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 happens if a graduate student teaching assistant or instructor of record gets sick and is unable to perform their assigned responsibilities?
- How do I rectify an overpayment on my taxes as a result of an overpayment from Cornell?
- What information can Cornell provide about unemployment insurance and other assistance for unfunded students?
- How and why does biweekly gross pay change?
- Is Graduate School conference funding available for virtual conferences?
More Fellowships and Funding questions
Health and Wellness
- With the pandemic still ongoing, and Cornell at a yellow alert level, why is the university discouraging lecture recordings?
- How is the college tracking in-class transmission?
- What is the threshold for moving to Red Alert Level and what are those choices guided by? Where are undergraduates quarantining and how do we limit the spread?
- What happens if a graduate student teaching assistant or instructor of record gets sick and is unable to perform their assigned responsibilities?
- Why is this year’s graduate student health insurance plan for an 11-month period and will graduate students be given health insurance next July?
More Health and Wellness questions
Other/Miscellaneous
- 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?
- Are the Doctoral Experience Survey results truly confidential? Will my advisor see the results? How will the results be used?
- Is there a way that teaching assistants teaching in-person sections can receive microphones?
- Is there a mailing list, website, or calendar where I can find out about upcoming talks?
More Other/Miscellaneous questions
Policies and Requirements
- 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?
- Three questions: Can we see accrued sick leave in Workday? What is the process for taking sick leave? What are the changes to the academic leave policy?
- Can I travel this winter for health-related purposes?
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
- 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?
- Why are graduate students not extended the privilege of unlimited TCAT bus rides?
- Will Cornell be easing its restrictions on graduate student personal travel?
- Is there a mailing list, website, or calendar where I can find out about upcoming talks?
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?
- Is the union allowed to use my name and image without my permission?
- 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