campus and room amenities include: one king or two queen beds; cable television; wireless internet; free local calls; wellness room; 24 hour gift shop; free USA Today and Holland Sentinel newspapers; in-room hair dryers, irons and ironing boards.

What is the campus like? What is the town like?
Hope College is situated in a residential area two blocks away from the central business district of Holland, Michigan, a community of 35,000 which was founded in 1847 by Dutch settlers. Located on Lake Macatawa and approximately five miles from beautiful Lake Michigan, Holland has long been known as a summer resort area.

The center of Hope’s main campus is the Pine Grove, a picturesque wooded area around which the college’s original buildings were erected more than a century ago. Nearly all of the campus lies within two blocks of the Pine Grove. Campus buildings offer a pleasing blend of old and new architectural styles. Most major facilities are accessible to the mobility-impaired.

Downtown Holland’s beautiful Victorian architecture and heated sidewalks offers the perfect atmosphere for shopping at downtown stores or eating at one of the restaurants. With over 200 businesses and restaurants in downtown Holland’s Five Star shopping district, shoppers are sure to find what they are looking for. Operating hours for the downtown shops are Monday through Thursday and Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm. During the week, a few stores offer extended hours until 9 pm. Friday’s operating hours are 10 am – 9 pm. The operating hours vary on Sundays.

Centennial Park is located adjacent to the western edge of Hope’s campus and provides a beautiful area to take a walk or rest for awhile. It is a 5.6 acre park with brick pathways, a pond, a fountain, and flowerbeds. This area, which had been originally set aside as Holland’s marketplace, was dedicated as a park in 1876 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the United States.

Will there be coffee in the morning?
Coffee and tea will be provided every morning during the conference. Afternoon beverages and snacks will also be provided.

What guidelines concerning alcohol consumption should be observed?
Hope College, an institution affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, upholds the state and the municipal laws concerning drinking and drug use and in addition, by custom and conviction does not allow the consumption of alcohol, use of illegal drugs, or any other activity which the College deems inconsistent with its mission, in campus buildings and facilities or on its properties.

There are ample restaurants, bars and breweries within walking distance of the campus, for conference attendees to enjoy.

What about smoking?
Smoking is NOT allowed on the Hope College campus. Smoking is only allowed on public sidewalks.

Are there phones in the rooms?
Telephones are provided in the rooms in the Haworth Inn, but NOT in Cook Hall.

Can I do my laundry or should I pack enough changes of clothing for the whole week?
Laundry facilities are available in Cook Hall. They are card-operated. Laundry cards may be purchased from vending machines in DeWitt and Phelps.

What recreational facilities are there?
Attendees will have free access to the Dow Health and Physical Education Center. The Dow, as it’s known on campus, has a 1/10 mile indoor track, racquetball courts, an Olympic size swimming pool, basketball/volleyball courts, locker rooms with dry saunas, a cardio room, and a weight room.

What kinds of clothing should I pack for the week’s activities and events?
Business casual clothing will be appropriate for the opening festivities and dinners. Dress for the daily sessions and some of the outside events will tend to be more casual.

Mid- to late-July temperatures average in the low 60s at night to the low- to mid-80s during the day. A light jacket or sweater should be sufficient outerwear.

Where will we be eating most of our meals?
Breakfasts, lunches, and two dinners will be provided in Phelps Dining Hall. The opening night dinner will be held at Haworth Inn, and the closing picnic off-site. Because of the many excellent dining options in Holland, conferences attendees are free to enjoy two dinners on their own, in town.

What is the daily schedule like?
Keynote addresses are at 8:30. Seminars meet at 9:45 a.m., and 1:00 and 3:15 p.m. If you're in two seminars, you will be busy at two of these three times. Some attendees may be presenting their own research-in-progress at sessions scattered throughout the week. If you're free at those times, please attend.

What are the seminars like?
Seminars vary from leader to leader. Almost all focus on the discussion of assigned readings, and the amount of reading will vary from seminar to seminar. Many participants try to do all of the reading for their seminars before they arrive.

What will we be doing during the evenings?
Evening activities vary. Sunday, there is an opening dinner with dessert reception at the President’s home. Monday night, one of our seminar leaders will give a presentation. Tuesday night, we offer an optional excursion to Saugatuck. Wednesday night will feature a panel discussion involving all seminar leaders on the future of our discipline. Thursday night, we offer an optional outing to (TBA). Friday night is the closing picnic.

What about transportation?
Transportation to and from Gerald R. Ford International Airport is available through Hope College at $20 per person, one way.