Diversity and Inclusion
University Resources
Belonging at Cornell is a framework designed to continue the progress towards making Cornell a more diverse and inclusive environment. Its mission is to focus our collective efforts on creating a campus community where individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences can both contribute and thrive. The intent of Belonging at Cornell is to improve the overall experience of faculty, staff and students, not to solve every diversity or inclusion challenge, nor eliminate the effects of respectful, but challenging discourse.
In this six-course certificate program, you will hear from Cornell leadership about the importance of evolving a culture of diversity, equity, and belonging. Using Cornell’s Skills for Success as your foundation, you will develop techniques to create and cultivate an inclusive work environment. Building on these values, you will examine ways to initiate change through self-examination and by evaluating how power, privilege, and oppression manifest in your everyday life. As the program progresses, you will have the opportunity to practice engaging respectfully with peers and teams with different perspectives and using strategies to speak up and respond when you witness bias. By the end of this program, you will be empowered to support a Cornell culture where everyone feels valued and where we can all bring our whole, authentic selves to work The course format consists of short, 2-4 minute videos interspersed with reflection exercises, activities to establish comfort and confidence, and a completion quiz. Colleges/units are encouraged to host their own conversations as well. Facilitation guides will be made available from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging upon request for colleges and units that wish to host conversations within their organizations.
In the United States, there are a number of celebrations held each month to acknowledge various historic events and figures from ethnic and marginalized groups. These celebrations serve as an opportunity to educate others on the contributions of various individuals and communities to U.S. History. At Cornell, we've created this page to recognize some of the events that are celebrated with resources and information on how to celebrate each month.
Religious Holidays
All human communities set aside time to celebrate the people and events that have shaped their respective identities. These Holy Days and Festivals include special rituals or personal obligations such as fasting or almsgiving. On this page is a partial list of the most important Holy Days and Festivals celebrated by religious communities on our campus from August through June.
Gender and Identity Resources
Cornell University is committed to creating a safe and respectful campus for all members of our community including those of all gender identities and expressions. A guide to Transitioning and Gender Affirmation can be found here. A map of gender-neutral bathrooms is located at this link and location directory of gender-neutral bathrooms is located at this link.
Colleague Network Groups (CNGs) are a great way to build community and connections at Cornell!
Eskalera Resources
In Student & Campus Life, we are committed to a work environment that values Belonging, Collaboration, Growth, and Well-being. SCL utilizes a digital learning partner, Eskalera, to help each of build skills to contribute to living these values as individuals and members of teams. Eskalera offers a personalized and reflective experience, along with continuous development to effectively build habits for lasting change.
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