Inclusion, Engagement, and Advocacy
Global Cornell envisions and works towards a just, sustainable, connected world where differences are valued, and exchange encouraged. Our international students and scholars make a tremendous contribution to Cornell, both inside and outside the classroom.
Leadership and attentiveness in global matters have never been more critical for the university as we continue to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs has been action-oriented during the coronavirus's unprecedented demands, managing the associated impacts on international students, faculty, and staff on campus and those of the Cornell community who were studying, conducting research, and performing activities abroad. What follows are some of the ways we support our international community. Please reach out with questions, concerns, or just to say hello.
Wendy Wolford, Vice Provost for International Affairs
Gustavo Flores-Macías, Associate Vice Provost for International Affairs
Brandon Lanners, Executive Director, Office of Global Learning
Cornell Stands Against Hatred and Bias
President Pollack denounced recent national and local acts of anti-Semitism.
President Pollack voices support for Asian and Asian-American communities and condemns the rise in racism and violence.
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence
- Read about student-led Project Heal, a free emotional support service through peer chatting and texting for Mandarin speakers on WeChat.
Throughout the past year, Global Cornell has provided leadership, oversight, and programming to support our international community and partners worldwide.
Happenings
International students studying at Cornell will find many opportunities to interact with both international and domestic students, inside and outside the classroom.
Class of '21 graduating international students and their families came together to celebrate at the International Student Graduation Reception. Enjoy the ceremony that featured Liming Chen MS '89, Chairman, IBM Greater China Group and student speakers Esha Vaish MBA and Masa Haddad.
Learn more about the Reception
Select Recent Events
- Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, was this year’s Bartels World Affairs Fellow. His May 5 lecture, “Attacks on Democracy (video),” hosted by the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, examined the history and global patterns of democracy.
- The Police and the Public: Global Perspectives (Dec. 9), the Lund Critical Debate brought together the United Nations’ police commissioner and a noted expert on political conflict resolution to discuss strategies for public safety and law enforcement. Topics included political violence, racial injustice, and global responses to unlawful use of force.
- Semi-Study Break: World Music of the Moment with Global Cornell (Nov. 16) was part of our International Education Week #IEW2020 celebration.
Immigration News, Advocacy, and Statements
Keeping you informed about U.S. executive actions relating to immigration and travel bans.
- Op-ed in The Hill by Professor Stephen Yale-Loehr notes a positive change in attitude in the Biden administration toward international students but recommends certain actions to better attract international students, provide predictability, and allow universities and employers to retain global talent.
- On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, set aside both the DOL wage rule that went into effect on October 8 and the DHS rule to revise the specialty occupation definitions and employer-employee definitions, set to take effect on December 8. Cornell University was a plaintiff in this lawsuit, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and many other institutions and associations. Read more about the reversal.
- President Pollack’s statements on behalf of the international community.
Cornell values the contributions of international students, faculty, and staff and continually joins with other American universities to advocate for our international community.
- Vice Provost Wolford sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken on May 26 regarding recent visa denials for international students based on consular officials interpreting policies unevenly and unpredictably.
- Cornell was one of five New York universities to send a joint letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security requesting changes in OPT and OPT STEM application procedures and filing deadlines due to receipt notice delays.
- A public comment letter was submitted on November 30, 2020, on the USCIS rule to modify the H-1B visa selection process. The final rule was announced on January 7, 2021.
- Cornell contributed a public comment letter on the proposed changes to the duration of status (D/S) rule on October 26, 2020, urging the DHS to withdraw this proposed regulation that threatens more than one million international students and scholars who hold F and J visas.
- Cornell successfully joined as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, Chamber of Commerce et al. vs. the Department of Homeland Security et al. to protest changes to H-1B visas around wage levels and specialty definitions. The Rule has since been resubmitted and made final.
- Cornell’s joining amicus brief to challenge proposed changes in immigration rules.
