Becoming Big Red: Cornell Family Orientation Newsletter and Conversation Series
Welcome to the Cornell Family! Whether you're new to Cornell or embarking on another Big Red journey with us, your student's new college experience will be exciting and challenging as they learn to navigate their new environment. Our Becoming Big Red: Cornell Family Orientation Newsletter and Conversations will provide valuable information throughout the summer to assist you in helping your student prepare to attend Cornell.
The Becoming Big Red: Cornell Family Orientation Newsletter will be distributed every other week from late May to early August 2025. All newsletters will be linked on this page after they are distributed. Topics will include housing and dining, student billing and logistics, health and wellness, academic success, and more.
Additionally, we will host our Becoming Big Red: Cornell Family Orientation Conversations throughout the summer. These live virtual sessions will provide opportunities for families to learn more about key on-campus offices and services that support your student. All conversations will be recorded and made available within 1-2 business days of each session.
Are you the parent or family member of a new student, and are you not receiving our emails? You can sign up or update your information to receive our communications to families on our Cornell Family Contact form (you will need your student's netid). Also, please ask your student to confirm your information on their New Student To Do List.
Newsletters
May 27 | Welcome and What to Expect this Summer
June 3 | Living On-Campus
June 10 | Dining On-Campus
June 17 | Supporting Your Cornell Student's Transition
June 24 | Cornell Essentials: Bills, Books, and Getting Around
July 1 | Academic and Student Success
July 8 | Health & Well-being at Cornell
July 15 | Student Support and Safety on Campus
July 22 | Cornell Career Services
July 29 | Get Ready for Move-in and Orientation
August 5 | Beyond the Classroom: Getting Involved and Finding their Place
August 12 | Final Reminders
Conversations
Our Becoming Big Red: Cornell Family Conversations are opportunities to learn more about the offices and resources available to support your student while they are at Cornell. These engaging conversations will be conducted live, allowing you to interact directly with experts and gain invaluable insights. Can't make it to the live session? No worries! Recordings will be accessible within 1-2 business days of each session, ensuring that you can catch up and stay informed at your convenience.
All sessions will take place at 12:00 pm ET, unless otherwise noted. Click the link for each session below to register. Submit questions here.
May 29 | Welcome and What to Expect this Summer | Register
Join us for our first Cornell Family Orientation Conversation with Kevin Perry, the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Director of the Tatkon Center for New Students. Learn more about what you and your student can expect this summer as they prepare to attend Cornell. We will discuss important deadlines, orientation and more.
June 12 | Living and Dining On-Campus | Register
Come join our Living & Dining at Cornell Conversation with Housing, Residential Life, and Cornell Dining representatives. Gain insights into on-campus living, get an overview of the move-in process, learn about essential items to bring (and what to leave behind), and discover dining options for your student.
June 20 | Partnering for Success: Supporting Your Cornell Student's Transition | Register
Join Lindsey Bray, Director of the Office of Parent & Family Programs, for a session packed with strategies and insights to support your student's transition to Cornell. Get expert guidance on important summer conversations, discover ways to maintain meaningful connections with your student, and learn how to stay informed about campus life and resources. This invaluable session will help you prepare for your new role as a Cornell parent or family member.
June 26 | Cornell Essentials: Bills, Books, and Getting Around | Register
Dive into Cornell essentials with our expert panel featuring representatives from the Bursar's office, Parking and Transportation, and the Cornell Store. Learn everything you need to know about student bills, campus transportation, and accessing academic materials. Ensure a smooth transition for your student!
July 10 | Health and Well-being at Cornell | Register
Join us for an informative session about student health and wellness at Cornell! Our expert panel of staff from Cornell Health and the Student Health Benefits office will discuss comprehensive health services, counseling resources, disability support, and the Student Health Plan. Learn how Cornell supports your student's physical and mental well-being through our extensive network of care providers and services.
July 17 | Student Support and Safety | Register
Your student's safety is our top priority! Meet with representatives from key campus safety and support offices to learn about Cornell's comprehensive security measures, conduct guidelines, and crisis support systems. This essential session will give you peace of mind about your student's well-being on campus.
July 24 | Learn from the Experts: Panel of Parents and Family Members of Cornell Students | Register
Get invaluable insights from current Cornell families! This engaging panel discussion features experienced Cornell families sharing their wisdom about supporting students through transition, maintaining communication, managing move-in, and budgeting. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from those who've been in your shoes!
July 31 | Know Before You Come to Campus: Move-in and Orientation | Register
Get ready for Move-in and Orientation! Join campus leaders to learn everything you need to know about move-in day, Family Orientation activities, and your student's New Student Orientation experience. Our experienced panel will guide you through what to expect and how to prepare for this exciting transition.
August 7 | From Home to the Hill: Transition, Campus Life & Finding your Place | Register
We invite all of our new students and their families to join us for our final Becoming Big Red conversation as we prepare you for the transition to campus life! With our Vice President for Student and Campus Life, Ryan Lombardi, our expert panel of campus leaders will guide you through what to expect in these exciting first weeks. We'll cover the importance of orientation, ways to get involved on campus, and essential student support services. Learn about the student and family experience, campus climate, and how our dedicated team is here to support your Cornell journey. This comprehensive session will ensure both you and your student feel prepared and excited for the transition ahead.
Coffee Chats
June 27 | July 18 | August 8
REGISTER
Join us for a Cornell Family Coffee Chat! This virtual space allows families to chat with students or our staff to ask questions or connect. Links will be emailed to registered attendees the day before the session. Please note that the room is limited to 100 people.