News and Events
Oct 27 2009:Cornell Annual Fund breaks a fundraising record in a tough year
The Annual Fund topped $24.4 million last year, supplying an infusion of cash when the university most needs it.
Oct 27 2009:Seth Klarman '79 gives $5 million to budget relief, no strings attached
Just as philanthropists nationwide are pulling back, the Klarman Family Foundation is pushing forward with a substantial investment in Cornell. The foundation has committed $5 million over the next five years to provide budget relief from the continuing economic crisis.
Sep 18 2009:Ross Brann: West Campus is truly transformed
This fall, the fifth and final house of the West Campus Residential Initiative opened its doors. Soon thereafter, Cornell trustee Robert Harrison '76 endowed the post of house professor-dean of the Hans Bethe House in honor of President Emeritus Dale Corson. Professor Ross Brann took the occasion to look back at the long road in creating the unique living-learning environment for students.
Sep 14 2009:Trustee endows Bethe House professor-deanship in Dale Corson's name
The post of house professor-dean of Hans Bethe House has been named in honor of Cornell's eighth president, Dale R. Corson, thanks to a $2 million gift from university trustee Robert Harrison '76.
Aug 20 2009:Gates grant to extend reach of ag journals in Africa
A new three-year, $1.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help Cornell Library extend the reach of TEEAL, The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library.
Aug 20 2009:Class of 2013 is most diverse class ever at Cornell
The Class of 2013 is the most racially and ethnically diverse class since Cornell began tracking such statistics. That's according to the latest numbers on the 2009 entering freshman class at Cornell. About 36 percent of first-year students identified themselves as "students of color," a 4 percent increase from the Class of 2012, at 32 percent.
Aug 5 2009:Construction under way on Milstein Hall project
Ground has been broken on the site of Paul Milstein Hall, a facilities expansion for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning that is scheduled to open in August 2011.
Jul 24 2009:Update on budget crisis and 'Reimagining Cornell'
The first phases of the "Reimagining Cornell" strategic-planning process are well under way, but "the solutions are in their infancy," said Bill Fry, dean of the university faculty, at a special meeting of the Faculty Senate July 22.
Jul 1 2009:Provost Fuchs leading charge to erase Cornell's deficit with 'change and aspiration'
Without a detailed plan of action, Cornell University is facing a projected operating deficit of approximately $150 million within five years. To pre-empt that scenario, President David Skorton has asked Provost Kent Fuchs to lead the charge to erase the deficit and, in his words, to make Cornell a leaner, stronger university by 2014.
Jun 26 2009:Reunion campaigns break records despite grim economy
Reunion campaigns raised more than $112 million, setting an all-time reunion campaign record as well as many class bests and reunion campaign records. Contributing were some 7,312 donors and 590 Tower Club members -- donors who give $5,000 or more. Final campaign totals will be available in July.
Jun 15 2009:Latest Ezra magazine features global Cornell
The Summer 2009 issue of Ezra highlights some of the many ways Cornell is reaching global populations.
Jun 12 2009:Cornell ranks as No. 2 charity for 'fiscal excellence'
Cornell has been rated No. 2 among the country's top 10 charities for its ongoing fiscal excellence by Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial health of American philanthropies.
Jun 12 2009:Cornell receives gift of $602K from ExxonMobil Foundation
In its most generous gift yet, the ExxonMobil Foundation has donated nearly $602,000 to Cornell through its 2008 Educational Matching Gifts Program.
Jun 8 2009:'Crisis has passed,' Cornell's chief investment officer tells alumni in upbeat report on endowment
From an investment perspective, "we've started to see the world return to normal again," said James Walsh, Cornell's chief investment officer, in a reunion talk on Cornell's endowment in Statler Hall, June 5.
May 26 2009:Board approves moving forward on Milstein Hall
News of the Cornell Board of Trustees' decision to move forward with the Paul Milstein Hall project for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) was met with elation and relief by faculty, students, and alumni.
May 21 2009:Endowments 101: Ron Ehrenberg offers a primer in Cornell Alumni Magazine
An economist and faculty trustee offers a primer on the University's financial nest egg¿and explains what the current economic crisis could mean for Cornell's future.
