Cornell UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Cornell University. Core organization is free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Ithaca, NY. Operating on a semester system.

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Free for all Cornell University students. No credit card required.

26K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

73

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026

The semester, explained for Cornell University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall 2026
Campus terms
28
Local details
19

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

11 entries
  1. Fall 2026 7-Week 1 Session
  2. Fall 2026Fall 2026 Project Session FullRelevant now
  3. Fall 2026 7-Week 2 Session
  4. Winter 2027Winter 2027 Session
  5. Spring 2027 7-Week 1 Session
  6. Spring 2027Spring 2027 Project Session Full
  7. Spring 2027 7-Week 2 Session
  8. Summer 2027

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

28 terms

A

ALANA
The ALANA Intercultural Board, which funds and supports ethnic and cultural organizations.
Appel
Appel Commons, referring to the North Star dining room
Archie
A student in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP).

C

C-Town
Collegetown, the commercial district adjacent to campus where many students live and socialize
CKB
Court-Kay-Bauer Hall, a popular freshman dormitory complex.
CUEMS
Cornell University Emergency Medical Service, a student-run volunteer EMS agency
CUPD
Cornell University Police Department
CUTonight
A student-run organization that provides funding for late-night, non-alcoholic social events.

D

Dickson
Clara Dickson Hall, the largest dormitory on campus by population
Donlon
Mary Donlon Hall, a large freshman dormitory known for its social atmosphere

G

Ganędagǫ
Often shortened to 'G-house' or simply 'Ganędagǫ', a newer residence hall on North Campus.

H

High Rises
High Rise 5 and Jameson Hall residence halls on North Campus
Hotelie
A student enrolled in the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

I

ISU
International Student Union, representing international student interests

L

Libe Cafe
The Amit Bhatia Libe Cafe, a coffee shop located in Olin Library
Low Rises
Low Rise 6 and Low Rise 7 residence halls on North Campus

N

Nashies
Bear Necessities, a popular late-night grill and convenience store in RPCC

O

Okey's
Okenshields, the centrally located dining hall in Willard Straight Hall
Okies
Okenshields, the only dining hall located on Central Campus, found in Willard Straight Hall.
OSGR
Office of Student Government Relations.

P

Prelim
A midterm examination; Cornell uses this term for almost all major exams during the semester

R

RBG
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, a modern residence hall on North Campus
RPCC
Robert Purcell Community Center, the primary dining hall for North Campus freshmen

S

SA
Student Assembly, the undergraduate student government body
Slope Day
The massive end-of-year concert and celebration held on Libe Slope

T

Terrace
The Terrace Restaurant in Statler Hall, famous for its burrito bowls.
The Slope
Libe Slope, the iconic hill between the Arts Quad and West Campus
Trill
Trillium, a high-traffic food court in Kennedy Hall known for its burgers and salads.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

19 details
amit_bhatia_libe_cafe
Amit Bhatia Libe Cafe
bear_necessities
Bear Necessities
BRBs
Big Red Bucks, a tax-free declining balance account used for food purchases on campus
Canvas
The Learning Management System used for course materials, assignments, and grades.
CityBucks
A declining balance system on the Cornell ID that can be used at off-campus restaurants and shops.
Cornell Card
A campus-specific credit account that allows students to charge purchases to their university bill
cornell_dairy_bar
Cornell Dairy Bar
Duffield
Duffield Hall, the primary social and study hub for engineering students.
Duo
The two-factor authentication system required to access all Cornell online portals.
Gates
Bill & Melinda Gates Hall, the main building for Computing and Information Science
GSH
Goldwin Smith Hall, the primary building for the College of Arts and Sciences
NetID
The unique alphanumeric identifier used for logging into Cornell email and academic portals
okenshields
Okenshields
PSB
Physical Sciences Building, a major research and study hub for science students
Student Essentials
The main administrative website for checking grades, financial aid, and course enrollment.
TCAT
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, the local bus system used by students to travel around campus and Ithaca
The Statler
Statler Hall, the home of the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration
The Straight
Willard Straight Hall, the primary student union building.
Uris
Can refer to either Uris Library (the 'Harry Potter' library) or Uris Hall (social sciences building).

