Ask a Dean
How can I get funding to present a conference talk? How do I apply for parental leave? Who can I talk to about a confidential issue in my graduate field? How do I handle a difficult relationship in my field?
Use the “Ask a Dean” program to get answers to your questions.
Questions and responses that may be of interest to the graduate community will be published anonymously on the Graduate School website and in the Graduate School Announcements.
Academics
- What are our prospects for resuming in-person research group meetings after members have completed their vaccination cycles?
- Is there a way that teaching assistants teaching in-person sections can receive microphones?
- Are in-person A exams currently allowed?
- Students get evaluated through the SPR yearly, but is there a process that evaluates our advisors?
- Is the A exam scheduled before a student completes research for a dissertation, during which the student presents proposed dissertation research?
Fellowships and Funding
- What is the total compensation for students funded by the NSF GRFP in 2022-23?
- With inflation and rising gas prices, is it possible Conference Travel Grant funding will be increased?
- Why is the annual stipend increase below the annual inflation rate?
- How does meeting the Ph.D. degree requirements impact stipends and health insurance?
- What happens if a graduate student teaching assistant or instructor of record gets sick and is unable to perform their assigned responsibilities?
More Fellowships and Funding questions
Health and Wellness
- Why are Cornell Tech Ph.D. students unable to access CAPS services?
- Why does Cornell require students to get boosted so quickly after an infection?
- How does meeting the Ph.D. degree requirements impact stipends and health insurance?
- Will spring semester physical education classes start during the third week of classes due to current university policy?
- Is there a way for us to safely eat together in groups indoors in the time of COVID?
More Health and Wellness questions
Other/Miscellaneous
- Why do graduate and professional students have to pay for Slope Day wristbands?
- How many Ask a Dean questions are received and published?
- Why hasn’t the university reduced the burden of parking on Ph.D. students?
- Will unlimited TCAT privileges be extended to second-year students who will be spending their first year physically in Ithaca this year?
- Can you assure students that only response themes from the Doctoral Experience Survey will be shared with fields? If not, can we withdraw or edit our survey responses?
More Other/Miscellaneous questions
Policies and Requirements
- How long does it take for a degree to be conferred once a thesis is submitted to the Graduate School?
- How does meeting the Ph.D. degree requirements impact stipends and health insurance?
- Will Cornell be easing its restrictions on graduate student personal travel?
- How does student health insurance work during an internship? Do I have to take a personal leave of absence?
- Is the new Spring 2021 travel policy applicable to graduate students who live off campus in Ithaca permanently?
More Policies and Requirements questions
Political and Global Concerns
- Can I travel this winter for health-related purposes?
- I am on the verge of panic about the proposed immigration rule change. What is Cornell doing?
- Can international students travel abroad over winter break and are there specific disadvantages to doing so?
- Is there anything in the works to get students to fill out the census?
- Has Cornell been advocating for international students relying on OPT work authorization?
More Political and Global Concerns questions
Student Life
- Why do graduate and professional students have to pay for Slope Day wristbands?
- Is there a reason why PE classes are different from other classes when it comes to pre-enrollment?
- Is there a plan to increase bus frequency?
- Can the Graduate School advocate for more consistent and convenient access to food on campus?
- Will unlimited TCAT privileges be extended to second-year students who will be spending their first year physically in Ithaca this year?
Tax
- How do I rectify an overpayment on my taxes as a result of an overpayment from Cornell?
- Will I still qualify for the stimulus payment if I did not file a tax return last year?
- Are we taxed on our health insurance?
- Which taxes do not have to be paid by graduate students?
- Which tax year is used for spring stipends?
Union Representation
- What ever happened with the union vote?
- Are there any updates on the unionization vote that took place last spring?
- If we vote to form a union, where will the money come from to pay for the added benefits?
- Several questions about student union design
- Is the union allowed to use my name and image without my permission?