Visitor's Handbook

CSCAMM is located at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) campus in College Park Maryland. We are housed in the CSIC Building #406 which is located on the Northeast quadrant of the campus. You can view our building and location on the following site: http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Facilities/Buildings/CSI/

Our coordinates are as follows:

The University of Maryland
CSCAMM
4146 CSIC Bldg. #406
Paint Branch Drive
College Park, MD 20742-3289

Main phone number: (301) 405-0662
Fax number: (301) 314-6674

The following guide provides information for CSCAMM Visitors and is grouped alphabetically by category. Please contact  if you need additional information or have questions that the guide does not cover.

Audio Visual needs and available equipment:
The CSCAMM seminar room is equipped with the following A/V equipment:

The following equipment is available for checkout with advance notice:

If you have unusual requirements, you should contact us prior to your visit to ensure that the correct equipment is on hand.

Building/Floor access: An access card is required to enter the building and again to enter the fourth floor either from the elevator or the stairwells except during unrestricted hours. The building is unrestricted from 7:30AM to 10:30PM Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer the unrestricted time is 7:30AM to 5:30PM. The fourth floor is unrestricted during the hours of 8:00AM to 5:00PM Monday through Friday. CSCAMM visitors may be assigned an access card during their visit.

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Check-in: Please check in with a CSCAMM staff member to register your arrival to CSCAMM. At your registration you will receive a room assignment, keys and relevant workshop materials and center information.

Check-out: At the conclusion of your stay at CSCAMM, it will be necessary to sign our check out form ensuring that you have returned any keys or other materials provided and sign any necessary forms, such as for reimbursement.

Climate: Generally moderate. Maryland weather varies in summer from mild to hot, and in winter from moderate in the east and south to very cold in the western mountains. Duration of the freeze-free period averages 185 days, ranging from 130 days in Garrett County to 230 days in southern Maryland and the lower Eastern Shore.

Weather information is available from the Office of State Climatologist at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Rain. Average annual rainfall: 40.76 inches. Peaks in July and August when thunderstorms average once every five days.

Snow. Average seasonal snowfall: 20.6 inches. Ranges from 10 inches on the lower Eastern Shore to 110 inches in Garrett County.

Temperature. Average annual temperature: 55.1 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures occur in July, the warmest month, averaging in the mid to upper 80s. Low temperatures in January, the coldest month, average in the low to mid 20s. You may also check current weather conditions here: The weather in College Park, Maryland today.

Computers: Each resident participant will have access to a Pentium computer system with connectivity to the CSCAMM network. Internet access will also be included. In addition, for longer term visitors, an email address and network account will be set up. You may contact the System Administrator, Bill Burns, at directly with questions.

Computer support and resources: There will be support staff available for user assistance during the work day. In addition, users can email Bill Burns at  with questions or special requests for assistance. We will make every effort to accommodate all user requests.

Copier usage: Residents may be provided with a user code for the copier located in room # 4146. Each user will be allocated a specified number of pages based on length of stay. If usage is excessive, reimbursement to CSCAMM will be necessary.

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Directions: CSCAMM is located on University of Maryland, College Park campus on the fourth floor of the newly (2002) constructed Computer Science Instructional Center (CSIC, Building 406). The CSIC Building is located on Paint Branch Drive adjacent to the A.V. Williams Building. Directions to the University of Maryland and CSCAMM: By Car, By Train, By Plane

Email addresses: All longer term resident participants will be provided with an email address at CSCAMM.

Fax machine usage: CSCAMM staff will send all outgoing and distribute all incoming faxes. Please fill out a fax coversheet (located in the mailroom) attach your documents and give to a staff member.

Food:There are several restaurants, coffee shops, and dining halls located on campus to have a meal. Information and locations can be found at http://www.dining.umd.edu/where_to_eat/.

Financial information for CSCAMM visitors: Reimbursements will be based on written commitments from the Director unless alternate arrangements have been made. All Reimbursements will be based on applicable University, State, and Federal guidelines and taxing regulations.

Health Insurance: As part of the University System of the State of Maryland, CSCAMM cannot be held liable for visitor's medical treatment. Therefore, we strongly urge CSCAMM visitors to arrange for adequate personal health insurance coverage prior to visiting. This is particularly relevant for international visitors who might be familiar with governments that bear health care expenses for their citizens (and sometimes visitors as well). More information on health insurance rules for visitors can be found at www.inform.umd.edu/IES/student_status/J1StudentStatus/HealthInsurance.html

Keys: Resident visitors will be issued a key to their office and desks during the Check-In Procedure.

Kitchen:CSCAMM has a small kitchen/dining room with a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and coffee pot for visitors use. Please be courteous of others and perform all necessary clean up of microwave, sink, etc when finished.

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Mail services: Outgoing mail is picked up each afternoon between 1 and 3 PM. Leave business related mail with CSCAMM staff to be posted.

Office hours: CSCAMM will be open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The building is locked after hours and on weekends and there is no access without a key or access card.

Parking: There are a limited number of metered spaces in the lot close to the building and additional parking can be found at the Paint Branch Visitors lot located on Paint Branch Drive at a cost of $8.00 per day.

Paint Branch Drive Visitor Parking Lot

Visitors may park in the Paint Branch Drive Visitor Parking Lot which is to your left, once you have passed the second stop sign on Paint Branch Drive. The lot is open from 7 a.m.--6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost is $1.00 per hour with a maximum of $8.00 per day. Any vehicles left in the parking lot when the lot closes will receive a parking ticket of $20.00. The exit gate will be left open at closing.

Personal Belongings: You will be provided with a place to lock your personal possessions. CSCAMM will not accept responsibility for lost or stolen items. It is strongly suggested that residents or visitors do not leave valuables unattended or where easily lost or taken.

Post Office and postage: A Mail Boxes Etc., which offers stamps, express mail, certified mail, etc. is located in the Stamp Student Union, approximately a 10 minute walk from CSCAMM. Information regarding the shops at Stamp Student Union can be found http://www.union.umd.edu/shops/.

Refreshments: When programs are in session, there will be a continental breakfast with coffee served in the morning and coffee, tea and cookies served in the afternoon. We request that visitors do not take food and beverages into the CSCAMM seminar room.

Reimbursement: Please review the Travel Reimbursement Guide located at http://www.cscamm.umd.edu/visitors/reimburse.htm for detailed information on reimbursements.

Shuttle Services: The University operates a shuttle to various points on campus as well as the surrounding community and the metro station. The route and schedule may be found at this site: http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/commute/Services/shuttle/.

Smoking: All classrooms and buildings on campus are smoke free. No one is allowed to smoke in the building, however there are ashtrays located just outside at each entrance.

Telephone service: A calling card will be needed to place long distance calls on University Telephones. Dial 9 to get off campus then follow your calling card instructions.

Vending Machines: There are vending machines located on the first floor behind the elevators that sell snacks, softdrinks, and coffee.

Visa Information: PRIOR to your visit to the U.S., please obtain the appropriate immigration status from Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) UPON ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. Failure to obtain the proper immigration status will prevent UMCP (CSCAMM) from reimbursing ANY travel expenses. For detailed information regarding visa’s please review http://www.cscamm.umd.edu/visitors/visa.htm.

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