May 20 2009:Merrill scholars honor high school, Cornell teachers
The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program is made possible by funding from the late Philip Merrill '55. The high school teachers are honored under the STAR (Special Teachers Are Recognized) scholarship established in 1989 with support from the late Donald Berens and his wife, Margi Berens, both members of the Class of 1947. STAR is supported through additional gifts from alumni and friends. A one-time $4,000 scholarship is established in each teacher's name for a financially needy Cornell student from the teacher's high school or geographical area.
May 19 2009:The Cornell Tradition recognizes 10 of its graduates
Every spring since 1989 the Cornell Tradition, an alumni-endowed student recognition program at Cornell, has honored its own graduating seniors. The 10 Tradition fellows who have been honored this year for their community service and leadership efforts will use their monetary awards to benefit others. The Cornell Tradition, a program of the university's Cornell Commitment office, was established in 1982 through an anonymous gift of $7 million. The program awards 545 fellowships each year to Cornell undergraduate students based on their work experience, campus and/or community service, leadership and academic achievement.
May 15 2009:Governor taps Skorton to lead economic panel
David Skorton has been tapped by New York Gov. David Paterson to lead the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy Through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. The task force's mission is to study best practices and generate recommendations on fostering New York state's business incubation, growth and emerging technology commercialization.
May 14 2009:Martin Tang '70 challenges young alumni to give
To encourage young alumni to give back to their alma mater, Cornell trustee Martin Tang '70 has established the M.A.R.T.I.N. (My Annual Fund Reason to Invest Now) Challenge, in which new gifts will be matched by Tang. For every person who graduated from Cornell in the last 10 years and who makes a gift to Cornell, Tang will give $25 toward the Cornell Annual Fund for undergraduate scholarships. If a donor commits to a multiyear gift, Tang will give $50.
May 7 2009:First four Tata scholars declare 'ecstatic anticipation for the future'
The new scholarship program is the result of a $25 million commitment from the Tata Education and Development Trust, a philanthropic entity of India's Tata Group. When fully endowed, the scholarship fund will support six or more students in each undergraduate class and could ultimately support up to 25 Tata scholars at Cornell at any one time.
Apr 23 2009:Latest Ezra Magazine features undergradaute research
Also in this issue: campaign update, recent books by Cornellians, Big Red athletics, and more.
Apr 22 2009:Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust endows hotel school scholarship program
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced a $2 million gift to endow the Helmsley Scholarship at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Apr 10 2009:At Cornell in the Capital, higher education's role in policy making takes center stage
On Friday, April 3, President Skorton and a delegtion of faculty discussed the role of higher education in addressing policy issues. About 500 alumni, parents, and friends of Cornell attended the event.
Apr 7 2009:Weills Give $170M to Med School
Weill gave the Weill Cornell Medical College $170 million in December and January in order to allow the University to build a new medical research building. Weill¿s donation, which is his fourth gift of at least $100 million to Cornell, serves as an advance of the $250 million he had originally planned to give to the University after his death.
Mar 10 2009:Trustees approve bond sale and endowment action
"The raising of the $500 million in working capital is really a very intelligent thing to do in a time of financially constrained markets," said board chairman Peter Meinig '61, BME '62. "The fact that Cornell's credit is so good makes it attractive to us to sell those bonds." Cornell will also reduce its endowment payout by 15 percent.
Mar 10 2009:Stay up to date on Cornell's budget communications
Cornell has launched a multimedia page updated daily with the latest articles, video appearances, and other budget communications.
Mar 10 2009:Trustee Martin Tang '70 launches Annual Fund challenge for young alumni
The goal of the MARTIN Challenge is to to increase alumni participation among undergraduates from 1999 to 2008. The challenge can leverage up to 3,000 young alumni. If one of these alumni makes a single gift, Tang will direct $25 to the Annual Fund for undergraduate scholarships. If they make an online recurring gift into the next fiscal year, he will direct $50 to the fund.
Mar 10 2009:President Skorton argues for strengthening U.S. colleges and universities
In the March/April issue of Cornell Alumni Magazine, Skorton devotes a column to the social and economic justifications for building a stronger higher education system.
Mar 10 2009:President Skorton discusses budget decisions
In an open letter to the cornell community, Skorton discusses the recently announced bond sale as well as ongoing adjustments to the university's budget.
