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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

SCL Priority Updates: January 19

The updates below were recently shared at the January 19 SCL All-Staff meeting. Please take a moment to review the ways in which we are progressing in our divisional priority areas and learn about some of the work happening around our units. 

Us 

  • In February 2020 we brought the entire division together for the SCL All-In event.  We showcased SCL staff through development sessions and even a rock concert by our very own All-Star Jam Band. 
  • The pandemic required all of us in SCL to shift our focus to finding ways to support students and provide services in entirely new ways. It also offered an opportunity for some SCL staff to shift their work to new, pandemic related needs. We watched our division pull together during this time and it has been incredibly rewarding. 

Diversity & Inclusion 

Note: SCL will be reviewing this priority to better reflect our commitment to anti-racism and equity. Staff can expect to receive regular updates from SCL leadership on this priority.  

Staff focused

  • A number of initiatives for staff have been launched to advance equity in our workplace. Institutionally, A six-part certificate course, Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cornell, is underway and will be taken by all staff on campus.
  • SCL launched series of skill-building modules to help our teams create more inclusive and equitable work environments.  After a successful pilot program in fall of 2019, we chose Eskalera as our partner to deliver this content.  Eskalera offers a personalized and reflective experience, along with continuous development to effectively build skills for lasting change. SCL managers began their learning in fall of 2020 and the next phase of staff rollouts will take place in February 2021
  • Our SCL senior leadership and members of the Dean of Students' Diversity & Inclusion team hosted discussion sessions of Ibram X. Kendi's How to be an Antiracist.
  • SCL offered a series of online engagement experiences coordinated by the Dean of Students’ Diversity and Inclusion team. These workshops shed light on the history of structural racism, explored racism from a variety of perspectives and identities, and helped staff understand how they can be a part of the movement for change in both their personal and professional lives. 

Student Focused

  • We continue to work toward locating a Cultural and Resource Center on central campus.
  • We created a Community Response Team, which will respond to issues of wellness, crisis or distress within campus living environments. They will also monitor campus events to promote safety and wellbeing, and to monitor the application of university policy. This Team will a part of the Dean of Students organization. Note: This also intersects with Health and Wellbeing.

Health & Wellbeing 

  • Student & Campus Life, with other partners across campus, are responding to the Mental Health Review, and acting on the recommendations included in the report. While recommendations will be prioritized over a multi-year time horizon, we have seen progress already.
  • Fundraising is well underway within Athletics to support a new field house that will provide additional space for recreation and our athletics teams. This project will commence once our fundraising goal has been met.

Career Development

  • A Career Services Administrative Review is underway, and is focused on the Career Services functions that are offered both centrally and in the individual schools and colleges.
  • This year we will begin our search for new executive director of Cornell Career Services.

Residential Experience

  • The Office of Judicial Administrator will become the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), and transition to our division, reporting to the Dean of Students.
  • A new Code of Conduct will be in place for the fall 2021 semester. It applies only to students and will include group and team misconduct including Greek, athletics and academic program group misconduct. 
  • The North Campus Residential Expansion is on track for the first buildings to open in fall 2021, and the remaining buildings in fall 2022.
  • Beginning fall 2021, incoming first year students will be required to live on campus or in other affiliated housing for two years. Juniors and seniors will be offered on-campus housing as space is available.  
  • We are working on a systematic 30-year plan to overhaul our residential buildings. The current plan begins with the West Campus Gothics, followed by Hasbrouck, Risley Hall, and Clara Dickson Hall.