Current Students

The petition process permits students to request exceptions to existing regulations. Petitions based on documented extenuating circumstances are considered individually, weighing the unique situation of the petitioning student with the intent of Hotel School and university regulations. Students can avoid the necessity to petition by observing the deadlines and other policies that affect their academic program. To determine whether a petition is appropriate, students should discuss the situation with the Office of Student Services, 180 Statler Hall, or their faculty advisor.

Petitions are available in the Office of Student Services or online . Your advisor’s signature is required. The signature merely endorses the petition, and does not guarantee approval. Petitions will be considered on an as-needed basis. Be sure to allow sufficient time for the process. A copy of the decision will be placed in your mail folder.

Freshmen are required to complete 2 credits of physical education (PE) during their freshman year. Students may not take two PE classes in the same semester for credit; however, the same PE course (with the exception of marching band) may be taken for credit two semesters in a row. It is the student’s responsibility to sign up for PE classes by reporting to Teagle Hall during university registration.

Be sure to check add/drop deadlines for PE classes, which often are different from the normal university course add/drop deadlines. Transfer students who have completed two or more terms of full-time study elsewhere, regardless of whether those terms included PE courses, do not need to take PE or complete the swim test at Cornell. Transfer students who completed only one term elsewhere must take one term of PE, including the swim test, at Cornell.

PE requirements may be modified for the following reasons:

1. Health Reasons: Either a temporary medical postponement or a permanent medical waiver, which must be officially certified by Gannett Health Services.
2. Work: If a student works twenty or more hours per week, he or she may qualify for postponement or a waiver, which must be approved by the athletic director’s office in Teagle Hall.
3. Team Sport: Upon approval of the athletic director’s office, students participating in a team sport will receive credit toward the PE requirement.

In addition to the above requirements, students must pass a basic swim test to graduate. The test, conducted during the first week of classes, consists of a continuous 75-yard swim using front, back, and optional strokes. Any student who cannot pass the test must include swimming as his or her PE before choosing any elective PE class.

A grade of Incomplete will be issued until the swim test has been passed or the requirement has been filled by satisfactory attendance in two terms of beginning swim classes.

All students are encouraged to explore opportunities offered by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, 255-4286.

Note: The credits of PE are not included in the 120-credit graduation requirement or in the minimum 12-credits-per-semester requirement.

The Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Entrepreneurship, a unit of the Hotel School, supports and enables innovation and new business formation in the hospitality industry. The Institute provides students with guidance on entrepreneurship study, introduces students to hospitality entrepreneurs, and encourages students to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Institute is also a platform for knowledge about forming new hospitality businesses, managing small and family-run businesses, franchising, corporate venturing, new venture funding, and innovation. To learn more, contact Joe Strodel, Jr., in the office of the Associate Dean for Industry Research and Affairs at 255.4646.

Official school announcements such as from the Office of Student Services, class information, notices from student organizations, school-sponsored activities, and other business announcements of general interest to Hotel School students may be posted. All notices must identify the group or individuals responsible for the information and the last date when they should remain posted. Notices without dates will be removed at the administration’s discretion. Notices may be posted on bulletin boards or glass cases not reserved for other use (such as Dean’s Office, Student Services, Development, etc.) and any glass surfaces which do not block vision at doorways.

• Do not post notices on painted or wall-papered surfaces such as walls, doors, window frames, and stairwells.
• Do not post notices in stairwells or within ten feet of exits (this is prohibited by fire codes).
• Do not post notices with vulgar or obscene language or images.
• Do not post notices on glass doors, which create hazards by blocking vision.

Notices violating any of the above rules will be removed. Repair of all damages caused by improperly posted notices will be the financial responsibility of the individual(s) sponsoring the notice.

To graduate from the School of Hotel Administration and receive the Bachelor of Science degree, students must fulfill the Practice Credit requirement and submit verification thereof prior to registering for the second to last semester.

To complete this requirement, students must a minimum of two 400-hour units (paid or unpaid) in the hospitality industry during a minimum of two separate employment periods. Typically, this requirement is fulfilled in two summers. However, part-time employment is accepted. Upon completion of this requirement, the designation "Practice Credit-Complete" will appear on the student's Cornell transcript.

