Academics

For our guests, Hotel Ezra Cornell is just a weekend: an amazing weekend full of education, interaction, and entertainment, but just a weekend nonetheless. But for the students, HEC is much more than that. It is a year’s worth of hard work, commitment, and excitement culminating in a fabulous display of our efforts and talent. HEC is an opportunity to take on responsibilities and develop leadership skills, a way to meet new friends and share experiences with old ones. It is a way to show recruiters, staff, and ourselves what we are capable of. HEC is a way to practice what we learn in the classroom and test our skills before we venture into the real world.

HEC provides so many great reasons to participate, and the best part is, it’s so easy to get involved. No matter your year, time commitments, or interest, there is a great way for you to contribute. From being on the board to serving at a function, one of these opportunities might be just the right fit for you.

HEC Board of Directors: The student run board is made up of 17 directors in all functional areas including food and beverage, finance, marketing, and guest service.  From deciding on menu ideas, to controlling the budget, to recruiting volunteers, the board plans and executes every detail to ensure a successful weekend. For the large time commitment and the invaluable learning experience, the board receives 3 credits per semester.

Board Assistants and Function Managers: Each director organizes a team to support his or her department. Depending on the position, function managers are responsible for everything from designing the look of a dinner, to photography, to organizing the personal concierge team. These positions not only assist the directors but also provide leadership opportunities.

Department Teams: Don’t have enough time first semester? Get involved later in the year by joining a departmental team. In addition to our Function Managers and Board Assistants, the directors need help to execute the weekend. Join the culinary team to test out or improve your cooking skills, or the beverage team to learn how to pour a perfect drink. Join the personal concierge team to get some great guest interaction or the design team to put your creative flair to work. Teams start recruiting in November, December, and into second semester.

Weekend Volunteers: Even if you don’t have time to commit throughout the year, you can still be a part of the fun over the weekend. We need many students to help pull the weekend off. A great way to see what areas you might be interested in is by helping out several departments--for example, serve a dinner on Friday, help cook for lunch on Saturday afternoon, and assist the design team in setting up the closing cocktail on Saturday night. You can donate as much or as little of your time as you like.

Community Service: This year, HEC is committed to giving back to the community. Starting soon and ramping up in the spring, we will be organizing and participating in several service projects. Even if you haven’t yet been involved with HEC, take this opportunity to help someone in need.

Marketing Efforts: Whether or not you are involved in HEC, you can make your opinions heard. Attend a design and guest services focus group and maybe your amenity idea will end up in the guest rooms. Participate in the cookie or t-shirt design contest, and your winning entry could be delivered to guests or sported by your peers. Look for these opportunities throughout the semester.

Top Ten Reasons to Join HEC