Orientation and Training

Users must complete the following steps for registration, training, and on-site Internet access.

• UT EID registration. A UT EID is an electronic identifier issued to each student, faculty member, staff member, and visiting guest at UT. You will need to set this up before you can do much of anything; to begin the process, please visit: UT EID Self-Service.
• Appointment as a Visiting Researcher or Undergraduate. In order to work without escort in the facility, the University requires the User to be registered as an official Visiting Researcher or Visiting Undergraduate. In either case, the User begins the process by submitting the form and associated documentation found here: Visiting Researcher/Scholar or Research Affiliate Form.

  Please follow your submission with an email to Sandra Bruce (sandra.bruce@austin.utexas.edu) letting her know that the submission is complete. You might be required to submit additional documentation.
  
  Once UT has processed these documents, scientists and post-docs will receive an official offer letter that they must sign and return for the final approval process to begin. Undergraduate and graduate students will not receive such letter for the final approval process to begin. Undergraduate and graduate students will not receive such letter for the final approval process to begin. This final approval typically takes a month to complete and includes a background investigation. Information and forms can be found here.

• Online safety training. After a UT EID is registered, the User must self-register at the UTLearn self-register website and complete the following online safety training classes by logging into UTLearn: OH 101, OH 201, OH 202, OH 204, OH 241, and OH 304. It is advisable that the User completes these courses one week before the experiment starting date to speed up the on-site training and access to the TPW facility.

  Once you have completed the training, please save a PDF of your transcript in UTLearn, showing the completed courses (on the main page go to Transcript View, filter by Completed, on the ... at the top right corner select Print Transcript and then save to PDF). Please email that transcript to Sandra Bruce (sandra.bruce@austin.utexas.edu), to let us know you have completed it. In this email, please include your UT EID, as well as your professional position (undergraduate student, graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, faculty, scientist, or other).
  
  If you have been appointed at UT Austin in the past, but have not been back in more than a year, when you attempt to access UTLearn, you may find that your EID has been locked. This is usually due to an expired Acceptable Use Policy form. Please visit UT Ticket and open a help desk ticket (by clicking "Create IT Support Ticket") to get your EID unlocked. If you are unable to access this IT support website, please contact Sandra Bruce (sandra.bruce@austin.utexas.edu).

• On-site safety training. Prior to the experimental run, the User must read and understand the following safety documents and procedures specific to particular hazard areas in the facility:
  Site-Specific Hazard Communication Overview
  TPW-D-0013-D: Operational Safety Procedure for the Target Bay
  The User will then be tested on the documents content. After passing the quizzes, TPW staff will provide a one hour walkthrough of the specific hazard areas. Signing the master copies of these documents is the last step before the User is cleared for access. It is advisable that the User understands these documents one day before the experiment starting date to speed up access to the different areas of the facility.

Delivering your Equipment

Users may send equipment and supplies (diagnostics, instruments, targets, gases, and tools, etc.) ahead of arrival. We recommend scheduling these shipments to arrive at least seven days before your run. Please try not to schedule the shipment to arrive more than one month ahead of your run. Make sure all charges for shipping and freight are covered. For shipments originating outside the US contact Ghedi International, Inc., UT Austin customs broker, for customs clearance and make sure all fees are paid. If you are returning any items to your home facility after your run, please make sure these are packed for shipment and that the pickup is arranged before you leave campus. We can provide ½” plastic strapping, tensioner, crimper, smooth seals, edge protectors, and stretch wrap.

The TPW has freight elevator access to the experimental area. The dimensions of the elevator are 13′ × 6½′ ×8′. For large crates and deliveries, there is a truck-height loading dock available for your use. Pallet jacks, electronic lifters, and furniture dollies are also available.

For freight shipments, please contact Hernan Quevedo (hjquevedo@austin.utexas.edu) first to arrange details. Deliveries should be schedulled M-F from 9 AM to 3 PM. The truck should park in the loading dock (mark with a star in the figure bellow), the entrance (marked with an arrow) is on Dean Keaton St. (26th street) between Speedway and the pedestrian bridge.

Travel Logistics

The local airport is Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Public transportation between the airport and campus is available via Capital Metro (via 20‑Manor Rd/Riverside). Other options include taxi (Yellow Cab, 512‑452‑9999), rental car (Enterprise, 737‑484‑3896), or rideshare (Uber, 512‑530‑2242).

Accommodations

See this website for up to date information about where to stay, eat, and get around in Austin. Several teams have rented a house for the entire group through Vrbo or Airbnb instead of several hotel rooms. It is important that you choose your accommodation and transportation considering the increased traffic around Austin, especially when crossing the Colorado river (check typical traffic in google maps).

Parking and the UT Campus

See also the map of PMA on campus. The TPW is located in the basement of the PMA building.

Parking is very limited on the UT campus, but there are several options. Most of the on-the-street parking around the campus and surrounding areas has been converted to city-operated hourly pay parking, so if you park in that area, be sure to check carefully to determine whether payment is needed. The Speedway Garage and the San Jacinto Garage are both fairly close, but cost $18 per day. Finally, as an appointed Visiting Scientist or Visiting Student, you are eligible to purchase an “A” parking permit for the duration of the academic year; whether this is cost-effective for you will depend on your individual preferences and needs; for permit information (including current rates and maps of which lots you can use with an “A” permit), check with the UT Parking and Transportation Services.

Transportation

Alternatively, depending on where you will be staying, you might be able to use the Capital Metro public transit system. A large number of bus lines have stops either within or directly adjacent to campus, including several city busses (MetroBus, MetroRapid, and MetroExpress), the MetroRail, as well as all of the UT Shuttle Bus lines. The shuttle busses only run during regular class sessions, so be sure to check the schedules first. The MetroRapid (801 and 803) is one of the best options with high frequency service, 7 days a week, onboard wi-fi but with limited number of bus stops. Other high-frequency options can be found in this map. As an appointed Visiting Scientist or Visiting Student you can ride all these options for free.