Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I attend SCUSA?
A: Contact your academic advisor at
your college or university to
discuss your interest in SCUSA.
Q: How do I get to West Point?
A: The SCUSA cadet staff will
arrange transportation for
delegates arriving at Newark
International Airport and Penn
Station, New York. Delegates may
drive to West Point from their
college or university if they choose.
Q: Where will I stay?
A: Delegates will be housed in the
cadet barracks on the West Point
campus.
Q: How much does SCUSA cost?
A: The registration fee is $165.
Delegates should contact their
academic advisor regarding
scholarship and transportation grants
that their school may provide.
What Others say About SCUSA
“My participation in SCUSA as a cadet
was one of the most informative
experiences of my life and led directly to
my decision to join the United Nations and
later the Department of State where for
a total of 15 years I worked relief,
development, conflict response and polmil policy issues from a variety of
perspectives in over 75 countries..”
The 65th Annual
Student conference
on us affairs
West Point, New York
30 October – 2 November 2013
- Richard G. Kidd IV
Dep. Assistant Secretary of the Army
“SCUSA is the single most important
civil-military relations event at West
Point each year; thinking about U.S.
foreign policy with my peers from other
schools has helped me grow immensely as
both a leader and a scholar.”
- Cadet Chris Kelly‘14
Q: How do I prepare for SCUSA?
A: After registering for the
conference, delegates will be informed
of their roundtable assignments.
Delegates should read the roundtable
paper provided and come prepared to
discuss the key issues in their policy or
regional area.
Q: What is the dress code?
A: Delegates should bring business
casual wear for daytime use and casual
dinners. They should also bring formal
attire for the banquet and reception.
Weather in New York is breezy and cool
in mid-fall; a warm winter coat is highly
recommended.
Q: Will there be an opportunity to
tour West Point while I am attending
SCUSA?
A: Yes; time is set aside in the SCUSA
schedule for tours of the Academy.
There is also an interactive display of
weapons and military equipment.
Navigating Demographic Flows:
Populations, Power, and Policy
Contact Information
Executive Secretary
Sponsored by:
Major Sam Linn
The George and Carol Olmsted Foundation
607 Cullum Road
The USMA Class of ’71
Room LHB117, 845-938-3697
Samuel.Linn@USMA.EDU
Conference Coordinator
Mr. Carlton Smith
845-938-6401
Carlton.smith@usma.edu
http://www.westpoint.edu/sosh/SitePages/SCUSA.aspx
What is SCUSA?
The United States Military Academy at West
Point hosts SCUSA every fall. It is the largest,
oldest, and most prestigious conference of its
type in the world. Approximately 200
undergraduate students from over 100 colleges
and universities worldwide attend SCUSA.
Many delegates use their passion and
experiences honed at SCUSA to pursue a career
in public service. SCUSA is more than a fourday conference, however; it is a year-long
leader development experience – the West
Point Leader Development System in action!
A forum for new ideas
Throughout the conference, the student
delegates will discuss and debate the impact of
past and recent events on the national political
strategy of the United States and attempt to
formulate policy recommendations for the
future.
A unique interaction with America’s military
While attending SCUSA, delegates will get a
unique glimpse into the daily life of the United
States Corps of Cadets – the Army’s future
officers. Delegates interact with cadets at their
roundtables and with staff and faculty
throughout the conference. They will be hosted
by cadets in the barracks and dine in the cadet
mess hall.
Mentorship beyond the classroom
SCUSA draws policy experts from academia and
government to facilitate roundtable discussions
and guide delegates in developing a series of
policy recommendations for their policy area.
Dynamic guest speakers have included:
Dr. Rajiv Shah
Admiral James G. Stavridis
Dr. Henry Kissinger
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
SCUSA 65 Roundtable Topics
Topical:
Where have all the Dollars gone? Currency Flows,
Sovereign Wealth Funds, and the Global Economy
Women and Wealth: The Role of Gender in Global
Development
The Omnivore’s Security Dilemma: The
International Politics of Food and Water
The Future of Force and Faith: World Religion and
Global Power
The Revolution will be Tweeted? Accountability,
Social Media, and State Power
From Mil to Civ: The Downsizing of the U.S.
Military and the Fate of Civil-Military Relations
Regional:
The African Century? Demography and the
Prospect of Development
Coming of Age: Sources of Middle Eastern
Instability
Forever Young: Demography and Strategy in India
Rich and Poor, Young and Old: Demographic
Challenges to China’s Rise
Lula’s Legacy: Brazil’s Rise and South America’s
Future
The Dying Bear Reborn? Autocracy, Energy, and
Population Growth in Russia
Old Europe: Islamic Immigration and the Rebirth
of the European Union
Pensions and Palliative Care: Austerity, the
Welfare State, & Population Flows in North America
TMI? Privacy & the Promise of “Big Data”
How does SCUSA work?
•Key conference events
October 30th–
Registration, welcome, and opening senior
panel discussion of the conference theme.
October 31st–
Roundtable sessions, a tour of West Point, an
evening reception, and delegate social.
November 1st –
Roundtable sessions, weapons and equipment
interactive display, policy address, banquet, and
keynote address.
November 2nd –
Closing report session and presentation of policy
recommendations to the conference.
•Delegates should prepare themselves to
discuss their roundtable topic in light of the
conference theme
Delegates of SCUSA are charged to identify
and measure the magnitude and direction of
demographic flows within their policy area of
study and to consider what policies – if any –
might direct them more favorably to US
interests