Feb 5 2009:Ken Roberts named new director of Institute for the Social Sciences
Roberts began his three-year term as the ISS's Robert S. Harrison Director in January. He took over from management professor Elizabeth "Beta" Mannix, who is now vice provost for equity and inclusion. With the ISS in its fifth year, Roberts is responsible for theme projects, which each last for three years, as well as programs offering small grants and supporting research fellows.
Jan 29 2009:Four faculty named Weiss Presidential Fellows
The awards are named for Stephen H. Weiss '57, the late emeritus chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees, who endowed the program. The awards honor excellence in teaching, advising, and outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. To date, 50 faculty members have been named Weiss fellows.
Jan 20 2009:Isaac Kramnick writes a tribute to West Campus
With the fifth and final West Campus house complete, Kramnick reflects on the path that led to this achievement.
Dec 18 2008:Check out the second issue of Ezra Magazine
This issue's main feature is the Weill Hall opening and life sciences advances.
Jan 29 2009:Chief investment officer: despite economy, endowment is in good shape
James Walsh, Cornell's chief invstment officer, discussed Cornell's long-term growth strategy and its reliance on endowment spending compared to peer institutions.
Jan 20 2009:Hear Professor Glenn Altschuler interview new provost Kent Fuchs (45:00)
In this Cornell Cybertower download, Fuchs discusses his personal and academic influences, as well as his vision for his role as provost.
Jan 16 2009:Scott Emr and his team uncover workings of cells' protein receptors
Researchers working with Scott Emr, director of the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology,discovered how receptors on cell surfaces turn off signals from the cell's environment, a function that is vital for functions such as growth, division and death.
Jan 29 2009:Vice President Charles Phlegar discusses the campaign's performance and priorities in the downturn
Fiscal year 2009 donations to the Cornell Annual Fundare on pace with those for fiscal year 2008, and cash gifts to the campaign are higher than a year ago. But new commitments to the campaign are down by 50 percent compared with this time last year, and gifts of stock were down by 85 percent in December, compared with the same month a year ago.
Jan 16 2009:Andrew Clark named the first Meinig Family Investigator in the Life Sciences
ndrew Clark, professor of population genetics in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and co-director of Cornell's new Center for Comparative and Population Genomics, has been named the first Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigator in the Life Sciences. "Nancy and I are so pleased that Andy Clark has been selected as the first Meinig family investigator," said Peter Meinig, chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees. "He represents the values and keen intellect that we hoped would energize the Cornell life sciences through our endowment."
Dec 18 2008:Campaign chairs share thoughts on student aid enhancement
In the latest issue of Ezra, the co-chairs discuss President Skorton's commitment to increading financial aid in a troubled economy.
Dec 8 2008:New AAP dean cites faculty recruitment, Milstein Hall as priorities
Kent Kleinman was named the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) in June.
Nov 14 2008:Cornell announces another undergraduate financial aid increase
On the heels of an initiative announced just 10 months ago that greatly reduced student loan burdens, Cornell has announced that it will further bolster its financial aid program for undergraduate students by eliminating parental contribution for family incomes below $60,000, and further reducing student loans.
Nov 10 2008:Seminar on inequality focuses on developing world
In the last of a four-part seminar series for alumni examining issues of inequality and social and economic mobility, Chrisopher Barrett discussed the importance of technological change, globalization of markets, innovations in risk management and how Cornell has contributed to those solutions.
Oct 19 2008:Skorton commits to raising additional $125 million for financial aid
In a State of the University address largely devoted to a report on Cornell's financial stability and the need to preserve and protect the university's future, President David Skorton pledged that Cornell "cannot and will not retreat from our long-standing commitment to need-based student financial aid."
Oct 18 2008:Weill Hall and Institute dedicated
As performers in lab coats danced to "Weill Thing" in the three-story-high windows above them, Sanford I. Weill '55 and wife Joan unlocked the DNA-shaped gate to Weill Hall.
Nov 21 2008:President Skorton discusses role of higher education in new financial climate
In a commentary titled, "Higher education: special interest or national asset?" President Skorton discusses the role universities should play in policy making and education. The commentary was first published in the November 21 Chronicle of Higher Education.
