# FAQ ## expand\_more ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Attending the Conference Open all sections Close all sections ### When does the conference take place? expand\_more The conference will take place in hybrid format on September 24–26, 2026, along with two days of virtual-only presentations on September 21–22, 2026. ### What is the address of the conference venue? expand\_more Swartz Hall, 45 Francis Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 ### What are the best transportation options for getting to and around campus? expand\_more - [View interactive Harvard University Campus Map](https://map.harvard.edu/) - [Download a printable map of the HDS campus](https://www.hds.harvard.edu/file_url/829) **Public transit** HDS encourages the use of public transit when possible. Subway: Take the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, known locally as the "T") Red Line to the Harvard Square station. From there, refer to the walking directions below. Bus: For more information on MBTA fares, maps, and schedules, visit the [MBTA website](https://www.mbta.com/). **Public transit from Logan Airport** The MBTA Silver Line, a bus rapid-transit system, stops at all Logan Airport terminals. Take the Silver Line to South Station. From South Station, take the Red Line in the direction of Alewife Station to Harvard Square. **Walking from Harvard Square** The Harvard Red Line subway stop is located in the center of Harvard Square. From Harvard Square, walk northeast across Harvard Yard, where you will come to an open plaza in front of the Science Center. Walk across the plaza to the intersection of Oxford and Kirkland streets. Walk east on Kirkland Street. To reach Divinity Hall, turn left on Divinity Avenue, the first street to the left (you'll see a large white building at the intersection of Divinity Avenue and Kirkland). Divinity Hall is the last building on the right, at 14 Divinity Avenue. To reach the rest of the HDS campus, stay on Kirkland, proceeding past Divinity Avenue, to Francis Avenue, and turn left on Francis. Swartz Hall and the HDS Library will be on the left side of the street, at 45 Francis Avenue. Rockefeller Hall, 47 Francis Avenue, is beside Swartz Hall to the north. The Center for the Study of World Religions, 42 Francis Avenue, is on the right side of the street, across from Swartz Hall. The Carriage House, at 56 Francis Avenue, is also on the right side of Francis Avenue, just beyond the bend at Jewett House, the Dean's residence. **Driving directions and parking** Directions: use “Harvard Divinity School” in a search engine or GPS device. Parking: Some parking is available in various areas near the HDS campus. There is limited metered parking available: - On Kirkland Street, in either direction - On Quincy to the left off Broadway, along Harvard Yard. There are also public garages in Harvard Square: - Trinity Property's [Harvard Square Parking Garage](http://trinityproperty.com/parking-garage-cambridge-ma/) at 65 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 - [Propark](http://www.proparkboston.com/)'s Church Street Garage at 41 Church Street, Cambridge MA 02138 - [Propark](http://www.proparkboston.com/)'s Smith Center (formerly Holyoke Center) Garage at 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138. ### What accommodation options are available? expand\_more We are unable to directly support in securing accommodations. We do everything we can to make the conference affordable, but the reality is that lodging near campus is extraordinarily expensive. We do not designate an official conference hotel because people's circumstances vary: some are comfortable with discount chains, some are not; some will be arriving by car, others are comfortable with public transit, still others will want to be walking distance from campus. All that said, it is a bad idea to stay in Harvard Square. The cluster of hotels near the Porter Square transit stop are significantly cheaper and nearly as close to the Divinity School. The Cambria hotel in Somerville is also very close to the Divinity School. Other hotels in Somerville are another notch cheaper and easily accessible by public transit. People willing to spend an hour commuting on public transit may be able to save even more by looking at hotels in Revere, Quincy, or Malden. People who come by car may wish to look at hotels in further out suburbs such as Woburn or Burlington, though they should be mindful of rush hour traffic. Still other participants may wish to use homesharing services. However, we have created a [Room & Ride Sharing Message Board](https://discord.gg/uGSDuCyDu) on our [official PES Discord](https://discord.gg/2sYktaE9U) to enable participants to search for accommodations together. ### Will Wi-Fi be provided at the conference? expand\_more **How to connect to a wireless network:** 1. Connect to the wireless network: ***Harvard University*** 2. Enter credentials: - – *Username:* [***kroyce@hds.harvard.edu***](mailto:kroyce@hds.harvard.edu) - – *Password: **PES25-confer*** 3. Account expires: Saturday, April 26, 2025 23:59 Wireless Internet access is available throughout the HDS campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. To see all Harvard University buildings with wireless access, view