Skip to main content

Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Community Centers

Yes, there is life at Cornell beyond the classroom, library, or lab … and you'll find it thriving in the University's diverse student centers!

Cornell's five Community Centers and the Willard Straight Hall Student Union are hubs of activity on campus – go-to places to meet people, get a bite to eat, experience Cornell's thriving social scene, or find a place to study or work out.

At the heart of the first-year experience for undergraduate and transfer students is the Tatkon Center for New Students, a support and resource center uniquely focused on new students, offering informal peer mentoring and guidance, plus programs and services to ease the transition to Cornell and help new students discover campus opportunities throughout their first year.

The Big Red Barn is Cornell's on-campus social center for graduate and professional students. In addition to being a Cornell Dining eatery, the Big Red Barn is a great place to attend social events, meet up with friends, and study.

The units and program areas within the Office of the Dean of Students promote programs that support and bring together Cornell's diverse student community, including those from Cornell's themed Program Houses, and diversity- and social justice-related student organizations across campus.

Want to plunge into campus activities, hang out, meet for a meal, or grab a cup of coffee?  At Robert Purcell Community Center and Appel Commons on north campus – and Noyes Community Recreation Center on west campus – you'll find:

Hasbrouck Community Center is a gathering spot with informational resources for our graduate and professional student residents, offering:

  • full-time staff support
  • programs and events for both adults and children, including regular potluck dinners
  • residential service centers, where you can check your mail, ask questions, and get information
  • shared community spaces, where residents gather to study or socialize
  • support and resources for international residents, including English as a Second Language (ESL) classes twice a week
  • orientation programs to help new residents learn about Cornell, Ithaca, and life in the United States
  • the weekly "Panda Bears" gathering for parents and their young children