Oct 17 2008:Engineering dean Kent Fuchs is Cornell's new provost
President David Skorton made the announcement in his State of the University address at the annual meeting of the Cornell Board of Trustees and Cornell University Council in Statler Auditorium.
Oct 10 2008:Weill Hall to make its formal debut
Completion of architect Richard Meier's life sciences building, Weill Hall--which officially opens with a dedication ceremony Oct. 16--marks a giant leap toward advancing Cornell's leadership nationally and internationally in the genomics-led science revolution.
Oct 17 2008:Ratan Tata '62 establishes $50 million endowment for Indian agriculture and scholarship initiatives
The endowment consists of $25 million to establish the Tata-Cornell Initiative in Agriculture and Nutrition, which will contribute to advances in nutrition and agriculture for India; and $25 million for the Tata Scholarship Fund for Students from India, to help attract more of the best and brightest students to Cornell from India.
Oct 17 2008:Stephen Ashley '62 talks about Fannie Mae and Far Above
The Cornell Daily Sun sat down with Stephen Ashley '62, MBA '64 to discuss his role as co-chair of the $4 billion Far Above campaign. Ashley is currently the chairman and CEO of The Ashley Group, a collection of real estate, brokerage and investment companies. In September, Ashley resigned as chairman of the mortgage giant Fannie Mae, after the government-sponsored enterprise was placed into conservatorship by the U.S. Treasury.
Oct 10 2008:By going green, Weill Hall meets the gold standard
Weill Hall has become one of only six university laboratory buildings to be "gold" certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, as judged by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Oct 10 2008:Visionary donors helped make Weill Hall a reality
Building and outfitting a facility like Weill Hall is almost prohibitively expensive. But Weill Hall is here because Cornell had help from the state of New York and from philanthropists who backed the project with millions of dollars and their belief in its potential.
Oct 10 2008:An interview with Weill Hall architect Richard Meier '56
Chronicle writer Daniel Aloi interviewed the internationally celebrated architect by phone from his New York office about the design of Weill Hall in relation to the campus and the community.
Sep 30 2008:Keeton House officially opens
The life and work of the late Cornell biology professor William T. Keeton were honored Sept. 26 with the grand opening of the West Campus residence named in his memory. Keeton House is the fourth residence in the West Campus House System to open.
Sep 15 2008:Final West Campus house named for Flora Rose
Rose (1874-1959) was recruited to Cornell 101 years ago as a lecturer in nutrition. She worked with Martha Van Rensselaer to establish a department, and later a college, of home economics that evolved into today's College of Human Ecology.
Sep 4 2008:11 more graduate students added to life sciences fellows program
Vice Provost for the Life Sciences Stephen Kresovich welcomed nine new graduate students selected as this year's Presidential Life Sciences Fellows at a reception in Cornell's Biotechnology Building on Aug. 29. Kresovich announced that due to the program's impact, the Cornell administration will increase the number of fellowships to 20 from nine in the 2009-10 academic year.
Oct 10 2008:Weill Hall fosters novel collaborations
With its open plan, shared facilities and top-of-the-line videoconferencing equipment, Weill Hall is designed for big-picture scientists: researchers who think beyond the confines of their field to tackle challenges in creative new ways. This principle--that some of the most innovative ideas come from scientists who work together across disciplinary boundaries--has been a central Cornell strength for decades.
Sep 30 2008:Appel Commons terrace named for Professor Glenn Altschuler
Nearly 100 friends, colleagues, students and advisees of Professor Glenn Altschuler, Ph.D. '76, gathered on the second floor of Appel Commons for the dedication of the Altschuler Terrace Sept. 24.
Sep 30 2008:University to launch new magazine
The magazine is being produced by the Cornell Chronicle and the Office of Publications and Marketing with assistance from the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D). It is hoped it will become a vital news source for alumni, faculty, staff and students, as well as the Cornell community around the world.
Aug 27 2008:Students move into West Campus as workers move out, beating construction goal
President David Skorton, who donned a hard hat and climbed behind the wheel of a departing bulldozer, expressed his delight that the construction schedule had been accelerated so that all five buildings are ready for students, with four of them offering full residential house programs for the new academic year.
