Cornell in New York City Visioning Committee update


Dear Cornell Community,

One of Cornell’s signature strengths is our rural-urban footprint, allowing us to provide faculty, staff and students with a breadth of learning, innovation and public engagement opportunities. The establishment of Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, combined with Weill Cornell Medicine and the university’s numerous longstanding programs and partnerships operating in New York City, presents an opportunity to integrate our campuses like never before.

Last fall, I charged a faculty visioning committee to think boldly and without constraints about ideas that could enhance and complement work done on our Ithaca campus while extending and advancing Cornell’s NYC presence. After seeking input from colleagues on all campuses, this committee, chaired by Professor Noliwe Rooks, produced a report with many creative, aspirational ideas for future growth.

I am pleased that we are able to immediately begin work on some of the near-term recommendations made in the report, including creating a web portal to facilitate cross-campus interactions; investigating the possibility of expanded transportation and short-term housing options in both New York City and Ithaca; and working toward regular networking opportunities for faculty across campuses to explore collaborative research.

Additionally, Professor Rooks has kindly agreed to lead a small group of faculty who will provide guidance as we refine and explore the feasibility of the report’s mid- and long-term recommendations. This group will seek broad campus input, and there will be continued opportunities for faculty, student, staff and alumni engagement with their work. If you have suggestions, please write to nyc-visioning@cornell.edu.

I am deeply grateful for the valuable groundwork laid by the visioning committee, and I am certain that the faculty group will carry this forward in new, exciting ways.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack
President