Founded in 1851 as the state's land-grant institution, the University of Minnesota is one of the state's greatest assets and one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. Located in the heart of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, the campus is just minutes from downtown Minneapolis. The Twin Cities campus is situated along the banks of the Mississippi River and in the rolling hills of St. Paul. Through its strategic positioning plan, the University is making strides to become one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade. At all of its locations – the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and Rochester – the University is moving in a new direction to meet the challenges of the 21st century. To read more about the University of Minnesota, visit the Web site: www.umn.edu.
The 2014 IWAC will take place at the University of Minnesota at the Commons Hotel. We think that this university and the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are apt places in which to contemplate WAC's shifting currents and wave-making.
Those who can bear to pull themselves away from sessions will find a variety of Minneapolitan (and St. Paulite) things to see and do. Restaurants, for example: looking beyond hotdish, lutefisk, and food on a stick, you'll find James Beard Award–winning chefs and locally-owned restaurants that advocate and enact sustainable, local food production residing beside eateries that proudly refuse to do so. World-class museums and theatres including the Walker Art Center and Guthrie Theater compete with dozens of local art and performance venues such as the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Jungle Theater, and Intermedia Arts. We also know how to get around: in 2010, Bicycling Magazine voted Minneapolis the country's most bikeable city, which is not too shabby for a city that endures (celebrates) seven-month long winters. We are also serious about our sports teams. In summer, this means the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Lynx, and the St. Paul Saints. Attendees joined by families will appreciate Minneapolis' many picturesque parks and canoe-friendly lakes, the Science Museum, the Bakken museum (electricity!), the nearby Mill City Museum (flour!), and the Children's Museum. And yes, we also have the Mall of America.
Minnesota Twins (no home game scheduled during the IWAC Conference but tours of the stadium are available)
Minnesota Lynx (Minneapolis)
Minnesota United FC (Blaine, MN)
Food, Brewery, and Winery Tours
Wabasha Street Caves and St. Paul Gangster Tours
Nice Ride: Self-Guided Bicycle Tours (rental bikes available in multiple spots on campus and around the Twin Cities)
Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden
Cathedral of St. Paul (lightrail transportation available)
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Mall of America (lightrail transportation available)
TourMSP (mobile-optimized site)