Fall 2022 Gathering Days

Faculty, staff, and student colleagues are looking forward to seeing YOU in person this fall term!!

• Fall Gathering Days, when all Iliff's hybrid courses have REQUIRED class time ON CAMPUS in Denver, will be  October 9-15, 2022. 
• Here is a link to the schedule of courses and events: Gathering Days Fall 2022 Schedule
• You are required to be on campus only for your hybrid courses, and only for the period when your section of each hybrid course is scheduled to meet. If you are enrolled in online-only courses you do not need to come to Denver. (Though we will miss you!)
• Note #1: Attendance for the on-campus portion of all hybrid courses is required in order to receive credit for the course. Consult the Student Handbook.
• Note #2: Courses that normally meet weekly on campus, will meet ONLINE in week 5 of the term (during Gathering Days), in order to avoid scheduling conflicts for you.
• Students entering Iliff this fall will begin with Orientation at 12:15 pm Sunday, October 9th and start course sessions Monday morning. Monday through Friday are scheduled both morning and afternoon. Thursday will be a required retreat day in which we will do cohort building and replenish spiritually. You will be done with IPVC and a short closing ritual at 3:30 pm, Saturday, October 16th. (Don't schedule flying out of Denver before 6:00 pm that evening--you won't make it to the airport and through security in less than 2 hours).
• Students in your second, third, plus years will come to campus according to when the courses you registered for are meeting.  Each course has "on campus" time one full afternoon AND the following morning. Faculty and staff are eager to meet our 2nd year students in person for the first time, and to catch up with everyone else!
• Special Events to Plan to Attend (see the attached schedule for all of them):
• Tuesday, October 11th 5:00-7:00 pm Innovation Lab Happy Hour during which you can learn about and meet Iliff people who are working on projects including ethical AI, Ecojustice, Religion and Politics, and health.
• Wednesday, October 12th 5:05pm Fall Convocation in the Iliff Chapel. Students, faculty and staff will all be recognized; President Wolfe will give the address, outlining his vision for this academic year. This is our big fall term academic ritual - a fun gathering!
• Travel and Getting Around Denver: 
• If you fly to Denver: plan a minimum of two hours between your flight arrival or departure and when you must be on campus at Iliff. It is a large airport, 45 min distant from Iliff, and under construction. Uber/Lyft and taxi service is readily available. Car rentals, though available, seem to be more expensive this year. RTD LightRail line A starts at the airport and connects to lines that comes to within 15 min walk of Iliff and also connects to bus line #24 that stops at Iliff.
• If you drive to Denver: parking at Iliff is $2/hour, maximum of $10/day. Pay with a credit card at the kiosk next to the lot. University of Denver (DU) manages the lot; Iliff can't "fix" tickets.
• If you take the train to Denver: the Amtrak station is located next to the downtown light rail station (RTD) which can bring you to the north side of DU, a lovely 15 minute walk to Iliff's location.
• Iliff is on bus line #24 (runs north/south on University Blvd) and is one block south of the bus line #21 that runs east/west on Evans. The "trip planner" at RTD-Denver.com is excellent and can show you exactly how to get from one address to another at the time of day on the day you want to travel. Mobile ticketing allows you to purchase fares in advance on your phone. $3 per ride between Iliff and downtown, but $10.50 to or from the airport.
• Housing:
• Iliff itself does not have housing on campus. For the hotels listed below students will need to make reservations directly with the hotel, mentioning you want the "Iliff School of Theology" discount. Call them at the hotel rather than using their website to make your reservation.
• The Hilton Garden Inn (3.3 miles to campus) and Courtyard hotel (2.4 miles to campus) Fall  Gathering Days rate = $109/per night + 15.75 tax (Rates include wifi, breakfast and parking).
• There are other hotels that are marginally closer to Iliff, but we have not been able to contract for a reduced rate with them yet. (Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn, La Quinta)
• Many students have found that renting through AirBnB is less expensive, particularly if a group of students rents an entire house or apartment with several bedrooms. There are a couple of apartments within 2 blocks of campus that have BnB units.
• If you look at the RTD LightRail map, you might find an AirBnB or hotel deal near a stop that is further away from Iliff but that gives you easy access.
• The "Iliff Connect" Facebook group is a great place to share or learn about discoveries with other Iliffians. The group can be found publicly but is a private group (request membership to access).
• Meals:
• Plan to have breakfast and dinner off campus. We are arranging for lunch at Iliff on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 1pm. There are also at least 16 low price restaurants within 2 blocks walk of Iliff, and 15 more 4 to 6 blocks away.
• Check out the official Denver Visitors Guide to learn about our places and spaces, and our weather, as well as tips about visiting us in the mile high city.
• All of us here in Denver are happy to answer questions. Reach out to me, your advisor, your faculty instructor, financial aid, or any staff member. We're eager to help you navigate!

Blessings,

Cathie

Cathie Kelsey [e-mail]