Sep 4 2008:Arts and Sciences endowment established in honor of Charles T. Stewart '40
An endowed fund has been established at Cornell in honor of a distinguished alumnus who died in January. The Charles T. Stewart '40 Fund for the College of Arts and Sciences will support the college in perpetuity.Patricia Carry Stewart '50 recently made the gift to Cornell in her husband's memory to benefit the College of Arts and Sciences and Weill Cornell Medical College. She requested that other gifts in Charles Stewart's honor go to the Annual Fund in Arts and Sciences, unless donors designate otherwise.
Sep 10 2008:Susan Murphy honored by Cornell Tradition endowment
Susan H. Murphy, AB '73, PhD '94, is the vice president for student and academic services. The Cornell Tradition began 25 years ago with a donation of $7 million and has since been supported by alumni and friends. Each year it helps support 500 undergraduates. The Susan H. Murphy Fellowship will grant one Cornell Tradition student up to $4,000 a year.
Sep 4 2008:Interim Provost Harris muses on his new "trickle up" job
Fiscal priority number one, he says, is Cornell's $4 billion capital campaign.
Sep 10 2008:Cornell sociologist links student success to socioeconomic status, not school funding
Stephen Morgan delivered a lecture on his findings during a lecture Sept. 4 at the Cornell Club in New York City. He said that throwing more money at schools will not help much unless some of that money is used to compensate for differences created by family background. The seminar, "Opportunity 102: Inequality in Education," is the second in a four-lecture series designed to deepen understanding of issues of inequality.
Jun 20 2008:Explore faculty profiles, a Weill Hall gallery, and more on the new life sciences site
The life sciences fundraising priorities have a new home on the Far Above site.
Jul 7 2008:Class of '56 endows library humanities fund
A $30,000 endowment from the Class of 1956 will establish a fund to boost Cornell's humanities print collection, allowing Cornell University Library to purchase additional English-language monographs and a range of materials in foreign languages.
Jun 10 2008:Social sciences fellowships free faculty to pursue research
The Institute for Social Sciences is hosting 11 faculty fellows as part of its new in-residence program. Each fellow receives a $10,000 grant and relief from teaching and departmental duties to pursue research.
May 27 2008:Class of 2008 gift breaks record for class participation
The class aimed for 50 percent of the seniors making a gift or paying class dues. When they exceeded that benchmark, they revised their goal and garnered donations from a record-breaking 53 percent, with a total of $66,402 raised.
Jun 8 2008:Skorton extols banner year in State of the University address
Speaking to a full house of alumni and friends in Bailey Hall, June 7, Skorton discussed the past year's achievements in academic and fundraising arenas.
May 22 2008:"New era" for Johnson Museum hailed at new wing's groundbreaking
Spirits were high in a tent on the north lawn of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, May 16, where guests celebrated the groundbreaking for the museum's long-awaited, 16,000-square-foot wing.
Jun 8 2008:Weill Hall opens for business
The building, with work space for 400 to 500 people, will open officially in October. Key residents are beginning to move in.
May 23 2008:Alumni and friends at ExxonMobil donate more than $590,000
The unrestricted gift comes from the ExxonMobil Foundation's Educational Matching Gift Program. The foundation matches its employees' gifts on a a three-to-one basis.
May 16 2008:Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology hires four professors
The Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology is a cornerstone of the New Life Sciences Initiative. The institute has exceeded expectations for its first year by hiring four outstanding young researchers.
May 16 2008:New Johnson Museum wing takes flight toward the future
The new wing will add 16,000 square feet to the original building of 62,000 square feet, designed 35 years ago by I.M. Pei. Grouldbreaking takes place May 17.
Apr 10 2008:Persistent poverty is newest theme project for Institute for the Social Sciences
While social scientists have long researched the nature of poverty in terms of economics, geopolitics, social development, and other lines of inquiry, these veins are often tapped piecemeal. The Institute for the Social Sciences' fourth theme project, "Persistent Poverty and Upward Mobility," will be a holistic undertaking.
Mar 25 2008:Jefferson Tester '66, MS '67, appointed the first Croll Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems
Tester, who was recruited from MIT, is expected to play a leadership role in the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future. He will speak on campus March 28-29.
