Preparing for the fall semester

Re-entry Checklist

If you have not done so already, please enter your housing and emergency contact information on the Re-entry Checklist as soon as possible. It is essential that we have accurate information about how to reach you during the fall semester should it be necessary for contact tracing. You can update this information if your plans change. All students are required to complete the Re-entry Checklist and attest to the Cornell Student Behavioral Compact before they are able to enroll in classes.

Upcoming Town Halls

Cornell is hosting an Online Forum for New Students and Families this Friday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m. EDT. This is an opportunity for fist-year and transfer students and their families to learn about the Cornell experience from current students and directors of student programs. Please register and submit questions in advance.

Save the date: Online Forum on Student Life on Campus, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. EDT. Registration details will be shared soon.

Arrival Testing: Off-Campus Students

Students currently in the Ithaca area or planning to live in off-campus housing must schedule an "arrival test" through the Re-entry Checklist. Appointments are released every Monday at 12 p.m. EDT for that week and should be scheduled at the beginning of the week you plan to arrive. The university and Cayuga Health have arranged for more appointments to be available at the end of August to accommodate the increased number of students returning.

If you have signed up for an appointment that you are unable to keep, please cancel it immediately by logging into your account on the Cayuga Medical Patient Portal or accessing the link in your confirmation email. A missed appointment may impede your ability to schedule another appointment at a later date. Questions about testing may be sent to covidtesting@cornell.edu.

Move-In & Housing

Cornell Housing has communicated room assignments and will be emailing arrival information to all students who are eligible to move into on-campus housing no later than end of day Friday, Aug. 14. In order to ensure a safe, staggered move-in process, students must arrive at their assigned testing site at the designated date and time. There is limited flexibility to change arrival assignments. If you are not able to arrive at your assigned time, please follow the instructions in your move-in packet for requesting an alternate date/time.

Students have until Aug. 31 to cancel housing contracts without penalty. Contact housing@cornell.edu if you wish to cancel your contract.

Orientation

New Students: The university is offering a virtual orientation for first-year and transfer students and their families. Most programs will be offered asynchronously so that you can participate from anywhere. New Student Orientation will run from Aug. 26-Sep. 2, with additional programs offered into September. Visit the Student Orientation (NetID required) and Family Orientation websites to browse the programs. You will be able to create a personal schedule beginning Aug. 17.

International Students: All new, international first-year and transfer students are encouraged to attend the Office of Global Learning’s online pre-orientation program, Aug. 17-21. This is an opportunity to meet other new international students and to learn about the U.S. academic system, Cornell student life and traditions, and getting involved in the campus international community.

Academics

Course List: Fall semester course offerings are now available on the University Registrar website. The list includes instruction modes for all courses and will continue to be updated. Information about meeting times, credit hours and remote access will be added this Friday, Aug. 14.

Enrollment Guide: This guide will help you understand how courses will be delivered. It will continue to be updated, including with instructions for how to enroll in courses if you reside in a restricted state and are therefore unsure about your arrival date.