Transfer students may receive up to, but not exceeding, one full unit of practice credit in either of the following two sets of circumstances:

1. The student is a transfer student from an accredited HRI (Hotel, Restaurant, Institution) or culinary arts program, and that institution has a required industry practicum that is recorded on the transcript as satisfactorily completed.
2. The student has completed 400 hours of appropriate documented work in the hospitality/service industry since matriculating in any college or university.

In case 1, when the final transcript has been received, pre-matriculation practice credit is automatic and will appear on the transfer credit allowance. In case 2, the student must file a request for Practice Credit in the Office of Student Services, 180 Statler Hall. Forms are also available online.

The Office of Student Services, 180 Statler Hall, maintains your official academic records in the Hotel School, including progress toward your degree. The Office of Student Services also provides a variety of services, including the approval of transfer of credit from other institutions, clarification of school and university policies, etc.

University registration is the official recognition of a student’s relationship with the university and is the basic authorization for a student’s access to services and education. Completion of registration is essential to enable the university to plan for and provide services and education, guided by the highest standards for efficiency and safety. Unauthorized, unregistered persons who use university services and attend classes have the potential to use university resources inappropriately and to displace properly registered students.

In addition, the university assumes certain legal responsibilities for persons who participate as students in the university environment. For example, policy states that New York State health requirements are intended to safeguard the public health of students, and the university has a responsibility to enforce the state regulations through registration procedures.

The policy on university registration is intended to describe clearly the meaning of and the procedures for registration so that students can complete the process efficiently and be assured of official recognition as registered students. With the clear communication of the steps for registration, it is hoped that compliance will occur with a minimum of difficulty.

To become a registered student at Cornell University, a person must:

1. complete course enrollment according to individual college requirements;
2. settle all financial accounts, including current semester tuition;
3. satisfy New York State health requirements;
4. have no holds from the college, the Office of the Judicial Administrator, Gannett Health Services, or the Bursar.

Individuals who have not registered by the end of the fifth week of the semester will be withdrawan from their classes by the university registrar, and considered to be on voluntary withdrawal status, meaning that they have separated from the university and are not students at Cornell. Cornell University does not allow persons who are not registered to attend classes. The university reserves the right to require unauthorized, unregistered persons who attend classes or in other ways seek to exercise student privileges to leave the university premises. The university does not permit retroactive registration and does not record courses or grades for unregistered persons.

See: Academic Status

Cornell University has an enduring commitment to supporting equality of employment opportunity by affirming the values of diversity and inclusiveness.  This commitment includes embracing religious diversity.  As part of this commitment, the university will make good faith effort to provide a reasonable accommodation of an employee's sincerely-held religious belief, unless the university believes that such an accommodation would create an undue hardship or is contrary to the university's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. 

The University's Religious Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.

The following is quoted from the Cornell University Faculty Handbook (1990), page 62:

"The university schedules some classes, laboratories, and examinations on religious holidays. Adequate opportunity should be provided to each student who is absent from school because of his or her religious obligations and practices to make up any examination, study, or work requirements which may have been missed because of such absence on any particular day or days.

"In effecting the provisions of this section, each college and university administration and faculty agree to exercise the fullest measure of good faith, and agree that no adverse or prejudicial effects should result to any student who avails himself or herself of the institution's guidelines on religious observances."

For further help in defining what consitutes a valid excuse for religious reasons, speak with your professor or contact the university's Dean of Faculty Office at 255.4843.

Students are allowed to register a second time for a course they have already passed with a grade above an "F." For the second registration, however, no credits will count toward graduation requirements, and the grade received will not be averaged into the cumulative average.

Students are allowed to enroll a second time for a course in which they previously received the grade of "F." For the second enrollment, the credits will count toward graduation requirements, and the grade received will be averaged into the cumulative average. The "F" remains on the record and is included in the computation of the grade point average.

Some courses are offered on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. University regulations concerning the S/U system require that a grade of "S" be given for work equivalent to a "C–" or better; for work below that level, a "U" must be given. No grade-point assignment is given to "S," and "S" or "U" grades are not included in the computation of semester or cumulative averages. A course in which a student receives an "S" is, however, counted for credit. No credit is received for a "U." Both the "S" and "U" grades appear on a student's record.

