Other Matters

Courses link

• Course Information:
  Visit Class Roster to look up course details, including meeting times, locations, instructors, syllabi, etc. Use Student Center for add/drop and other enrollment actions. Be sure to note the add/drop deadlines. Those dates can be found in Student Center, the Cornell Academic Calendar, or in email notifications.

• On-Campus Wi-Fi:
  Wi-Fi covers most campus areas. Cornell students, faculty & staff use eduroam (Secure Wi-Fi) or RedRover. Alumni & visitors use Cornell-Visitor.

• Printing Services:
  For general printing, use CU Print (formerly NetPrint). For poster prints, go to Mann Library.

• Tuition & Fees:
  See the Office of the Bursar site for details. Cornell now uses the CASHNet system to manage student finances. You can view past payments and outstanding balances there.

• Academic Terms:
  Cornell’s academic year is divided into Fall (August–December), Spring (January–May), and Summer (June–July). Each term’s course schedule is published a few weeks before classes start.

Campus Safety link

• Emergency & Campus Police:
  Cornell Police: (607) 255-1111. Dialing 911 from a campus landline reaches Cornell Police directly, but a call from a mobile phone may be routed to an off-campus dispatcher instead, which costs time. Save 607-255-1111 in your phone and use it for on-campus emergencies.

• Blue Light Phones:
  Blue-light emergency phones are located across campus. They connect you directly to campus police, and you can request an escort at night. See Cornell Police Blue Light Services.

Learning English link

• Cornell offers several resources for international students:

  • The English Language Support Office (ELSO) runs the Speaking Groups Program to improve oral skills and meet other internationals.
  • See the University’s Office of Global Learning website for more English-learning resources.

• Conversation Hour:
  The Language Resource Center hosts free conversation groups in many languages each week—Taiwanese, English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and more. Great for practicing speaking and meeting fellow students.

Mental Health link

A few things that actually help:

• A light therapy lamp (SAD lamp): 20–30 minutes each morning. This is one of the best-evidenced treatments for SAD, and a lamp runs about $30–60 on Amazon — a very worthwhile investment.
• Vitamin D: There is very little sun here in winter. Cornell Health can run a blood test and advise on supplementation.
• Keep a regular schedule and exercise: Campus gyms and pools are free for students, so you can stay active no matter how bad the weather is.
• Schedule social contact deliberately: It is easy to hole up alone in your room all winter, and the longer you do, the worse it gets. Try not to skip CTSA and departmental events.

If it starts to interfere with daily life, don’t tough it out — use these resources:

• Let’s Talk:
  Free, informal counseling drop-in sessions for Cornell students. Multiple locations, limited hours. Details at Cornell Health Let’s Talk.

• EARS (Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service):
  Trained undergraduate and graduate volunteers available by phone at 607-255-EARS (3277), or in person at 213 Willard Straight Hall. See EARS Official Site.

• Other Counseling Services:
  Visit Cornell Health for a full list of mental health resources.

Family-Related link

Student Spouse ID Card link

• Eligibility:
  Spouses of F-1 visa holders or holders of J-2 visas.

• Required Documents:

  • Student’s Cornell ID
  • Copy of spouse’s passport
  • Copy of spouse’s visa
  • Completed application form
  • $40 application fee (cash or check)

• When & Where:
  Monday–Friday, 9 AM–4 PM at B07 Day Hall.
  Apply in person; you will receive a card with both your photo and your spouse’s name/visa type.

• Uses:

  • Library guest borrowing card
  • Fitness center membership
    Note: If you don’t need to borrow books or use the gym, you may skip this.

Health Insurance & Medical Care link

Insurance & Medical Visits link

• All international students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Plan (SHP). See the plan and premium details on the school website. The current carrier is Aetna. You can print your insurance ID card from their site.

• Cornell Health Clinic:
  (formerly Gannett Health Services) offers vaccinations, allergy shots, physical therapy, etc. For larger hospitals in Ithaca, see Cayuga Medical Center.

• At Your Appointment:
  Present your Cornell ID and insurance card; pay the co-pay, which is billed within a few days. Couples and children pay additional fees.

• Current Co-pay:

  • General medical visit: $10

Medicaid (Low-Income Public Insurance) link

• Cost: $0 co-pay at designated hospitals; only minimal medication fees.

• If you are unsure whether you or a family member qualifies, the Health Access Coordinator listed below offers free consultations and can also help you evaluate other options (such as Child Health Plus for children).