this [campus map](http://map.harvard.edu/?ctrx=759881&ctry=2961624.5&level=7&layers=Campus%20Base%20and%20Buildings,Network%20and%20Communications.Buildings%20with%20WiFi,Map%20Text) and look for buildings outlined in red. An IT representative will be available at the conference tech rehearsal and at the information desk between 9am - 10am on Thursday, April 24 to assist with WIFI network support. For a list of the available wireless networks at HDS and instructions on how to connect to them, please visit the [Harvard Wireless website](https://getonline.harvard.edu/). Members of the Harvard community with a valid HarvardKey can authenticate to the "HarvardSecure" network; others can register for guest access using the "Harvard University" wireless network. ### Will program events be recorded, and will playback links be available to the public? expand\_more Yes, all program events will be recorded. Once the recordings are processed, we will provide playback links directly in the publicly accessible [2026 Belonging Conference Schedule](https://pes.hds.harvard.edu/belongingconference/schedule). ### Why is the conference held on Yom Kippur? expand\_more We were dealing with many calendar constraints as we planned this conference, and unfortunately one of the online presentation days wound up on Yom Kippur. Please know that all of our conference sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants for at least a week, so participants observing Yom Kippur (as well as those in very different time zones) will be able to view these sessions. ### Application Process Open all sections Close all sections ### The application deadline has passed. Can I still submit a proposal? expand\_more We are unable to accept late proposals. ### What if my proposal was rejected? expand\_more In some cases, you may be invited to submit another application. For specific questions about rejection notices, please contact our team for clarification. ### Will there be another Call for Papers for a 2027 PES Conference, and if so, when might this opportunity be available? expand\_more Yes, The Program for the Evolution of Spirituality anticipates holding a conference in 2027. However, we do not yet have specific dates or a timeline for the Call for Papers. We expect the Call for Proposals to be released in the fall of 2026. We will make further announcements via email to our mailing list as well as on our website. ### For Presenters Open all sections Close all sections ### Do you provide financial support for presenters? expand\_more We do not provide financial payments to conference presenters. While conference registration is free and includes 2-3 complimentary meals, we do not offer: - Honoraria - Travel reimbursement - Lodging reimbursement - Shipping reimbursement for materials We have prioritized making the conference free for all attendees. For those without institutional travel support, we offer remote participation options. ### Are you able to provide official acceptance letters or other documents to support my US visa application? expand\_more Yes, the conference organizers can provide an official acceptance letter or invitation letter to support your US visa application. To request these documents, please send an email to . Please include your full name, affiliation, and presentation title in your request. It is important to understand that providing these support documents does not guarantee visa approval. The decision to grant a visa rests solely with the US government. We recommend that you begin the visa application process as early as possible, as processing times can vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on US visa requirements, please visit the [official website of the US Department of State](https://www.state.gov/). ### May I request a specific presentation day? expand\_more Yes, your presentation day preference will be noted in our proposal vetting process. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule. ### What is the standard presentation format? expand\_more Most presenters have been offered a 20 minute “paper” slot, a 15-20 minute “artist talk” or “book talk” slot, a 60 minute “workshop” slot, or a 20-60 minute “performance” slot. In some cases, we have offered a different format type than initially proposed, so be sure to read your acceptance letter carefully! Presenters with 15-20 minute slots will be scheduled in sessions with other presenters, and these will usually include some additional Q&A time. Those with 60-minute slots will be free to incorporate a variety of activities into their allotted time. ### Can I expect to use the full time of my slot for my presentation, or do I need to include time for audience questions? expand\_more Presenters with 15-20 minute slots will be scheduled in sessions with other presenters, and these will usually include some additional Q&A time. Those with 60 minute slots will need to incorporate Q&A into their allotted time. ### When will detailed information be sent out regarding presentation spaces? expand\_more Detailed information about our presentation and performance spaces will be provided closer to the conference start date. This allows us to finalize all logistical arrangements and ensure the most accurate and up-to-date details are shared with you.