POST provides you with the opportunity to get to know upperclassmen and to become familiar with the Ithaca community you will soon call home.

The program is hosted by the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement.

All inquiries should be directed to post@cornell.edu. If we cannot resolve questions via email we will make arrangements to call you.

All program participants are required to meet Cornell's vaccination policy. No exceptions will be made due to the nature of the program and its interactions with community members. For questions specific to vaccines visit the vaccination section of the Cornell Covid website.

POST participants and their leaders complete community service projects in the local community. Projects typically include painting and light demolition work, trail maintenance, visiting with local seniors at area nursing homes, gardening, preparing local schools for fall opening and other projects. Projects vary from year to year, depending on the needs of our community. Each evening, the entire group comes together to have dinner and participate in evening activities that allow you to get to know other team members and leaders, as well as the greater Ithaca area.

Each year, POST works with approximately 15 different non-profit organizations as well as local school districts.

7:45 - 9:15 - Breakfast/shower/travel to the service site (walk, bus or van)
9:30 - Arrive at designated work sites
9:30 - 12:30 - Community service work
12:30 - 1:15 - Lunch Break
1:15 - 3:00 - Continue community service project
3:00 - 5:00 - Return to housing site/free time
6:00 - 7:00 - Dinner
7:30 - 9:30 - Evening Activity (scavenger hunt, bowling, Bar-B-Q, etc.)
9:45 - Return to housing site. Relax and rest up for the next day

A maximum of 45 applicants will be accepted before we begin a wait list. In the event that an accepted applicant drops out, we will offer a space to someone on the waiting list. Each applicant is assigned to a team for the week of POST that is led by 2 upperclass team leaders. Each team has 8-9 POST participants. There are a total of eight teams.

Participants come from all over the country, typically representing 20-25 states. Mainly incoming first-year students attend but we always have a handful of transfer students as well. And participants represent all 9 colleges.

Yes! Absolutely no experience is required. We encourage everyone interested in meeting new classmates and participating in community service to apply.

The POST 2022 registration form was due Friday, June 17.

Once we have received your Registration Form, you will receive an email within 3-5 business days from POST regarding your status (admitted or waitlisted). POST communicates with you via your Cornell NetID (e.g. ABC123@cornell.edu). Be certain to check your Cornell email account for POST communications. Contact us if you have registered but have not received a confirmation email.

No, it is NOT possible to participate in more than one program.

The cost of participation in POST is $390 per person (includes the $50 non-refundable deposit). This fee covers the costs of food for the week, transportation, project and safety supplies, housing, planned evening activities, and staffing costs. Cancellations received after Friday, July 26th will be billed the full cost of POST ($390) as we are already locked into catering, transportation and other monetary agreements based on your attendance.

We are committed to having a diverse group of entering Cornellians participate in POST and we hope that the cost of the registration will not prevent anyone from joining us. For that reason, financial assistance is available to eligible applicants on a first come, first serve basis. For more information on financial assistance, please check the box indicating this on the Registration Form. If we have questions, we will contact you!

POST enables Cornell Tradition, Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars (MFCNS) and Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholars (RCPRS) students to attend and have the POST program fee of $390 paid directly out of your program support account. In addition, Cornell Tradition and Meinig Scholars students will have an opportunity to earn service or leadership hours as a participant in the program

Financial support for participants comes from the POST program itself.

• A specific amount of money is allotted for financial support and is then distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• You must meet the qualifications to receive support. If you wish to inquire about this please email post@cornell.edu.

Teams will have one evening dinner in the community and participants are expected to cover this cost. We recommend that you bring a minimum of $20.

All trip fees, including the non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 will be billed to your university bursar account. Do not send any money.

We appreciate your patience as POST staff work to finalize program details. Check back frequently for continued updates.

See the "What To Pack" (at the bottom of the Program details page) for a detailed list of items needed for POST and the Program Details section for more information.

For directions/maps to Cornell, click here. Here you will find directions, airport and shuttle information, maps, local accommodations, and more.

Please review the arrival/travel information on the POST Program Details page.

Vehicle Registration and/or Parking Permits: Parking on the Ithaca campus is extremely limited. Students are strongly encouraged to leave the vehicle home, and rely on the excellent public transit service provided by TCAT. In August, students can register their vehicle (required; free) and purchase a parking permit (optional; price varies) for their residential area or a commuter lot prior to their arrival. When permits sell out, parking options will be limited to short-term paid parking.

If arriving before the start of the program, you must arrange your own lodging and accommodations.

Should an urgent issue or emergency arise during POST, families should call the Einhorn Center at (607) 255-0144. During business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), they will be able to speak directly to a staff member; after hours, audix will give instructions on how to reach POST staff directly. In addition, contact and emergency information will be available on the POST website and distributed at the POST Check-In on Saturday, August 13.