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. Read the statement on anti-Semitism.
- President Pollack voices support for Asian and Asian-American communities and condemns the rise in racism and violence. Read the statement on Anti-Asian violence.
Learn 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.
Transcript
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
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Migration in the Media (Sept. 22) brought together, scholars, journalists, and practitioners to address the needs and challenges of producing stories about complex border issues along with the potential for different stories to effect real change. Watch the event on our YouTube channel.
- Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, was this year’s Bartels World Affairs Fellow. His May 5 lecture, “Attacks on Democracy (video),” 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.
- Semi-Study Break: World Music of the Moment with Global Cornell (Nov. 16) was part of our International Education Week #IEW2020 celebration.
Immigration Advocacy and Statements
The Departments of State and Education put out a joint statement affirming their support of international students and collaboration.
“Many of our most pressing challenges are inherently global in scope and impact and can only be addressed by nations and individuals working together. From tackling pandemics and the climate crisis, to reducing economic disparities and building prosperity, to countering threats to democracy and maintaining peace – resolving these global challenges requires partnership and collaboration across borders. It is imperative that we continue to cooperate with our allies, invest in our relationships, and broaden our engagement worldwide.”
Read 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.
- On September 15, Cornell-supported lawsuits to counter H1-B immigration rulings set by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Labor to end existing H-1B lottery procedures and imposed new H-1B wage levels for international employees at the university have been vacated. Learn more about the victory.
- On June 21, Cornell joined 150 other higher education institutions on an amicus brief in support of OPT for international students.
- 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.
- On July 12, 2020, Cornell was one of 59 institutions to join an amicus brief challenging proposed changes in immigration rules.
Funding Opportunities
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. Learn more about the funded research.
- 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 is funding research and engagement that centers the connections between racism, dispossession, and migration in interdisciplinary, innovative, and impactful ways. Learn more about the 2021 Migrations grant awards.
- 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.
Fostering Understanding Between International and Domestic Communities
Story Circles are intercultural understanding workshops designed to address international students' feelings of disconnection, heightened by COVID-19 travel restrictions. Workshop leaders support students as they share their experiences and stories. Programming focuses on the intersections of nationality and other social identities, aligning with the audience focus for Belonging at Cornell.
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.
Prepare 2021
Prepare is the pre-orientation program for incoming international undergraduates, where first-year and transfer students meet new people, and learn about Cornell and Ithaca.Wellness
Cornell Health offers resources specifically for international students who have questions about COVID-19 and vaccinations.
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.
Two Cornell Study Away students at VinUniversity in Vietnam share this video.
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
- Cornell Informs, Takes Action on Afghanistan: As the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan unfolded, Einaudi Center and Institute of Politics and Global Affairs events kept pace and brought Afghan and congressional national security experts to the campus conversation.
- Caribbean Studies Finds Home at Einaudi Center: The newly renamed Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program is expanding its Caribbean focus—thanks to a collaboration with Caribbean undergraduates.
- Undergraduate Migrations Symposium Showcases Student Research: The inaugural symposium gave students a platform to share their interdisciplinary work with faculty.
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.
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 Instruction provides information 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 57 modern and ancient languages are available for study.