Resources to Support your Student

Enrollment & Finances

Enrollment

University registration is the official recognition of a student’s relationship with the university and allows a student basic access to campus resources. A student must register every semester to maintain enrollment. Registration requirements include items such as paying the tuition bill and meeting health requirements. Course enrollment is separate from university registration. Learn more about university registration. If your student needs a certificate of enrollment or degree for financial, health insurance, or other reasons they can request one from the Registrar’s office.

Finances

The Office of the Bursar oversees the activities involved in billing and collecting tuition, fees, and other charges incurred by students, as well as, student loans. Tuition expenses are billed in early August (fall semester) and early December (spring semester). Learn about payment options.

Cornell University provides a wide range of financing options to make education affordable, including the Cornell Installment Plan. Your student can grant you other user access to their Cashnet account to see statements including tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, academic materials, and CornellCard charges and to make payments.

Students who applied for financial aid will receive communication directly from the Office of Financial Aid. Learn more about financial aid for newly admitted students and financial aid for current students.

Academics & Advising

The academic transition to Cornell can be difficult for new students. It often takes some time before students feel comfortable with their new academic demands. Your student should remember that they belong at Cornell and that there are many services and resources available to them. Encourage your student to take advantage of academic support such as faculty office hours, study groups, review sessions, and support centers, including the Tatkon Center for New Students, the Learning Strategies Center, and the Writing Workshop.

Each college has its own advising structure. The goal for the student in an academic advising relationship should be to obtain useful advice about educational interests and to design an appropriate program of study to enhance and develop those interests. Your student may work with a faculty advisor and a professional staff advisor in their area of study.

Advising & Support

The Professional Academic Advising Community (PAAC) comprises more than 125 student-facing professionals across campus who strive to support all Cornell students in various ways throughout their time at Cornell. Students should reach out to their respective advising and support offices to learn more about resources and opportunities to connect.

Academic Materials Program

The Cornell Academic Materials Program is a university-wide program that provides undergraduate students taking undergraduate courses at Cornell with access to their required textbooks and coursepacks for a single flat-rate cost. All materials in this program are provided in a digital format (unless a digital version is unavailable) within Canvas and become available for students to access no later than the first day of classes.  Students are automatically enrolled in the program but may choose to opt-out.

Student Disability Services

Student Disability Services works in partnership with Cornell faculty, staff, and students to ensure that all aspects of student life are accessible, equitable, and inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Students requesting accommodations must register with the office.

Learning Strategies Center

The Learning Strategies Center (LSC) is the central academic support unit for undergraduates at Cornell University. Through the office, students can access tutoring services, study partner matching, workshops and supplemental course instruction. Students can also find information on managing time and stress, exam prep, and study help.

Cornell Writing Center

The Cornell Writing Center (CWC) supports individuals at any stage of the writing process. It is a free resource available to all students for nearly any kind of writing project: applications, presentations, lab reports, essays, papers, and more. Tutors serve as responsive listeners and readers who can address questions about the writing process or particular writing pieces.

University Library

Cornell University Library stands at the center of intellectual life on campus. With world-class collections and services — print, online, and in person — the Library is an indispensable partner in studying, teaching, and research at the university.

Grades

When students enroll at Cornell University, regardless of their age, they are protected under FERPA – the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act – a federal law passed in 1974. All educational institutions that receive federal funding, including Cornell, must comply with FERPA.

Before your student begins attending Cornell, discuss your expectations for how you will keep an open dialogue about your student’s experiences, enrollment, and grades.

While most information is available only to the enrolled student, where the university believes it is in the dependent student's best interest, information from the student’s education records may be released to parents or legal guardians at the university's discretion.

If your student wishes to release their information to you or another individual, they will need to work with their college to acquire the appropriate forms. 

Safety & Well-Being

Cornell is a caring community. We reach out to each other in times of need and work together to build a better place. Cornell has a multiplicity of consultation and support services available to meet the university community's emotional, physical, social, and spiritual needs.

If you are concerned about your student’s well-being, call the office of the Dean of Students at (607) 255-1115.

Campus Safety

The University is committed to keeping all students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe. Cornell Police is a full-service police agency that serves the Cornell community and works closely with the Ithaca Police Department. The office of Emergency Management is committed to emergency preparedness and provides important information before, during, and after campus emergencies.

Gorge Safety

While Cornell encourages our community to visit the natural places that make Ithaca truly ‘gorges,’ students are asked to practice respect and safety at all times when hiking or using the trails. They should follow all caution and regulation signs, which change throughout the year depending on weather and trail conditions.

Student Health

Cornell Health offers students various medical and mental health services, including in-person, telehealth, and pharmacy services. Resources are available to assist students if they are feeling stressed, fatigued, burned out, or struggling emotionally. Cornell Health also has resources just for families that can be useful year-round.

Belonging

It can take time for students to build community and a sense of belonging when they begin their college career. For students living on campus, the residential experience is usually the first place where students begin to meet others and find community. All residence halls have trained student and professional staff who offer engaging programming and opportunities to connect.

Through our identity and cultural centers and groups, your student can engage with individuals of similar backgrounds or connect with identities other than your own on topics ranging from academics and activism to arts and service.

As students become more settled at Cornell, their college will be another opportunity to find community through classwork, study groups, and other affiliations.

Student Involvement

Beyond academic and residential life, students have many opportunities to get involved. The resource centers, advising units, and affinity groups that comprise the Office of the Dean of Students focus on identity development, student support, and advocacy, and create opportunities for students to explore the intersectionality of identity development.

Who do I contact?

Cornell views families as critical partners in supporting their student’s individual and academic success. Due to student privacy, if a parent or legal guardian contacts Cornell University with a question regarding their student, university officials may be limited in what information they can share. For day-to-day matters, it is most effective to encourage your student to contact the person or office directly.

Parent & Family Programs is here to support you as you assist your student. If you have questions or if you or your student don’t know who to contact, please reach out at families@cornell.edu.