COVID-19 Response COVID-19 Response

Information for Students

Overview
Students Faculty & Staff

Students should continue to follow current public health guidance. Isolation guidelines for students are found on the Cornell Health website.

Student Resources

Graduate & Professional Student Resources

International Students

The Office of Global Learning has created an FAQ to help address many questions that international students and scholars may have. Advising staff is also available remotely to support Cornell's international community and campus partners.

Email international@cornell.edu for most questions and services, including CPT, OPT, tax questions and extensions, or call 607-255-5243 during regular business hours for urgent advising questions. Cornell Tech students should continue to work with Cornell Tech Student Services during office hours or by email at studentservices@tech.cornell.edu.

COVID-19 Etiquette for Students

If you are illl with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, seek and perform an antigen test.

If you test positive:

  • Do not attend class, work or other social gatherings.
  • Report your result using this form, which helps track the prevalence on campus and provides academic support while you recover.
  • After reporting your result, you will be granted a temporary accommodation notice that you may elect to share with your instructors if you anticipate missing class during your isolation period.
  • Contact your college student services office for additional academic support as needed.
  • Tell roommates and other close contacts that you have COVID-19. This will allow others to take proactive steps to monitor their health.
  • Wear a high-quality mask at all times, except when eating, sleeping or using bathroom facilities (e.g., showering, brushing teeth).
  • Isolate in your residence hall or apartment. Follow Tompkins County Whole Health current isolation guidelines.
  • Limit time away from your room, except when seeking medical care or picking up food.
  • Clean shared areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, immediately after use and before the next person enters.

If you test negative:

  • Your illness may still be contagious. If you attend class, work or social gatherings, wear a well-fitting mask until your symptoms have resolved.
  • If your symptoms are significant, consider calling Cornell Health at 607-255-5155 for an appointment or self-care guidance.
  • If you don't feel well enough to attend class, connect with your faculty member about the need to miss class.

Roommates of COVID-19 positive students should:

  • Wear a high-quality mask when in residence halls/rooms, except when sleeping.
  • Get tested. Because the virus can take days to incubate, even if asymptomatic, you should test immediately upon learning your roommate is positive and then several days later.
  • Test immediately if you become symptomatic.
  • Take extra precautions, such as cleaning shared, high-touch surfaces.

Some roommates of COVID-19 positive students may feel more comfortable temporarily relocating – students may choose to stay with a friend or go to a hotel at their own expense. Those students who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (as defined by the CDC) who have a COVID-19 positive roommate should contact Student Disability Services to request a temporary housing accommodation.