SYSEN 5920
Sunday, August 4, 2024 - Friday, August 9, 2024
The Systems faculty and staff are looking forward to welcoming all of you to SYSEN 5920, Ithaca, and Cornell University.
This webpage is designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the week-long session, confirmation you’ll be attending (in-person only this year) and answer any of your frequently asked questions. Please check back for weekly updates.
For your visit
- Suggested Dates: Sunday, August 4, 2024 - Friday, August 9, 2024
- You will be expected to pay for any accommodations outside these dates. Please contact Mitchell White, Statler Associate, at mew296@cornell.edu if you want to add any nights to your stay.
- You are expected to pay your way to and from campus.
- Cornell Systems Engineering will pay for your accommodations, meals, and ground transportation during the dates above.
- Please note that this week has a very intensive course schedule. We strongly suggest that students do not plan to be available for any outside or company-related work. The days begin sometime between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m., and many times the students find themselves working with their teams well into the night.
Campus Map–Virtual
- If you're not familiar with Cornell and the Ithaca area, this map may help you find your way around.
- Points of Interest on campus
- Cornell Chimes - McGraw Tower
- The Cornell Store
- Cornell Dairy Bar
- Big Red Barn
- Uris Library
- Johnson Art Museum
- Cornell Collegetown
- Cornell Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
Agenda
TBD
Pre-Course Work
Please see the Assignments section of the SYSEN 5920 Canvas site for pre-course work instructions.
Transportation
Getting to Ithaca
- There are three surrounding airports to help plan your trip to Ithaca. Elmira and Syracuse are about an hour from Ithaca. You’ll need to get a cab, rental car, or other means of transportation to Ithaca. Unfortunately, we’re not able to offer any reimbursement services to and from the airport.
- The Statler Hotel provides shuttle service to and from the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. This is a complimentary service that is provided for our overnight guests. Advance reservations are required and can be arranged by contacting the Statler Hotel Reservations Department.
- Ithaca Transportation Services: Ithaca offers taxi, Uber and Lyft services, making it easy to get to and from the Ithaca airport. Unfortunately, we can’t provide services to and from airports.
- A+ Taxi, LLC, 607-533-8294
- ASAP Cab Company, 607-272-7222
- Ithaca Dispatch, 607-588-8888
- Ground Transportation from Syracuse
- Big D's Limousine, 315-730-5931
- Lyft
- Uber
Accommodations
About Your Stay
Check-in at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University after 4pm
Check-out is no later than 12pm on
- Guests not checked out by the check-out time will be charged an additional night’s stay per published rates.
- Luggage can be stored in the Dartmouth Room at the Statler Hotel until SYSEN 5920 is completed.
Extending your stay
- Attendees will be responsible for paying for the additional night’s accommodations.
- Please contact Mitchell White, Statler Associate, at mew296@cornell.edu if you want to add any nights to your stay.
Parking
- Parking passes will be prepaid by Systems Engineering and provided upon check-in.
- Please be sure to let us know in advance via the logistics survey if you will require parking for the week.
Fitness Center
- The Statler hotel has a 24-hour fitness facility. The fitness facility is located in the lobby level and is complimentary to all guests.
Items to Bring
- Full-room hotel accommodations will be provided at the hotel. If you're like many of us who can't sleep without their pillows, be sure to bring your pillow or other comforts of home including any toiletry items that you'll require.
- A laptop will be helpful for some course work
- Casual clothing (see photos in carousel below)
- On Tuesday, rain or shine, you'll be attending the Hoffman Challenge Course which is an outside ropes course. Please wear comfortable clothing that will allow you to climb and stretch. Closed-toe shoes are required (sneakers or running shoes preferred). Dress in layers and bring a rain jacket. Long hair should be tied back and jewelry should not be worn while climbing.
COVID-19 Related Information
For the latest on updates, please see Cornell's COVID-19 Response site.
Meet Our Faculty
Clifford Whitcomb
Professor of Practice
Dr. Clifford Whitcomb is a Professor of Practice in the Systems Engineering Program at Cornell University. He was previously a Distinguished Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Dr. Whitcomb was the Chairman of the Systems Engineering department and Director of Wayne E. Meyer Institute of Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Whitcomb has more than 35 years of experience in defense systems engineering and related fields with over 23 years of experience in academia. He has been a principal investigator for the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research, Office of the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of the Navy and the Veteran’s Health Administration.
David R. Schneider
Professor of Practice
Director of M.Eng. Studies
David R. Schneider graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in chemical engineering in 1999, attended Columbia University Film M.F.A. Program in 2001, and earned his Master’s and Ph.D. from Cornell University in mechanical engineering with a concentration in controls & dynamics in 2007. David has taught at both Cornell and Columbia University. His most prominent research is his creation of the G*TA (G-Star-T-A) task allocation algorithm and his work as program manager of the Cornell RoboFlag program, with notable applications including AFRL UAV controls and NASA/NOAA unmanned boat designs. With a strong focus on education, David's endeavors have included the creation of the Cornell Cup: Innovative Embedded Design National Competition with co-founder Intel and now primary sponsor Arm; leading Cornell University Sustainable Design (CUSD); and the broader impacts video game creation for the NSF Expeditions in Computing Grant on Computational Sustainability.
Leslie Whitcomb, Ph.D. International Student Inclusion Specialist
Dr. Leslie Whitcomb is serving as the pilot International Student Inclusion Specialist for the Einaudi Center, Cornell University. She is working to support international students through the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs and the Office of Global Learning. Leslie assesses and responds to international student inclusion needs across disciplines and service networks. She works to strengthen student identification with Cornell communities of learning while respecting studentsʻ home culture values. Leslie holds a B.A. in Multicultural Counseling. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development with research and practice in International Education and Global Professional Development. Prior to Cornell University, Dr. Whitcomb built inclusion focused, co-curricular learning programs for Indigenous, Asian, Latin X and Southeast Asian populations for schools such as the University of Massachusetts and Portland State University . Dr. Whitcomb facilitates co-curricular global workforce, soft skills learning in partnership with the Systems Engineering program at Cornell University. She consults internationally, facilitating professional skills development for initiatives across engineering disciplines and in Indigenous communities.
Leslie is proud to be a first-generation, college-attending, low-income, dual-heritage professional. Her work has been dedicated to building community through the integration of home culture contexts in a broad spectrum of educational settings. Dr. Whitcombʻs research practice focuses on the impact of communication micro skills on studentsʻ path/goal success as members of a culturally competent global workforce. She is obtaining a second doctoral degree (December 2024) in international education and social equity policies in higher education at Niagara University.