May 27 2008:Trustee Martin Tang '70 creates challenge for international scholarships
Martin Y. Tang '70, a Hong Kong businessman, has made a gift to create the Martin Y. Tang International Scholarship Challenge. The Tang Challenge will match cash gifts and commitments of $750,000 or more, on a $1 for $3 basis, with the goal of creating 12 scholarship endowments of $1 million each. Every $750,000 gift will be matched with $250,000 from the Tang Challenge.
May 2 2008:Larry Salameno '66, JD '69, gives $1.5 million for West Campus programming
Salameno learned about the West Campus residential community through conversations with Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services. He was also inspired to make a gift because of his undergraduate experiences.
May 2 2008:Sustainability center names three new associate directors
The Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future has named three new associate directors who will use their expertise in three key areas -- energy, environment and economic development.
Apr 3 2008:Gates Foundation awards Cornell $26.8 million to lead fight against wheat disease
Cornell will use th efunds to aunch a global partnership to combat stem rust, a deadly wheat disease that poses a serious threat to global food security.
Apr 11 2008:"Guess who's coming to dinner? My professor!"
Faculty-student relationships are at the heart of the West Campus House System, where residents enjoy frequent opportunities to interact with house fellows. On March 5, the concept was extended by encouraging students to invite any faculty member of importance to them.
Mar 11 2008:Reflecting on the impact today of ten-year-old gifts
Like planting acres of seedlings, a comprehensive campaign like Far Above... The Campaign for Cornell is an act of faith that the results will grow stronger with time. We can gain perspective and inspiration by looking at the powerful impact of gifts made just ten years ago.
Mar 27 2008:Mellon Foundation funds senior professorships in the humanities
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation willallocate $2.5 million toward the $12 million needed to endow three new senior humanities professorships. The challenge grant requires Cornell to raise $9.6 million over the next five years to receive the Mellon funds.
Apr 2 2008:Engineering alumni conference focuses on sustainability
Faculty and alumni at the conference, held March 28-29, called for systems-oriented solutions and a greater Cornell presence on the world stage.
Mar 6 2008:Provost Martin advises Cornell to "be who we are and define our value in our own terms"
Martin delivered her second Academic State of the University Address March 5.
Feb 28 2008:Skorton responds to US Senate about endowment
The senate requested information on growth and spending for student aid from 136 colleges and universities with endowments of $500 million or more. Skorton's response included a cover letter and a highly detailed 25-page financial report (available at http://www.cornell.edu/president/).
Jan 31 2008:Cornell eliminates loans for students from families earning under $75,000
Cornell will fund the incremental cost of the initiative from an increase in payout from its endowment, new gifts, and reallocations of existing budget resources over the next two years. The annual cost of the initiative is expected to increase the university's total annual financial aid expenditure by an additional $14 million when fully implemented.
Jan 29 2008:Anonymous donor honors James McConkey by endowing creative writing stipend
The James McConkey Summer Fellowship in Creative Writing will support a second-year MFA student who is completing a thesis.
Feb 14 2008:Watch the Meeting of the Minds faculty discussion in Manhattan
At Big Red in the Big Apple, seven of Cornell's top scholars tackled topics such as health, food, and economics, and Cornell's international and intellectual missions.
Feb 29 2008:Weill Cornell and New York-Presbyerian Hospital share $50 million gift
The gift is from Ronald O. Perelman, chairman of MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings Inc. It will be divided between NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College. The gift will establish the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Care Institute and support new research and clinical care initiatives at the Center for Reproductive Medicine -- now renamed the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Feb 21 2008:Vet college receives over $7 million: its largest gift ever
The gift was made by Janet Swanson, spouse of John Swanson '61, BME '62, MME '63. It supports shelter medicine, wildlife medicine, and diagnostic equipment for the hospital.
Jan 26 2008:$2 billion milestone announced at Big Red in the Big Apple
Cornell's "$4 billion aspiration" -- its five-year Far Above campaign -- is halfway there, with $2 billion raised since the campaign was launched in October 2006.
Feb 14 2008:Harold Tanner '52 honors Hunter Rawlings with West Campus fellows endowment
Tanner's commitment supports the West Campus general program endowment, in particular the 87 house fellows, primarily faculty members, currently affiliated with Alice Cook, Carl Becker and Hans Bethe houses. Henceforth they will be known as Hunter R. Rawlings III House Fellows.
