Housing & Dining
Plans are again in place for a phased move-in for the spring semester. Please note that the course of the pandemic, as well as winter weather, can always impact these plans. Upon arrival, all on-campus students will go directly to their testing sites. Please continue to monitor your email for messages from Cornell Housing and follow all guidelines for arrival and testing.
In general, regardless of where you'll be arriving from, all students are encouraged to continue following all public health guidance (e.g., mask wearing, physical distancing, avoid travel and large gatherings), as well as self-quarantine for one week prior to your arrival.
Spring Arrival Planning
Spring move-in will operate in a similar fashion to last fall, and all students are required to complete all necessary testing before they are cleared to access campus facilities. Students have received details about move-in dates and requirements based on where they will be arriving from, as well as whether they plan to live on or off campus this spring. Please continue to monitor your Cornell email for updates as the move-in process continues.
- Off-campus students have been asked through the Spring Checklist for additional information about their arrival, including previous destinations. We strongly encourage these students to plan a staggered arrival with their housemates taking into consideration various quarantine needs.
- On-campus students also need to complete the Spring Checklist. In addition, they have received details about arriving on-campus and the move-in process through the housing portal. Cornell Housing has asked students for additional details about their return plans, and they have selected a move-in day and time based on the location from which they are arriving in accordance with New York State travel restrictions.
On-Campus Housing
Who is permitted in residence halls? Can other Cornell students visit my residence hall or room?
Only certain staff members, residents and their guests are allowed in residence halls. Guests may be any person who is a member of the Cornell campus community, so long as they have participated in arrival and surveillance testing, have completed the checklist and submitted that day's Daily Check. Individuals who are not participating in Daily Check and regular surveillance testing are NOT allowed to access campus buildings and residence halls.
- Students must have explicit permission from their roommates and/or suitemates before a guest will be permitted in shared space. Please see the Shared Living Space During COVID-19 video for ideas on how to engage roommates in these important discussions.
- The maximum number of individuals allowed in any residence hall room at a time is the number of individuals assigned to that room plus one. The maximum number of individuals allowed in suite common areas is the number of individuals assigned to that suite. If a room door is open to the common area, then that room is considered part of the common area.
- Guests who are not residents in that building must use a public restroom in the building, and not the restrooms assigned to specific residents. Guests must be escorted by the resident to the public restroom.
- All students and their guests, including overnight guests, are subject to guest and escort terms of the House Rules and Community Standards, Housing Terms & Conditions, and special circumstance terms related to COVID-19.
As stated in the university's travel and visitor policy, visitors, including parents, other family members and alumni, will not be permitted in campus facilities, including residence halls. Students may visit other residence halls. Students are responsible for adhering to the guest policy as stipulated in the Cornell Behavioral Compact.
How can my family or friends who are not Cornell students visit me on campus?
Cornell has implemented significant restrictions on visitors as a way to de-densify campus and prevent individuals from unknowingly bringing COVID-19 into the community. According to the current Cornell travel and visitor policy, no individual (friend, family member, or other visitor) may enter Cornell campus facilities (i.e. residence halls, dining facilities, libraries, community centers, academic buildings, etc.) unless they are a current student, staff, or faculty member approved to be on campus.
Only public outdoor spaces (i.e. the trail around Beebe Lake and the Botanic Gardens) at Cornell are open to visitors at this time. Cornell’s mask and physical distancing policy must be followed by students, faculty, staff and visitors. Please check prior to visiting any specific site to understand if the location you want to visit is open and accessible to the public.
All travelers and visitors must follow CDC guidelines and New York State travel policies. Additionally, visitors must adhere to the New York State Travel Advisory which requires all travelers coming from noncontiguous states to quarantine for a 10-day period from the time of arrival in New York state (or follow testing protocols and quarantine for a shorter time period) and complete the Traveler Health Form. Visitors from these states are not permitted on campus until the end of their quarantine period.
What is the difference between a “visitor” and a “guest”? Can visitors have access to on-campus facilities, including residence halls?
The only people who may access on-campus facilities, including residence halls, are certain faculty, staff, residents and residents’ guests. Guests may be any member of the Cornell community, provided that they have participated in arrival and surveillance testing and continue to complete the Daily Check.
Visitors are members outside the Cornell community, and are individuals who are not participating in Daily Check and regular surveillance testing. Visitors, including a resident’s family members, are NOT allowed to access campus buildings and residence halls.
Are friends or family allowed to visit students elsewhere in Ithaca?
Yes, however all travelers and visitors must follow CDC guidelines and New York State travel policies. Additionally, visitors must adhere to the New York State Travel Advisory which requires all travelers coming from noncontiguous states to quarantine for a 10-day period from the time of arrival in New York state (or follow testing protocols and quarantine for a shorter time period) and complete the Traveler Health Form.
Dining
How is dining different due to COVID-19 restrictions?
Consistent with New York state guidelines for dining, and to ensure proper physical distancing, all dining halls are providing to-go service, touchless payment methods are in place and overall sanitation will continue to be an utmost priority. Limited in-person dining options are available using OpenTable. Visit Cornell Dining for additional details.
Will the university provide food delivery if students are placed in quarantine or isolation housing? Will there be additional costs for food delivery?
Students who are placed in quarantine or isolation housing will be provided access to meals at no additional cost.
How/where do I eat if I must have a face covering on, but seating is not available in dining areas?
If seating is not available due to reservations in dining rooms, students may wish to eat in designated dining areas across campus. Several areas that haven’t typically been identified as dining spaces, both indoors and outdoors, will be set aside during peak dining hours to safely accommodate students who wish to sit and eat a meal.