A maximum of 4 credit hours may be taken on an S/U basis each term, provided that the instructor has agreed to offer the S/U option, and a maximum of 6 credits in total in distributive electives may be taken on an S/U basis.

To take a course S/U, a student must check Courses of Study to be sure the course is being offered on that basis and then file a course form in the Office of Student Services, 180 Statler Hall, specifying the S/U grade option for the course.

Note: The deadline for requesting the S/U grading option for a course is the end of the third week of the term (the same as the Add date).

You can view your course schedule at any time by accessing your Student Center. Schedules generally are available approximately ten days before the first day of classes in a semester. If you want a printed copy of your schedule, you can print it from your Student Center.

Be sure to check your schedule several times during the semester to verify you are enrolled in the courses you think you are!

The Ambassadors seek to promote a positive image of the Hotel School to all visitors, including industry leaders, incoming students, and alumni. They also act as a support system, in the role of student advisors, for first-year and transfer students. The Ambassadors also serve as hosts for companies holding receptions in the Hotel School.

All facilities at the Statler Hotel are reserved for the use of our paying guests and conference attendees. The Statler Hotel kindly asks that students refrain from using the public areas of the hotel as a place to study, for meetings, or as a gathering place. Please use the appropriate areas of the Beck Center and the Hotel School for these activities.

The SLDP is designed to blend academic coursework with managerial experience to prepare students to quickly assume leadership positions following graduation.  To qualify, students must work 200 hours at the Statler Hotel during their freshman year while maintaining a 2.5 minimum GPA.  In the spring of their freshman year, students may apply and interview with the SLDP Executive Board.  If accepted into the program, students select a development track from the following:  Rooms Division, Food and Beverage Division, Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, or Accounting.  Following a specifically designed path, students may pregress through four stages:  entry-level, supervisor, manager, and director.  In conjunction with the work experience, students are required to take HADM 2217: Statler Leadership Development, HADM 4410: Hospitality Management Seminar, and HADM 4417: Hospitality Leadership.

The new Student Center (formerly called "Just the Facts") offers a way to access your information 24/7.  Information is arranged in three broad areas:

• Academics - including registration status, class schedule, grades, transcript requests, and Pre-Enroll and Add/Drop; 
• Finances - including your bursar account and financial aid package; and
• Personal Information - including home and local addresses and emergency contact information.  You can edit and add addresses and phone numbers here.

You should regularly check your enrollment in the Student Center before the add/drop deadlines in order to make any necessary corrections in a timely manner. 

SCCI's mission is to utilize the talents of the students, faculty, staff, and administration to create and facilitate positive change. These actions are intended to strengthen the environment of continuous improvement and ensure the Cornell Hotel School’s position as the world’s preeminent hospitality management school.

Search Registered Organizations here.

See any of the following for more information: Catering and Special Events Society (CSES); Club Managers Association of America; Cornell Dinner Club; Cornell Hospitality Advisory; Cornell Hotel Society, Collegiate Chapter (CHS,CC); Cornell University Spa Association; Hospitality Entrepreneurs; Hospitality Finance Society; Hospitality Law Society; Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International; Hospitality Students International; Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC); Hotelies Serving Society; National Society of Minorities in Hospitality(NSMH); School of Hotel Administration Student Ambassadors; Student Committee for Continuous Improvements; Ye Hosts Honorary Society.

Note: Only registered full-time students may participate in student organizations.

Students are encouraged to consider studying abroad in order to gain an international experience and an appreciation of different cultures. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to be considered for Study Abroad. For details on how to apply, see the Study Abroad Information Sheet, available in the Office of Student Services, and schedule an appointment with Barbara Lang, the Hotel School’s Cornell Abroad Advisor, in 180 Statler Hall.

Any student planning to take courses for credit on or off campus over the summer session must complete the appropriate form well before summer session begins.

At Cornell, up to 4 credits may be taken in the three-week session, up to 9 in the six-week session, and up to 12 in the eight-week session. The total may not exceed 15 credits.

Note: Credit is given only for courses taken at four-year, accredited institutions, and courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or above.

See also: Winter Session Courses