Travel & Study Abroad
All Cornell-related travel by faculty, staff and students is restricted at this time. Decisions regarding Cornell travel will be informed by the work of the university's reactivation planning committees and state and federal guidance.
Student Travel
All students are prohibited from traveling for Cornell-related research or scholarship until further notice. Students with domestic or international travel planned should speak with their program director, immigration advisor or academic advisor. The university will work to support the local quarantine requirements imposed by the state on students returning to campus for the fall semester from states with high infection rates. For questions or support regarding student travel, contact International Travel Health and Safety. For immigration related questions, contact International Services.
Faculty & Staff Travel
Business Travel
All non-essential business travel is prohibited. Cornell will be developing detailed guidance to assist the planning of personal and essential business travelers, particularly on steps to be taken upon their return to campus. Travel is also likely to continue to be highly regulated by New York state, and the university will work to support the local quarantine requirements imposed by the state on travelers from states with high infection rates.
For guidance and policy on when essential international travel may resume, for whom, and the process to seek approval, please visit the International Travel Guidelines, Policy, and Recommendations page. For questions or support regarding international travel, contact International Travel Health and Safety.
Personal Travel
All members of the Cornell community are expected to follow all travel guidelines put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of State, New York state, or the local Department of Health. Additionally, at this time, Cornell strongly discourages any non-essential travel for personal reasons, especially to areas where there is a higher incidence of COVID-19 than in Tompkins County or the county of the employee’s Cornell worksite.
Employees who travel internationally for personal reasons will be expected to follow CDC guidance upon their return. If the CDC requires a period of quarantine, employees will be will be expected to work remotely, if possible. If not possible, they may be reassigned other work to enable remote work. If no reassignment of work is available, they may be required to use their leave accruals or be placed on an unpaid leave if accruals aren't available. Further guidance on personal travel and required reporting will be forthcoming.
New York State Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers
Governors in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey recently announced that travelers from states with high infection rates will be required to quarantine for 14 days when they enter New York, Connecticut or New Jersey. The directive applies both to residents of the impacted states who travel to New York and to New Yorkers who have traveled to the impacted states and are returning home to New York. Note that states in this category include those with an infection rate of 10 per 100,000 residents or greater, or 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average. The list of states that qualify for mandatory quarantine will be updated continuously by the state.
Individuals will self-administer their quarantines, but the governor raised the possibility of mandated quarantine and/or fines for those who do not voluntarily enter into quarantine. Visit New York's COVID-19 Travel Advisory page for more information, including an up to date list of states covered by the order. Employees who must quarantine under this order will be expected to work remotely, if possible. If not possible, they may be reassigned other work to enable remote work. If no reassignment of work is available, and the travel began after the announcement of the NYS Travel Advisory (June 25, 2020), they may be required to use their leave accruals or be placed on an unpaid leave if accruals aren't available. Employees who began travel before the announcement of the advisory will be placed on paid leave if they are not able to work remotely.
Employees providing essential and critical services for the operation or safety of the University, as identified by college or unit leadership, should follow the Exemptions for Essential Workers guidance on New York's COVID-19 Travel Advisory page. This guidance applies to individuals who come to New York state to perform essential and critical services as well as to New York state residents who provide these services in New York, who leave and then return to New York.
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Study Abroad
The Office of Global Learning has made the difficult decision to cancel fall 2020 study abroad due to ongoing health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Fall and full-year study abroad applicants received an email from the Office of Global Learning regarding next steps for their application.
Your education abroad advisor continues to be a point of contact for support. If you have more questions or concerns, please visit study abroad FAQs, reach out to your advisor, or contact abroad@cornell.edu and an advisor will be back in touch.