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 timely 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
- How can I discuss justice usefully in my classroom?
- Can you help me find a TA who can take over my course this fall?
- How many years will it take to complete my PhD?
- How can I find out about the tenure status of one of my minor subject special committee members?
- How can I provide feedback about the advising I received?
Fellowships and Funding
- How do I check on my stipend and are they contingent on receiving an appointment?
- How do I get emergency funding to help with a major health issue?
- Which tax year is used for spring stipends?
- Do class lectures count toward the 15-hour per week average for assistantships?
- Where do I find resources for short term research outside of Cornell?
More Fellowships and Funding questions
Health and Wellness
- How can we get involved with fitness classes despite limitations?
- What can we do to be prepared for an active shooter?
- Can you help me with work life balance and where can I compost organics on campus?
- Can we label major allergens in foods campus-wide?
- Can I extend my health insurance through October?
More Health and Wellness questions
Other/Miscellaneous
- Can you refer me to any legal services in Tompkins County?
- Where is the best place to drop off compost?
- What is the protocol for announcing student deaths?
- How do I update my address in Workday?
- What is Cornell’s rationale for discriminatory pricing policies for parking?
More Other/Miscellaneous questions
Policies and Requirements
- Can I finish my MS degree early?
- How do I check on my stipend and are they contingent on receiving an appointment?
- Why are the in absentia forms so cumbersome to fill out?
- What is the protocol for announcing student deaths?
- Can I minor in a field that Cornell does not offer and can I have a non-Cornell faculty member serve on my committee?
More Policies and Requirements questions
Political and Global Concerns
More Political and Global Concerns questions
Student Experience
- How do I get emergency funding to help with a major health issue?
- How can we prevent demolition of Parrott Hall?
- Can you keep the Cornell Chimes?
- Can the Cornell Chimes reduce their concerts during study breaks?
- What is the protocol for announcing student deaths?
More Student Experience questions
Tax
- Which tax year is used for spring stipends?
- Can you tell me how Cornell follows 117 a-c while so many other institutions obviously follow 117d?
- Three questions about Cornell’s response if the proposed tax legislation is passed
- Will the Graduate School commit to increasing wages or decreasing tuition for graduate students if the proposed changes to the tax code pass?
- Are all funded graduate students functioning under 117(a-c) of the current tax code?
Union Representation
- 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?
- CGSU has created negotiating committees for various constituents, is the distribution of voters equal across these committees?