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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Chapter 2: Important Policies

Important Policy Highlights for Organizations

Below is a list of important University and Campus Activities policies. This is not an all-inclusive list but rather a highlight of policies with which student organizations tend to engage with most. As a student organization operating on campus, it is your responsibility to become familiar with all procedures at Cornell. Campus Activities does not determine what University Policies exist; instead, the office serves as stewards of the policies. If you have questions about a specific University Policy, please click on the policy, and in the top right corner, you will see which university office is the executive sponsor. 

Student Code of Conduct

Environmental Health and Safety

Contact: Ron Flynn at rmf9@cornell.edu

Website: https://ehs.cornell.edu/campus-health-safety/event-management/event-safety

The Cornell University Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) works with Cornell faculty, staff and students to help ensure that special events on campus are organized and run safely.  All registered events require University Events Team (UET) approval using the 25Live Scheduling System.  EHS personnel will work with you to review and approve events for items such as:

  • Locations and occupancy limitations
  • Event layout, setup and egress
  • Activities and decorations
  • EHS staffing requirements
  • Emergency medical staffing requirements
  • Applicable municipal permits

Hazing Policy, Cornell University Student Code of Conduct

As student leaders and/or advisors of registered student groups, teams, or organizations, you have a responsibility to take proactive steps to ensure all members of your organization feel welcome and safe. You are responsible for ensuring that planned activities for new and existing members do not violate the Student Code of Conduct and do not violate New York State law which includes preventing hazing.

Cornell takes a comprehensive, public health approach to hazing. Hazing is a harmful form of interpersonal violence that often negatively impacts physical or mental health, often involves sexual abuse, and very often involves alcohol. This serious public health issue poses risks to the physical safety and psychological well-being of individuals here at Cornell University and nationwide. Most often, it happens to those joining or continuing their membership in various groups, teams, and organizations. The impact of hazing on individuals and the community can be severe, long-lasting, and even fatal. Hazing is prohibited by the Cornell University Student Code of Conduct,  as well as by New York State, and the federal Stop Campus Hazing law. 

According to the Cornell Student Code of Conduct:

Hazing is any act that, as an explicit or implicit condition of recruitment, admission, or initiation into, affiliation with, or new or continued membership status within a group, team, organization, living group, or academic group or cohort, does one or more of the following:

  1. Causes, encourages, or compels another person to engage in any activity that could reasonably be perceived as likely to create a risk of mental, physical, or emotional distress or harm; examples include but are not limited to:
    a. Undertake acts of servitude or menial tasks;
    b. Undergo undue financial expenditures;
    c. Engage in acts relevant to those of the group (for example practice or training activities), but in a manner that a reasonable person would consider excessive or dangerous;
    d. Abuse, humiliate, degrade, or taunt another person or persons.
     
  2. Involves any of the following:
    a. Consumption of alcohol or drugs;
    b. Consumption of unpalatable substances, or palatable substances to excess;
    c. Damage to or theft of property, or any other illegal act;
    d. Violation of any University policy.
     
  3. Subjects any other person (including an existing member or cohort of existing members of the group) to any of the above activities.

Hazing can occur on or off campus, in person or in virtual settings. The individual subjected
to hazing does not need to regard or identify the act as hazing. The fact that an individual does not object to and/or appears willing to participate in the activity, does not signify the conduct is not hazing.

Resources

Visit hazing.cornell.edu to learn about healthy group relationships and dynamics and to review which groups have a history of campus hazing violations and the corresponding sanctions from the University.

Reporting Options and Support

You have a responsibility to ensure members of your registered student organization are aware of how to report hazing incidents to the University and where people can seek support. If you observe hazing activities, overhear plans about hazing activities, or suspect someone may be experiencing hazing, you should make a report online and connect anyone who has been hazed to additional support.

Reporting options: 

Support for students who are hazed:

Thank you for your leadership and efforts to support and protect the health and safety of all students.

Risk Management: Risk Guide

Contact:risk_mgmt@cornell.edu

Website: https://www.risk.cornell.edu/risk-guidance/

  • Cornell Insurance Requirements
  • Catering Service Provider
  • Drones
  • Events with Alcohol
  • Events with Athletic Activities
  • Internships
  • Inflatables
  • Preparing and Serving Food
  • Private Event Insurance
  • Student Travel/Trips
    • Independent (EO - external) Organizations cannot reserve University Fleet services.
    • Must follow the travel process, including travel the questionnaire and waivers.  
  • Volunteers

Campus Activities Policies

Contact: activities@cornell.edu 

Website: https://scl.cornell.edu/get-involved/campus-activities

  • Complete the annual re-registration process by the deadline, or deactivation will occur (resulting in a loss of recognition and access to funding). This includes all the required training outlined by CA (such as Independent Organization and Treasurer Training 101).
  • Must have three student officers and a full-time faculty/staff as an advisor.
  • Must have ten total club members (who are active full-time students).
  • Must have an updated and accurate constitution.
  • UG organizations must work their way through the Funding Track Model. By successfully completing the Funding Tracks means your organization is on track to receive funding. GPSAFC has its own funding track as GPSAFC is a part of the GP Student Assembly.
  • Maintain up-to-date and accurate rosters in CampusGroups of organization membership.
  • Must post their activities/events in CampusGroups.
  • Must follow the Universal Funding Guidelines.
  • Must follow all University Policies, departmental policies (such as policies related to event/space usage), and building policies (such as postering and space usage).
  • Are subject to policies changing or being updated throughout the semester or academic year (AY).

