Academic Policies, Instruction & Resources

Yes, some campus buildings (including classrooms) will be open to students during the online instruction period. We strongly encourage students to come prepared with a headset that they can use when connecting to their online classes, to minimize disruption to other students.

We have continually and carefully been looking for evidence of possible classroom transmission in several ways over the course of this and previous semesters, but have not found any evidence that it occurs. At the same time, we have found abundant evidence of transmission through other mechanisms, especially social gatherings, co-habitation and travel. While this does not prove that classroom transmission is impossible, it does strongly suggest that it has been very rare.

Here are the ways we have looked for classroom transmission: First, in instances when questions about transmission in a specific classroom have been raised, we have conducted a detailed investigation including adaptive testing of students in the classroom in question and genetic sequencing (one can exclude the possibility that one person infected another by comparing the genetic sequences of the virus in the two individuals). This has not uncovered evidence of classroom transmission. In contrast, when we suspect transmission at a social gathering, in a shared living space, or among members of a sports team or social organization, we also do adaptive testing and this usually uncovers several cases.

Second, we keep track of classes with multiple positives and investigate when a class has more positives than one would expect given its size. These investigations have not revealed evidence of classroom transmission --- instead, the elevation in positivity is typically because the class in question is popular among a group of students that socializes outside of class and had high prevalence at the time.

Third, we have been collecting seating information from students attending classes in Bailey Hall this semester, a lecture hall that seats nearly 1000 students. We look at where students who test positive have been sitting and check whether students who were sitting nearby test positive. The data is unfortunately extremely incomplete (many students do not report their seat assignments accurately) but we do have roughly 20 examples in the data of a positive student sitting within 3 seats of another student, and in none of those cases has the nearby student contracted the virus.

Fourth, the dates when student case counts have been highest coincide with students being out of class – the beginning of the semester and the end of classes. This is consistent with in-class transmission being rare or nonexistent; and with the rise in cases being driven by an increase in social gatherings driven in turn by students being less busy with classes.

Fifth, contact traces have revealed that nearly all positive students have one of the following risk factors: social gatherings, co-habitation with a positive person, travel, membership in a Greek organization or athletic team with other recently positive individuals, or outside-of-class close contact with a named positive individual. It is rare for a student to test positive without having one of these risk factors. Moreover, investigations of these few cases have not revealed evidence of classroom transmission.

When New York state and Cornell public health restrictions were lifted over the summer, physical distancing was no longer required, allowing classrooms to return to their normal configuration for the fall semester. We have done extensive modeling and are confident that with the large percentage of vaccinated individuals in the classrooms there would be little added benefit of imposing distancing requirements. And, for added safety, both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals are required to wear masks in classrooms.

Students requesting remote access due to a disability should register with Student Disability Services to develop an accommodation plan.

All classes will be virtual for the first two weeks of the semester, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4. In-person instruction will resume Feb. 7. Some professional school classes, at the discretion of the dean, may opt for in-person instruction beginning Jan. 24.

Yes. As long as the university’s COVID-19 alert level is yellow or green, students who work or earn credit doing research are able to go to their lab, but they must adhere to all COVID-19 safety guidelines.

No. Only classes that are listed in the course roster as online, hybrid, or distance learning instruction modes will continue to be taught via Zoom. All other courses will be held in-person only, with no options for students to participate remotely.

If your class on campus takes place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. in your local time zone, you are expected to participate synchronously. If it occurs outside of those times in your local time, or for those who are sick, please work with your faculty for accommodations.

Students can revise their travel plans to arrive later than originally planned as long as they are prepared to begin in-person instruction on February 7. We encourage students to allow for roughly five days on campus prior to their first in-person class, just in case they test positive upon arrival and need to isolate. If you change your arrival plans, it is critical that you record changes on the “Arrival” tab of the winter/spring checklist.

Students should make every effort to return to campus by February 7th. Students facing extenuating circumstances that prevent them from doing so (e.g., pre-departure test on 2/6 returns positive result, flights are cancelled) should contact the student services office in their home college as soon as possible.

Many fully vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus are asymptomatic. As long as you are feeling well enough to attend classes virtually, you should plan to do so.

Students who test positive will be required to isolate for five days, according to CDC guidelines. During that time, students cannot attend classes in person, and should coordinate with their instructors for accommodations.

Most PE classes will not begin until Feb. 7, however, since PE classes only meet 18 hours a semester, that will still provide enough time in the semester to get all hours to complete the courses. The only exceptions to this schedule are skiing and cross country skiing classes, which will meet in person from the beginning of the semester.

Students should not expect courses to be recorded like they were last year. Only a subset of classrooms is equipped with the voice lift technology necessary to capture high quality sound suitable for recordings. Depending on the nature of the course, however, some instructors may be able to offer audio recordings (not audio and visual) to supplement other course materials, in order to support students who are in isolation or mandatory quarantine.

Studying with peers is a great way to connect with other Cornell students and is a powerful tool for learning. Finding people to study with can be challenging, and Cornell’s Learning Strategies Center (LSC) can help you find study partners for specific courses. If you are looking for general motivation and peer support that is not tied to specific course, you can request an accountability buddy to help you meet your goals.

This is up to each individual instructor. Instructors are not required to provide online office hours. However, we have asked faculty who plan on holding online office hours to also offer an in-person option.