A Newsweek op-ed cites Cornell's Guidelines on Ethical International Engagement as a model for other universities.
Grants, Internships, Fellowships, and Research Support
Global Cornell is committed to supporting faculty through grants that foster global learning and collaboration. For students, funding can provide engagement opportunities with cultures worldwide, mastering languages, and travel for research projects.
- The Cornell China Center (CCC) annually invites proposals from Cornell faculty for multiple types of research grants. CCC expanded its grant offerings in spring 2020 through a partnership with the Einaudi Center's East Asia Program, and a joint seed fund grant programs with partners Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University. Read about the recent awards.
- The Einaudi Center supports faculty, postdoc, and student research through numerous funding opportunities through partnerships on campus, in our region, and around the world.
- Migrations: A Global Grand Challenge supported innovative research in 2020 with grants for 14 faculty-led projects. A new Migrations grant cycle is underway and funding will be announced soon.
- International Research Intern Program is designed to offer qualifying international student research opportunities on campus, for up to 12 months, under the direction of a member of the Cornell faculty.
Guidance for Students and Faculty
The Office of Global Learning (OGL) advises international students and scholars on U.S. immigration, tax, and labor regulations, and travel documents.
Protests and Your Rights
Do you feel passionate about a cause and want to get involved? Read our Protests and Your Rights page. You’ll find guidance on your rights and risks as an international visitor.
Spring 2021: New International Student Orientation
Associate Vice Provost Gustavo A. Flores-Macías welcomes new and transfer students during a session that reviewed Cornell's core values and immigration updates.
Wellness
OGL has worked with Cornell Health and the Graduate School to make counseling services available for international students outside of New York state.
Additional Resources
- Maintaining Your Status: Whether you are taking a leave of absence or extending your time at Cornell we have advisors to help you navigate your time as a Cornell student or faculty member.
- Travel: Do you have questions about travel documents, visas, or entry questions? We're here to help you whether you are coming or going.
- Employment and Taxes: Did you work on campus? Will you have to file income tax forms? U.S. tax law is complex, you can come to us with questions.
Moments of Delight
Even in the most challenging times, there are moments of delight and caring that bring a smile to your face and bind us together.
Telling Your Stories
Race and Racism Across Borders
Prose, poems, and visual art submitted by Cornell students and alumni who gained new knowledge about racial dynamics by crossing a literal or figurative border.
In the News
- Intercultural Understanding Workshop is one of three projects to receive a Belonging at Cornell innovation grant.
- A total of 462 international students enrolled in Study Away during fall at 10 locations, including 31 first-year students at Zhejiang University.
- The Cornell China Center worked with Weill Cornell Medicine to coordinate donations and procurement of personal protective supplies and equipment from the Greater China region to Cornell's New York City hospital.
- As it became clear that the travel limitations would continue into the summer months, the Einaudi Center and Institute of Politics and Global Affairs moved quickly to create dozens of virtual internships for Cornell students.
Getting to Know You
Student organizations on Cornell's Ithaca campus total more than 1,000 and about 150 of these have an international orientation. These groups provide students opportunities to connect with those who share similar backgrounds, and with those who don't.
New transfer and international students gather for games and socializing in Klarman Hall during First Night, in early 2020.
Ethical International Engagement
Cornell is committed to global engagement and supports open, international collaboration.
- In 2019 Cornell announced a set of guidelines for ethical international engagement to help maintain relationships and collaborations overseas.
- Guidelines on Ethical International Engagement (2019)
- Update on International Research and Engagement: Guidance for the Cornell Community (2020)
Speaking to Each Other
Educating the Educators
- Teaching International Students: Tips for Online Instruction to support the unique needs of students in other time zones and more.
- English Language Support Office offers effective ways to mentor multilingual and international graduate and professional student writing.
English-Language Proficiency
English for International Students and Scholars is a 1-credit summer and winter class offered by the School of Continuing Education.
Learning Languages
At Cornell 56 modern and ancient languages are available for study.
