Information for Students
OverviewCornell University has announced plans for the fall semester, which includes a hybrid approach to a residential semester (with in-person, online and hybrid teaching modalities), robust virus testing, and modifications to the academic calendar that will allow students to begin classes on Sept. 2 and return home for Thanksgiving and finish the semester remotely. Detailed plans for an extended, phased move-in period, including screening for COVID-19, will be released in the weeks ahead.
All students living on campus and in the Ithaca community will be required to sign the Cornell Behavioral Compact to attest that they will abide by critical, public health-driven behavioral expectations around the wearing of masks, physical distancing, daily health check-ins, hygiene/cleaning and social gatherings.
In preparation for your arrival to campus, whether living on-campus or off-campus, please visit Student Essentials to update your Ithaca address, emergency contact information, and phone number if you have not done so already. A request for additional information, including your estimated arrival date and how you are traveling to Ithaca, will be sent via email soon.
These plans apply to the Ithaca campus and Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. Given the varying impacts and progression of the virus in New York City, Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine campuses have developed their own plans for the fall semester.
Recent Updates
- Delayed billing of fall 2020 tuition and student fees (June 6)
- Message to Graduate Students: Plans to reactivate Ithaca campus for fall semester (July 2)
- Campus reactivation: Additional details for Ithaca students (July 2)
- Plans to reactivate Ithaca campus for fall semester (June 30)
- Campus reactivation planning (June 22)
- NYS Phase 3 Clearance for Southern Tier/Finger Lakes (June 11)
- Update on Phase 2 reopening of the Southern Tier (May 29)
- Opportunities for feedback on campus reactivation (May 28)
- Update on fall 2020 planning (May 28)
New Students
What is Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions doing to support freshman and transfer fall 2020 admits?
Cornell University is closely monitoring COVID-19, and Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions understands that this is a very difficult and uncertain time for freshman and transfer students around the world applying to colleges and universities. Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions are working closely with affected admitted students on a case-by-case basis and will do all that we can to assist and support those who have been accepted to the university. Those who have questions are asked to be in touch with us at admissions@cornell.edu.
How will COVID-19 impact the check list requirements and deadlines for new Cornell fall 2020 admits?
While much will depend on the progression of the virus in New York state, at this time we plan to welcome fall 2020 admits to campus in August. In the meantime, all requirements and deadlines for matriculation are as published at newstudents.cornell.edu. Please be sure to view the New Students website and to reach out directly to the appropriate department with any questions or concerns.