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
28 approved campus terms and 19 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Cornell University

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What we’ll email you about

  • Aug 7

    Fall Tuition and Fee Payment

    Required · source

  • Aug 10

    ID Card Photo Upload Deadline

    Required · source

  • Aug 14

    Final Immunization Record Submission

    Required · source

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Find a few communities to try at Cornell University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

21 mapped items from 6 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

180 Degrees Consulting at Cornell University

A student consultancy providing pro-bono services to non-profits and social enterprises to help them improve and expand their services.

Regular commitment

Source: 180dc.org · Verified 3 months ago

Absolute A Cappella

A co-ed a cappella group that performs a variety of genres at campus events and holds two major concerts each year.

Tryout required

Source: absoluteacappella.com · Verified 3 months ago

Alpha Phi

A Panhellenic Association (PHC) sorority that focuses on sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership.

Invite only

Source: alphaphicornell.com · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell Club Fencing

A co-ed club that welcomes fencers of all skill levels to practice and compete in foil, epee, and sabre.

Open to all

Source: cornellfencing.wixsite.com · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell Design & Tech Initiative (DTI)

An engineering project team that builds software applications and websites to solve problems for the Cornell and Ithaca communities.

Regular commitment

Source: cornelldti.org · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell Men's Club Soccer (United FC)

Competitive men's club soccer team that competes against other universities in the Northeast.

Tryout required

Source: cornellunited.com · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell Outdoor Education

Offers a wide variety of outdoor programs, courses, and trips for the Cornell community, from rock climbing and kayaking to wilderness first aid.

Drop in any time

Source: coe.cornell.edu · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell University Class Councils

Student-led organizations for each class year that plan events and build class unity, from first-year activities to the senior class campaign.

Source: public campus page · Verified 3 months ago

Cornell University Program Board (CUPB)

Student-run organization responsible for planning and executing large-scale campus events, including concerts, comedians, and other entertainers.

Source: cornellcupb.com · Verified 3 months ago

Easy to try first

Association of Computer Science Undergraduates (ACSU)

Cornell's chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), which hosts tech talks, workshops, social events, and mentorship programs for students interested in CS.

Drop in any time

Source: cornellacsu.com · Verified 3 months ago

Challah for Hunger: Cornell Chapter

Bakes and sells challah to raise money and awareness for social justice causes, specifically hunger and disaster relief.

Drop in any time

Source: public campus page · Verified 3 months ago

Campus rituals

Cornell Chimes Concerts

Daily live concerts played by student chimesmasters from McGraw Tower, a beloved auditory tradition on campus.

Open to all

Source: chimes.cornell.edu · Verified 3 months ago

Using DormWay at Cornell University

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Syllabus to schedule

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Cornell University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

24

Active Students

23

Syllabi Analyzed

22

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Advanced Strategic AnalysisEngineering General ChemistryEngineering SeminarENGRD 2020Environmental PhysicsFinancial Accounting for Dyson MajorsGeneral Chemistry IHoney bees: Their intriguing biology and interactions with humans through the ages

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Life in Ithaca for Cornell University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Ithaca.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,200

Cost of Living Index

105

Student Population

28,000

City Transportation

Walkability

80

Bikeability

70

Public Transit

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) bus system

Nearest Airports

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

47°F

Avg Snowfall

67 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Willard Straight Hall

surface_lot • Limited

Zone 4123

University Ave

street • Moderate

Zone 4101

Peterson Lot

surface_lot • Moderate

Zone 4122

Campus News

Latest updates from Cornell University

Attorney General James Appoints Veteran Prosecutor as Outside Counsel in Cornell University Investigation

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the appointment of Jacqueline Kelly to lead a criminal investigation into an alleged sexual assault on campus that occurred in October 2024.

Nov 4, 2026

Read More

Cornell faculty press ahead with no-confidence vote in handling of gang-rape case

Faculty members are voting through November 6 on a no-confidence resolution against university leadership regarding the administration's response to 2024 sexual assault allegations.

