Keith Benjamin discusses why he chose Cornell's Engineering Management Program

What made you choose Cornell for the Engineering Management distance learning program?  

The primary thing that excited me about the distance learning program was its integration with the on-campus cohort. I wasn’t interested in watching video and churning out projects and papers, I wanted to be able to connect with a larger contingent of people and collectively build our professional networks together.

What do you think is the most valuable lesson you are learning or have learned while pursuing this degree online? 

As an older student I find that I’ve learned a lot of the people management techniques described in many of my courses. However, those techniques are not always valued in society and Cornell provides a place where I can develop those skills, gaining confidence to help me enact them in real life.

What advice do you have for prospective students who are considering the Engineering Management distance learning program at Cornell? 

Keep an open mind and use your time here to explore techniques and viewpoints. This program is good at challenging a persons’ way of thinking and the professors are leaders with vast experience. I have found them to be good at providing both new and old management ideas in a balanced way – many ways I’ve never considered before.

What do you enjoy most about the format and structure of the courses you are taking? 

Being able to take classes synchronously. It’s very helpful for me to have a dedicated time – other than scheduled studying – when I can log into class and interact in real-time with the presentation.

How are/were you able to connect with your professors and peers during your online courses? 

I’ve only known my professors to be very responsive to email, ed discussion boards, and canvas message boards. While I’ve never needed a virtual office hour, I have every belief that they would be very willing to accommodate somehow.

Are you currently working while pursuing your degree? If so, how are you able to balance your professional workload with your distance learning workload? 

Yes. I schedule classwork during the evenings, use Saturday as my backup day if necessary, and do no work on Sunday. I’ve also taken time off from the program – life, work, and school converged so much so that I took one semester off. It’s perhaps one of the best decisions I’ve made. The faculty was very understanding and were happy to see me return the following semester.

How has your employer supported you during your time as a student in the Engineering Management distance learning program?

My employer supports my schooling by understanding I have some time constraints that mean there are days I have early hard-stops for work or late arrivals. In general, though, the unofficial arrangement my employer and I have is that I get my work done, I do it well, I do it on-time, I communicate appropriately, and no one asks any questions.

What surprised you about the program? 

The flexibility to reduce one’s course load or even take time off from the program and the community that is generated especially with the distance learners over the on-campus intensives. Those have been wonderful weeks of networking while learning.

What is something you are learning about yourself while earning this degree?

This program has renewed my confidence in my ability to be a leader. Before attending university, I was a leader at my employer, but I went to school to change profession – meaning I started at the bottom again. Now I’m trying to break back into management and happy to learn new tools along the way.