Ask a Dean Category: Student Life
Is there a time off policy for graduate students receiving stipends?
Category: Fellowships and Funding, Policies and Requirements, Student Life Date: September 2019
Dear Deans, Is there any policy for graduate students who receive a stipend (TA/RA/GA/GRA/Fellowship) for holidays and personal time off? There seems to be considerable confusion around this in my department, with answers ranging from “staff holidays only, no academic holidays” to “completely dependent on your adviser”. As workers we want and need to be…
How can I share an article on grad students selected as Forbes Under 30 Scholars?
Category: Student Life Date: October 2018
Hello Deans! I wanted to share the following article including many Cornell graduate/CIPA students who were selected as Forbes Under 30 Scholars this year. Is there somewhere (maybe on the website) that this can be featured on? Best, A 2018 Forbes Under 30 Scholar Response Dear Forbes Under 30 Scholar, Thanks so much for sharing…
How can we be added to the BRB listserv?
Category: Student Life Date: September 2018
Hi there, I love the Big Red Barn, but often hear about BRB events after they’ve already passed. I’ve heard from other students (upper years) that there is a regular BRB newsletter with updates and events, which is how they know about happenings at the Barn. I do not receive this newsletter and others in…
Are vegan options offered at Pie with the Deans events?
Category: Student Life Date: September 2018
To whom it may concern, I am vegan and plan to attend one of the “Pie with the Deans” events. I’m curious to know if vegan (pie) options are offered? Best, Pie with the Deans Supporter Response Dear Pie with the Deans Supporter, Yes, we always have a vegan pie option (apple pie) and other…
How do I get emergency funding to help with a major health issue?
Category: Fellowships and Funding, Student Life Date: July 2018
Dear Graduate School Deans, I learned only a few weeks ago about a recurrent event of cancer I was originally diagnosed with in 2016. My 100% intention is to return to Ithaca in August for the Fall semester and complete the next year in my master’s program. I will be continuing treatment during the academic…
How can we prevent demolition of Parrott Hall?
Category: Student Life Date: July 2018
Dear Deans of the Graduate School, Parrott Hall, a historic building in the Geneva Campus, is about to be demolished by the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department. This is the history of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station being taken down because Cornell University does not want to intervene. Demolition would never…
Can you keep the Cornell Chimes?
Category: Student Life Date: May 2018
Dear Deans, Could you please NOT stop or reduce the concerts of the Cornell Chimes? I really enjoyed the music, and it’s part of my daily fun to guess which song is playing (hard to tell sometimes, though). A lot of my friends enjoy it, too – I can’t speak for the whole Cornell student…
Can the Cornell Chimes reduce their concerts during study breaks?
Category: Student Life Date: May 2018
Dear Ask a Dean, I am writing in relation to Cornell Chimes and the thrice daily ‘concerts’ performed from McGraw clocktower. More specifically, I’m emailing to ask if it is entirely necessary that such concerts take place every day and for such prolonged amounts of time. I recognize that this email will read, at worst,…
What is the protocol for announcing student deaths?
Category: Other/Miscellaneous, Policies and Requirements, Student Life Date: March 2018
Hi Deans, Recent discussions with my colleagues have made me aware that announcements of student’s death by potential suicide report the cause of death in a vague way. Soon after or in the same email, the student population gets a message about getting help if we are in distress which would imply that it was…
Can you explain why Kimball Hall only has shower facilities for men?
Category: Student Life Date: September 2017
Hello Deans, I work in a building (Kimball Hall) that is part of three buildings conjoined and there is no shower for women in any of these buildings. However there is a shower for men in the bottom on my building. Could you explain the university’s reasoning on not having this shower/bathroom unisex? I don’t…