University Statements

Dear Cornellians,

It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the beginning of the fall semester, and to a new year of exploration, creativity, and discovery at Cornell. Whether you are a longstanding member of our community or a new arrival, whether you are a student, faculty, or a member of our staff, the start of a new academic year brings with it the hum of new activity: new people to meet and projects to tackle, new opportunities and new plans. To me, the beginning of a new academic year has always carried with it a sense of possibility: the reconvening of our community to explore new territories, discover new possibilities, form new connections, and build on friendships.

Higher education faces real challenges, as does our nation, and the year ahead will undoubtedly test us in new ways. Whatever lies ahead, I am confident that we will meet the future together, as a community: with a commitment to our core values, and to our founding ethos as “... an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.”

The work that begins anew with each academic year, on every university campus, is what enables us to pass knowledge and expertise from generation to generation: building on what is known, creating new understanding and new meaning, and equipping new generations with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to tackle complex challenges and create new solutions. Whatever your role or your aspirations at Cornell, each of you is part of advancing that work, and I am grateful to have you as part of this community.

Sincerely,

Michael I. Kotlikoff
President