University Policy 3.2 Student Travel and Expenses

All student organization travel, domestic and international need to email risk_mgmt@cornell.edu to attain a waiver. Additionally, when emailing the Office of Risk Management and Insurance you must share with them details of the office campus event. Please visit this website to understand what event details are needed: Assumption of Risk and Release.

University Policy 3.16 External Organization Accounts

Cornell acts as a fiscal agent of certain external funds for Independent/External Organizations (EOs) only in limited circumstances as described in this policy. Cornell will authorize EO accounts and act as a fiscal agent only when there is a clear and reasonable justification.  The EO must support Cornell-related activity, or the account otherwise serves a mission-related purpose, as endorsed by the college or division and approved by the Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer or their delegate.

University Policy 4.3 Sales Activities On Campus

For the convenience of its community, Cornell University allows limited sales to be conducted on its campus in ways that are consistent with the university’s mission, take account of off-campus businesses, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.

University Policy 4.8 Alcohol and Other Drugs

Cornell University will assist members of the university community in understanding the risks associated with consuming alcohol, and the need to prevent the harm that results from its misuse and abuse. The university permits the purchase and use of alcoholic beverages under certain conditions, but expects individuals to take specific measures to help prevent alcohol abuse in its community. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, use, and/or sale of controlled substances or other illegal drugs is prohibited.

University Policy 4.10 Use of Cornell's Name, Logos, Trademarks, and Insignias

Cornell has adopted certain authorization procedures to ensure that the university and its campuses and units are presented to the public in a consistent, coherent manner and that university resources are expended efficiently and effectively in alignment with brand guidelines. Cornell University allows the use of its name, and its logos, trademarks, insignias, and other indicia only with permission, as set forth in the principles and procedures of this policy.

Registered student organizations are eligible to use the Cornell University name in their organization name for publicity, uniforms, or other purposes, as determined by university brand guidelines regarding the use of the Cornell name, logo, and artwork, and subject to approval through University Relations.

Examples of the proper way to use the university name can be found on the university brand guidelines website.

University Policy 4.11 Establishing a New University-Related Subsidiary or Affiliated Corporation

The university imposes tight controls on the creation of subsidiary and affiliated corporations in order to exercise responsible stewardship over the university's tangible and intangible assets, to manage risk exposure, and to facilitate compliance with reporting and other legal requirements.

University Policy 4.12 Data Stewardship and Custodianship

The university expects all stewards and custodians of its administrative data to manage, access, and utilize this data in a manner that is consistent with the university's need for security and confidentiality. Cornell University administrative functional areas must develop and maintain clear and consistent procedures for access to university administrative data, as appropriate.

University Policy 4.16 Social Media Accounts

The university recognizes the value of social media platforms for a range of business goals and must balance its support of social media with the preservation of Cornell's brand identity, integrity, and reputation. As described in this policy, Cornell authorizes the creation and use of university social media accounts, provided their use is professional, protects the reputation and brand of the university, and complies with Cornell policies and applicable laws and regulations.

University Policy 4.18 Political Campaign Activity

Cornell University supports freedom of thought and expression by members of its community. Cornell encourages faculty, staff, and students to be full participants in the civic process, including communicating with policymakers on issues of importance and contributing time and money to the candidates of their choice as private citizens, using their own resources. These activities must be done in a personal capacity, and not imply in any way that the university supports, opposes, or otherwise endorses any candidate for public office.

University Policy 5.2 Mass Email Approval

Cornell University employs consistent procedures for notification and processing mass electronic mailings to the following constituencies: faculty, staff (academic and nonacademic), students, and alumni. The university expects anyone sending mass electronic mailings to any or all of these constituencies to do so in accordance with the procedures outlined in this document.

University Policy 5.6 Recording and Registration of Domain Names

When creating a new domain in a diverse university environment like Cornell's, most often it's important to include your college or department's name to help people associate a project or service with the unit that sponsors it. Units such as colleges, schools, and administrative departments have their own three-part domain names, such as library.cornell.edu. This policy provides the criteria for three-part domains, the method for requesting three-part domains, and alternatives.

University Policy 5.12 Web Accessibility Standards

Cornell University is committed to providing an environment in which all people have an equal opportunity to participate in the university’s programs, activities, and services. To support this environment, all new, newly added or redesigned university web content, web pages, web functionality, websites, and web applications must be made accessible to people with disabilities to the standard prescribed by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, except where doing so would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens.

When fundamental alteration or undue burden applies, equally effective alternative means of access must be provided so that, to the maximum extent possible, individuals with disabilities receive the same benefits and services. 

University Policy 6.3 Consensual Relationships

Romantic or sexual relationships between students or postgraduates (as defined by this policy) and faculty members, staff members, or others in positions of authority over them are prohibited whenever those relationships have the potential to interfere with an individual’s right or ability to pursue academic, training, research, or professional interests.

University Policy 6.4 Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct

Cornell University is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning, living, and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff and does not discriminate on the basis of protected status, including sex, in the education programs and activities it operates. Admission and employment are included in the requirement not to discriminate in the education program or activity that Cornell University operates. To this end, through this policy, the university provides means to address bias, discrimination, harassment, and sexual and related misconduct.

University Policy 8.8 Minors at Cornell University

Cornell is committed to providing a safe environment for minors who participate in programs covered by this policy (Covered Programs). These programs are operated both by University departments and operations, as well as third-party camp and activity operators licensing the use of University Property, and involve the participation of Minors drawn from locations throughout the United States and the world.