Cornell University 2011-2012 Annual Report - DFA Home - Cornell ...

esidents of Owego, New York, who were reeling from thedestruction left by Tropical Storm Lee in early Septembernearby creeks to overflow their banks, and floods damagedor destroyed 1,200 of the area’s 1,400 homes. This wasthe first of weekly visits that resulted in more than 1,000students serving Owego through the fall semester.Students in the Department of City and RegionalPlanning in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planningcoordinated survey mapping systems to obtain informationabout residents’ most pressing needs. Cornell’s PublicService Center coordinated with Owego officials, individualvolunteers, and Cornell student groups to make the bestuse of the students’ energy and abilities.Public ServiceThe Corporation for National and Community Serviceuniversity’s local, national, and international communityservice efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. Thehonor roll is the highest federal recognition a school canachieve for its commitment to service learning and civicengagement.Public service is one of five overarching goalsin Cornell’s strategic plan and accounts for annualexpenditures in extension and public service of more than$100 million. The university estimates more than 7,600students engaged in community service during the year,contributing at least 400,000 community service hours.The Cornell Public Service Center (PSC), celebratingits 20th year, is the university’s largest demonstration ofstudent engagement in communities. More than 20 PSCsponsoredstudent groups contributed more than 150,000hours of community service. Through its Into the Streetsprogram, the PSC partnered students with local socialservice agencies. Seven hundred Cornell Tradition Fellowsand Meinig Scholars served 114,800 hours on campus andin the community; 10 Blumenthal interns worked with atriskor disadvantaged youth; the Cornell Prison EducationProgram engaged 80 undergraduates to serve as teachingassistants and 20–30 graduate and law students as courseinstructors at correctional facilities.DiversityThe Office of the Dean of Students inaugurated 626Thurston Avenue as a new space celebrating interculturalprograms called the Center for Intercultural Dialogue.American Center, Student Development DiversityInitiatives, the Alumni Student Mentoring Program,and the African, Latino, Asian, and Native AmericanProgramming Board, 626 Thurston Avenue has becomethe nexus for discussions, programs, and advising aroundcultural, racial, and ethnic difference. It is a key partnerwith the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives and withstaff in the Graduate School in supporting students andleading the campus on matters of diversity.Gorge Safety/Means RestrictionBringing to a close a 40-year debate within thecommunity, in FY12 Cornell obtained approval from theCity of Ithaca for means restriction (steel mesh nets) forseven bridges that cross the gorges. Construction was tobegin in fall 2012.Efforts to promote gorge safety were enhanced whenstaff from across the Division of Student and AcademicServices partnered with students and others to developthe Gorge Safety Implementation Plan that PresidentSkorton approved in fall 2011. A marketing plan was put inplace, new educational tools were developed, and a GorgeStewards program was deployed under the leadership ofCornell Outdoor Education.Please visit the Student and Academic Services FY12Annual Report at sas.cornell.edu/pdf/sas_ar_2012.pdf formore information.University CommunicationsCornell NowThe “Cornell Now – 2015” campaign continued to be amajor focus of the Division of University Communicationsduring the year. Coordinated through Public Affairs, thedivision’s efforts on behalf of the campaign pulled from allof its platforms to create content and messaging supportingthe campaign. Marketing completed dozens of projects for“Cornell Now” and other Alumni Affairs and Developmentother AAD event materials, live video coverage of events,and support for AAD giving officers. The Cornell Chronicleand CornellCast provided comprehensive coverage forAAD events and stories. Ezra magazine, a partnershipbetween University Communications and AAD, providedtopical and broad coverage of AAD news, events, andgiving opportunities.Cornell NYC Tech CampusUniversity Communications played a major role inthe successful Cornell NYC Tech campus campaign. Itsdepartments assisted in the preparation of the proposal,generated constant media attention, created an extensiveweb presence (cornell.edu/nyc) and branding identity,and kept the campus community and alumni abreastof developments. These efforts allowed the universityto maintain an extremely high profile throughout thecampaign and Cornell was selected to build the campus.Excellence in Education and ResearchPromoting “excellence in education and research”continued to be a top priority for the division in 2011–2012and were primary themes for the Cornell Chronicle and Ezramagazine. The latter produced issues focusing on educationin the humanities, the new university-wide economicsdepartment, increasing efforts in sustainability, financial26Annual Report 2011–2012