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 remain critical for the university. The Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs was action-oriented during the pandemic's unprecedented demands and continues proactively supporting our international students, faculty, and staff on campus and those in the Cornell community who are 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
Global Cornell has provided leadership, oversight, and programming throughout the past year to support our international community and partners worldwide.
Crisis in Ukraine
Statement from Vice Provost Wolford
War in Ukraine: Campus Support and Resources
Visit Global Cornell's new War in Ukraine resources page for more university statements and resources for the campus community and Cornell's Ukrainian and Russian students, faculty, and staff.Discussing Difficult Topics
Community Agreements and Classroom Resources
Explore the resources Cornell has available for faculty that help foster n environment of community agreement across campus. The university has compiled guides to support effective tactics for talking respectfully across differences and advice on responding to incidents that affect the teaching and learning climate.
Inclusion Opportunities
Global Women of Color Mentorship Initiative
Women of color on staff at Cornell face unique challenges. The Global Women of Color Mentorship Initiative (GWCMI) is a program that brings together peers and mentors in a supportive environment. GWCMI encourages career advancement and retention, enhances campus diversity, and enriches the quality of life.
Fostering Understanding Between International and Domestic Communities
Story Circles are intercultural understanding workshops designed to address international students' feelings of disconnection. Workshop leaders support students as they share their experiences and stories. Programming focuses on the intersections of nationality and other social identities.
Happenings
International students studying at Cornell will find many opportunities to interact with both international and domestic students inside and outside the classroom.
Global Opportunities Take Center Stage at International Fair
More than 900 students visited Uris Terrace as the semester began to learn about academic opportunities including thematic research, study abroad, international minors and world languages.
Select Recent Events
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(April 2023) The Lund Critical Debate, “Democracy and Its Opposites: Challenges in a Global World,” addressed the increasing global influence of rising autocracies and the backsliding of democratic norms in many long-stable democracies.
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(March 2023) Carlos Alvarado Quesada, former president of Costa Rica, spoke on how "love can change the world," during the Bartels World Affairs Lecture.
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(Nov. 2022) President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson discussed his country's commitment to peace and diversity during a sold-out lecture hosted by the Einaudi Center. Read about the event.
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(Sept. 2022) Sir Hilary Beckles, vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies and chair of the Caribbean Reparations Committee, visited campus in September to discuss how universities can strengthen the global movement for reparations for centuries of slavery and colonialism.
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.
- (Sept. 2021) 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.
- (June 2021) Cornell joined 150 other higher education institutions on an amicus brief in support of OPT for international students.
- (May 2021) Vice Provost Wolford sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken regarding recent visa denials for international students based on consular officials interpreting policies unevenly and unpredictably.
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 annually invites proposals from Cornell faculty for multiple types of research grants. Learn more about their funded research.
- The Einaudi Center supports faculty, postdoc, and student research through numerous funding opportunities through partnerships on campus, in our region, and worldwide. Global Summer Internships are offered for summer and winter sessions.
- A new Global Grand Challenge call for proposals will be announced in October. Learn more about Migrations grants that funded research and engagement on racism, dispossession, and migration.
- The International Research Intern Program offers qualifying international student research opportunities on campus, for up to 12 months, under the direction of a Cornell faculty member.
- International Cornell Curriculum grants offer opportunities to create, develop, or improve curricula that provide students with international experiences.
- Global Hubs offers faculty joint seed grants with Hubs partners to explore potential research collaborations with colleagues at Hubs partner universities.
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
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.
Read about the 2023 Prepare event
Wellness
Cornell Health offers resources especially for international students to learn about health care in the United States and services and support at Cornell Health.
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, and you can come to us with questions.
Cornell Stands Against Hatred and Bias
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(Sept. 2022) A statement was released by President Pollack reiterating our core value as a community of belonging.
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(May 2022) President Pollack issued a statement expressing sadness and anger at the shooting in Buffalo by a white supremacist. Read the statement on the shooting.
- (May 2021) President Pollack denounces recent national and local acts of anti-Semitism. Read the statement on anti-Semitism.
- (March 2021) 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.
- (Apr. 2021) Global Cornell cohosted a teach-in to confront anti-Asian bias.
Moments of Delight
Wherever we are, there are moments of delight and caring that bring a smile to your face and bind us together.
International Graduation Reception
We celebrated #Cornell2023 at this year's International Graduation Reception! Global Citizen Award winners Teni Akeju and Megan Cabaero spoke to fellow international students about learning from each other and the global community they will join as young alumni.
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
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(Aug. 2023) A cohort of 25 Mandela Washington Fellows spent the summer on campus developing their leadership and expertise, in a program they said will have enduring impact on their lives and work.
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(Aug. 2023) With the support of Cornell Global Hubs joint seed grants, researchers are building international connections and advancing their research.
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(May 2023) More than 8,000 candidates for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees were conferred in May. Read President Pollack's speech translated into Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Spanish.
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(March 2023) A group of Global Cornell faculty wrote a guest feature in the Cornell Daily Sun supporting Global Hubs and academic freedom.
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(Nov. 2022) Hosted by Global Cornell, the Global Grand Challenges Symposium brought together more than 300 faculty, staff, and students from Cornell and Global Hubs to discuss ideas for the next universitywide Global Grand Challenge.
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, 58 modern and ancient languages are available for study.