• Required Documents:
  ID, Social Security Number, income verification, proof of residence, other relevant forms.

• When & Where:
  Monday–Friday, 9 AM–4 PM at 171 E. Martin Luther King Jr./State St. #133, Ithaca, NY 14850.
  See Human Services Coalition.

• Contact:
  Elizabeth Hoyt, Health Access Coordinator
  ehoyt@hsctc.org | 607-273-8686 #236

Continuing Education link

Spouses and partners can take Cornell courses as non-degree students through the School of Continuing Education (SCE):

• You may enroll for credit or audit a course. Both are charged at the same per-credit tuition rate.
• Both options appear on an official Cornell transcript; audited courses are recorded with a grade of “V” and carry no credit.
• Some language, photography, and lab-based courses may not be open to non-degree students due to seat or equipment limits.
• Eligibility: Must hold a Student Spouse ID or a J-2 visa.

• Online Courses:
  Platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy are free and open to all.

• Language Software (Mango):
  Use your Tompkins County Public Library card to access Mango Languages—learn over 70 languages with audio recordings and progress tracking.

Recreation & Clubs link

• Cornell Recreation Classes:
  Free options (e.g., jogging, gymnastics) and fee-based courses. Non-students may sign up after classes begin if space is available; enroll in person at Helen Newman Hall with payment.

• Free Activities:
  Meditation, yoga, Zumba often posted on campus bulletin boards.

• Swimming:
  Free at Helen Newman Hall & Teagle with a Spouse ID.

• Gym Membership:
  At 319 Helen Newman Hall; annual fee $70–$159 depending on level.

• Library:
  Use Spouse ID for borrowing privileges. Or share your partner’s Cornell credentials for e-books and audiobooks.

• Tompkins Public Library:
  Rich collection of books, media, and children’s programs. Sign up with two IDs. See Tompkins Public Library.

• Campus Clubs:
  Attend ClubFest to explore.

• Campus Club (International Friendship Group):
  Lifetime membership $25: book clubs, board games, bird-watching, gardening, etc.
  Or join just the Friendship Group for no fee—monthly potlucks and activities.

• Off-Campus Meetup:
  Ithaca Board & Card Games Meetup at Purity Ice Cream, Tue/Wed 6–8 PM. Great for learning English and American culture.

Volunteering link

Volunteering is a great way to help the community and meet people:

• Cornell Public Service Center:
  Offers community service, tutoring, environmental projects. Contact Nicole R. LaFave at nrw6@cornell.edu or (607) 255-0094.

• Other Opportunities:

  • Translation services
  • Community beautification projects
  • Teaching at local schools
  • Tompkins Time Traders (swap time for services)

• Mailing Lists & Resources:

  • Student Spouse/Partner Employment E-List: Send “join” to DUAL_CAREER_POSTINGS-L-request@cornell.edu.
  • Graduate Student Partner E-list: Email “join” (blank) to STUDENTPARTNERS-L-request@cornell.edu.
  • Facebook: “Cornell Students with Families” for news on childcare, stipends, insurance.
  • Big Red Barn Graduate & Professional Student Center: Follow on Facebook for events.

• Events Calendar:
  See Cornell Events for activities open to spouses/partners.

Employment (F-2 / J-2 Spouses & Common Options) link

Other Job Postings & Useful Sites link

• Student Spouse/Partner Employment E-List: Send “join” to DUAL_CAREER_POSTINGS-L-request@cornell.edu.
• Cornell Career Services: Resume reviews, mock interviews, on/off-campus jobs—career.cornell.edu.
• Cornell HR Job Postings: Staff/faculty openings—Cornell Careers.
• Tompkins Workforce NY Job Bank: Find Jobs.
• NYS Job Bank: ny.gov Job Bank.
• Indeed: indeed.com.
• Students with Families: studentswithfamilies.cornell.edu.

Childbirth & Maternity Support link

If You’re a Pregnant Postdoctoral Researcher at Cornell… link

• Academic Leaves Policy: Postdocs may take 6–8 months of parental leave.
  Policy PDF

Quick Reminders

• Immigration forms and insurance claims may change; always refer to the latest USCIS, SSA, and Cornell ISSO announcements.
• For internal policy questions (leave, parking, childcare), email worklife@cornell.edu or gradstudserv@cornell.edu.
• This information is for reference only. Contact us with corrections or additions anytime.