No, there is no behavior compact in place for the 2021–22 academic year, however, the university requires that students participate in surveillance testing as directed and follow all other campus health and safety rules (e.g. masking mandate). Failure to comply with the university’s health and safety requirements may result in the loss of campus privileges, including but not limited to engaging in on-campus activities (including research and in-person classes), accessing Cornell facilities and buildings, and utilizing campus services such as Wi-Fi, Canvas and enrollment. Failure to comply may also result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.

Since the last day to add a course is February 7, students interested in visiting a class during the course add/shopping period should contact the professor or department to ask for the Zoom link to visit the course during the first two weeks of the semester.

No. The university has reverted back to the typical drop deadline schedule. For spring 2022, the last day to drop a course or change the grading option is March 21.

The evening prelim schedule has been posted and exams will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7:30 p.m.

As of now, you do not need to reserve a space to study in our various academic buildings as you did last semester. However, if you’d like to use a space specifically in one of the libraries for individual study/video calls or for group project work, you can reserve it ahead of time.

Please keep in mind, however, that study spaces, which are great to congregate for informal meetings or to studying with friends, are not designated dining areas. Unless you are alone in a private room, you must wear a mask whenever you are not actively eating or drinking (e.g., mask up between sips when drinking a coffee over an extended period of time).

Students are given a one-day grace period after their assigned testing day to schedule their surveillance test. After this grace period, student access may be restricted from Canvas, campus Wi-Fi networks, and from making course enrollment changes in Student Center. For access to be reinstated, students simply need to visit the Daily Check homepage, click on the link in the Missed Surveillance Test banner to schedule a test, and complete their test.

Please be aware that testing locations are have more limited days and hours this semester, which could make it more difficult for those who miss their grace period day at the end of the week to complete their test and be reinstated right away. Also note that it could take 12-24 hours to regain access to campus services once a student has completed their surveillance test.

No. Cornell will not be issuing any tuition, housing, or dining refunds due to classes being held online for the first two weeks.

If you are placed in mandatory quarantine or isolation, you may request a temporary accommodation through Student Disability Services (SDS). SDS will, in turn, notify your instructors that you’ll need flexibility in attendance, and may need alternative arrangements for assignments and/or exams. However, faculty are not required to provide remote access to students who cannot attend class. In fact, for the majority of our classrooms, remote access is not be an option because classrooms are not Zoom-enabled. Instead, faculty may, for example, choose to use lapel mic recorders to capture audio recordings to accompany other course materials. Faculty want you to be successful in their class and will determine the most appropriate and feasible way to help you stay on track based on the nature of the course. Also, it’s always beneficial for students to stay in regular contact with their faculty, TAs, and their college student services office during their quarantine or isolation period so that they can get the support they need.

When a student is placed in isolation or quarantine, they may request a temporary accommodation through Student Disability Services (SDS). SDS will, in turn, notify instructors that the student will need flexibility in attendance, and may need alternative arrangements for assignments and/or exams. Faculty will use their discretion to determine the best way to support students based on the nature of their course. In the majority of classrooms, remote access will not be an option because classrooms are not Zoom-enabled. Instead, lapel mic recorders will be available to capture audio recordings to accompany other course materials.

If your instructor becomes sick with COVID-19, the instructor or their department will communicate any alternative arrangements that may be put in place, such as such as substitute instructors or alternative lesson plans.

There are several different types of holds. Your Holds are listed at the top right of the page when logged in to Student Center. Click on "more information" for complete details on the hold, including steps to resolve if necessary.

No, it could take as much as 12-24 hours for your access to Canvas to be restored. Instructors have no ability to add students back to Canvas. Only through regular system updates can you be reinstated back into Canvas.

Yes. Please refer to the Office of Global Learning for the most up to date information about education abroad.

Provided there is no need to make changes due to the evolving pandemic, the university has returned to its typical calendar for the 2021-21 academic year, which includes February break, Feb. 26-Mar. 2, and spring break, April 2-11.

In-person student activities will be substantially limited until in-person classes resume Feb. 7. We also ask that you do not engage in informal social gatherings that will promulgate the spread of the virus during this time. Please help us keep Cornell safe and healthy by restricting social activity during these crucial two weeks.

Athletic events will continue, with proper protocols in place, as scheduled during these two weeks.

Recreational facilities (hours) and libraries (check hours until regular schedule resumes on Feb. 7) will remain open during this time, following current public health guidance on masking and density.

Between Jan. 21 and Feb 4, dining halls will be open, with grab-and-go meals for the start of the semester.

Yes, student organization have been asked to record attendance this spring.

In-person student activities will be substantially limited until in-person classes resume Feb. 7. We also ask that you do not engage in informal social gatherings that will promulgate the spread of the virus during this time. Please help us keep Cornell safe and healthy by restricting social activity during these crucial two weeks.

If you need to leave campus and pause your testing, be sure you let the university know by submitting a travel form. The form can be found in your Daily Check homepage in the “Change Your Campus Status / Testing” box.

Submitting the dates of your travel will pause your surveillance testing while you are away. This will prevent loss of access to campus resources due to a missed surveillance test while you are gone.

When you return, you will be expected to complete a supplemental test which can be scheduled through Daily Check. You may return to class but should wait to resume any other on-campus activities until you receive a negative test result.