University Statements

Dear Cornell Community,

As the spring semester begins, recent events across the country — including the tragic shooting at Brown University — underscore the importance of preparing for emergencies of all kinds. Like many institutions, Cornell is taking this moment to reassess campus security measures, protocols, and infrastructure, and to explore additional ways to keep our community safe and prepared. We value an open, accessible Ithaca campus environment and must balance that culture with tools that enhance our public safety teams’ ability to respond quickly and effectively to protect the Cornell community during emergencies.

The safety and security of Cornell students, faculty, staff, and visitors remain our highest priority. The Division of Public Safety conducts year-round work to plan, train, and coordinate responses to potential emergencies. This includes collaboration across the university and with local, state, and federal partners; preparedness exercises; and continuous evaluation of our protocols. Additionally, we are working with Brown and our Ivy League partners to understand and learn from recent events and to implement best practices. In the coming months, we will be conducting an additional safety assessment of areas of our Ithaca campus to consider additions to our campus security procedures and technology.

We ask every member of our community to take an active role in preparedness and personal safety. If an imminent threat to health or safety occurs on campus, Cornell will issue a CornellALERT via email and voice and text message to the mobile number listed in your Cornell contact information. Confirm your information is up to date and review instructions at emergency.cornell.edu/alert. We also encourage you to download Rave Guardian, a free app that turns your smartphone into a personal safety tool. Bookmark emergency.cornell.edu and follow Cornell’s official X and Facebook accounts for real-time updates during any evolving situation.

Please review Cornell’s emergency action guide, including the active threat Run-Hide-Fight framework and shelter-in-place guidance. Take time to familiarize yourself with evacuation routes and shelter-in-place options in the spaces you use most. If you see or hear something concerning, contact the Cornell Public Safety Communications Center at 607-255-1111, use the Rave Guardian app, or call 911.

Cornell Police offer active threat response training, workplace violence prevention programs, self-defense courses, and many more resources through the Community Engagement office. These outreach programs are available for the full campus community, including student groups and clubs, departments and units, and individuals, and offer a valuable way to improve your emergency readiness and personal safety.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our campus community protected and prepared.

Sincerely,

Michael I. Kotlikoff
President

Kavita Bala
Provost

Christopher Cowen
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Ryan Lombardi
Vice President for Student and Campus Life