Oct 29, 2026

Read More

Immediate measures to strengthen campus safety and better support survivors

Cornell suspended all parties and social events in Interfraternity Council (IFC) houses for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year as part of new safety measures.

Oct 13, 2026

Read More

Fraternity social events suspended for the 2026-2027 academic year following safety review.

Fraternity social events suspended for the 2026-2027 academic year following safety review.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Cornell University

Cornell Men's Ice Hockey vs Princeton University

November 7, 2026

Lynah Rink

Men's ice hockey home game against Princeton.

Cornell Volleyball vs Brown University

November 7, 2026

Bartels Hall

Volleyball match against Brown University.

Cornell Women's Soccer vs Dartmouth College - Senior Night

November 7, 2026

Berman Field

Women's soccer senior night game against Dartmouth.

MexSA's Third Annual Jaripeo

November 7, 2026

Livestock Pavilion and Friedman Wrestling Center

The Mexican Student Association (MexSA) hosts its third annual Jaripeo event.

ASL Literature Series: Handplay with Vicki Nordquist

November 17, 2026

Morrill Hall, 106

A performance and lecture as part of the ASL Literature Series.

Chemical Engineering M.Eng. Virtual Info Session

November 17, 2026

Virtual Event (Webinar)

Information session for the Chemical Engineering Master of Engineering program.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Cornell University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

71 known dorm and housing options. The first 24 are shown below; the rest are available in the expandable list.

104 Mary Ann Wood Drive

109 McGraw Place

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

112 Edgemoor

Capacity: 20

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

301 College Avenue

Capacity: 26

Room types: studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, 4-bedroom, 5-bedroom, 6-bedroom

660 Stewart

Room types: varies

Akwe:kon

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Alice Cook House

Room types: single, double, suite

Balch Hall

Capacity: 350

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Barbara McClintock Hall

Capacity: 250

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Bethe - Main

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Bethe – McFaddin Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Bowman-Carter

Room types: single, double

Carl Becker House

Room types: single, double, suite

Cascadilla Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Clara Dickson Hall

Capacity: 460

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Cook – Baker Tower

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Cook – Boldt Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Cook - Main

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Cook – North Baker

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Court-Kay-Bauer Halls

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Dows

Room types: single, double

Ecology House

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Equity & Engagement Community (EEC)

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double

Equity & Engagement Living-Learning Community

Show the remaining 47 housing options

Flora Rose House

Room types: single, double, suite

Ganędagǫ: Hall

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Hans Bethe House

Room types: single, double, suite

High Rise #5

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Holland International Living Center

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Hu Shih Hall

Capacity: 250

Room types: single, double, quad

Jameson Hall

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Just About Music

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Keeton - Main

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Language House

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Latino Living Center

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Loving House

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Low Rise #6

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Low Rise #7

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Mary Donlon Hall

Capacity: 250

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Merner Hall

Room types: single, double

Mews Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Multicultural Living Learning Unit (McLLU)

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Olin Hall

Room types: single, double

Pauley-Rorem

Room types: single, double

Pfeiffer

Room types: single, double

Prospect of Whitby

Room types: varies

Redbud Cooperative in Von Cramm Hall

Room types: varies

Risley Residential College

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Rose – Founders Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Rose – Lyon Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Rose - Main

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Rose – Mennen Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Rose – South Baker

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Russell Hall

Room types: single, double, suite

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall

Capacity: 250

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Schuyler House

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Sheldon Court

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Sober Living Community

Tarr

Room types: single, double

Toni Morrison Hall

Capacity: 306

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Townhouse Apartments

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Triphammer Cooperative

Room types: varies

Ujamaa Residential College

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double, triple, quad

Veteran House

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double

Veterans House

Capacity: 100

Room types: single, double

Wait Avenue Cooperative (302 Wait Avenue)

Room types: varies

Wait Terrace (308 Wait Avenue)

Room types: varies

Wari Cooperative

Room types: varies

Watermargin

Room types: varies

West Campus Houses

Room types: single, double, suite

William Keeton House

Room types: single, double, suite

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@cornell.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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