Jan 31 2008:Students benefit from the Cornell Annual Fund's financial aid support
Gifts to the Annual Fund enabled these talented students to earn a transformative Cornell education and go on to leave their marks on the world.
Jan 25 2008:Big Red in the Big Apple inspires, informs
"A Meeting of the Minds" faculty panel, "Far Above: The Celebrration" and a Cornell Cares service day brought togethert more than 1,000 Cornellians.
Jan 28 2008:Cornellians pitch in for Cornell Cares service across NYC
Cornell alumni, students and taff volunteers at sites across New York City for Cornell Cares, an activity organized by the Cornell Public Service Center. The event was part of the Big Red in the Big Apple celebration.
Feb 7 2008:NYC Cornell Cares service helps alumnus "recreate himself"
Richard Marin, B.A. '75, MBA '76, executive-in-residence at the Johnson School, reflects on his day of service at Big Red in the Big Apple.
Jan 26 2008:Seven of Cornell's brightest minds meet in Manhattan
The scholars tackled topics ranging from global politics and crises in health, food and economics, to Cornell's international and intellectual missions before a large audience of Cornellians in midtown Manhattan.
Jan 17 2008:Examining the early success of North Campus and West Campus
Early measures of student satisfaction with North Campus have been promising. Administrators are now focusing on making residential life more appealing to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with West Campus.
Nov 28 2007:President Skorton announces West Campus acceleration in the
The West Campus houses will be finished two years early, in the fall of 2008. Skorton writes about the "neighborhood's" popularity ad encourages students to share their experiences.
Nov 28 2007:Plant breeder Kelvin Grant, PhD '07, gives back with a library scholarship
Although he has only been working for a few months, Grant has pledged $5,000 a year for 10 years so that Mann Library can hire minority students to work at its main desk.
Jan 25 2008:More on Big Red in the Big Apple
On January 25 and 26, more than 1,000 alumni and friends gathered in New York City to celebrate Cornell University's and Weill Cornell Medical College's $4 billion campaign and global leadership in higher education, research, and public service.
Jan 17 2008:Cornell prepares to celebrate "Big Red in the Big Apple"
A panel of top Cornell faculty members, a reception for more than 1,000 Cornellians and a day of volunteer service projects will highlight "Big Red in the Big Apple," January 25-26 in New York City.
Nov 29 2007:Sinclair scholars get to know their benefactor
Jackie Robinson Foundation Sinclair Scholars attended a dinner with Keith Sinclair, who, along with his wife, Esther Sinclair, established the scholarship in 2003. The couple has given more than $300,000 for scholarships for minority students.
Dec 6 2007:Milstein Family Heart Center topped off with final beam
The final steel beam of the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center was raised on November 9. The heart center is scheduled to open January 2010.
Oct 19 2007:Skorton praises Cornell's record-breaking year in State of the University address
Cornell had the most successful fundraising year in its history, with $754.8 million in new gifts and commitments. And the Cornell Annual Fund reached a record $18.4 million -- a 29 percent increase over the previous year.
Nov 15 2007:Cornell's CIO discusses endowment investment strategies
As he completes his first year as Cornell's chief investment officer, James Walsh describes the university's investment returns during the past 12 months -- a record 25.9 percent -- as "terrific." Cornell's endowment currently has a market value of approximately $5.5 billion, up from $4.3 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Nov 2 2007:Reflections on the $1 billion campaign milestone
Bryce Hoffman reflects on the faith in Cornell that donors have expressed by investing in its success.
Oct 24 2007:Becker House "full of activity" with faculty and students
Becker House has a new Becker Café Scientifique series, hosted by faculty house fellows. It brings faculty and students together over a cup of coffee and great desserts to explore ideas.
Nov 6 2007:Endowment boosts a rapidly growing economics department
With more than 600 students last year, economics is now the most popular major in the arts college. A $5 million gift from Cornell trustee Donald C. Opatrny '74 will bolster teaching and research efforts.
Oct 19 2007:$71.5 million in gifts put Ithaca campaign over $1 billion
Cornell has received 14 major new gifts, including the largest donations in the university's history to the arts and humanities.
Jan 16 2008:How the campaign helps students, one at a time
The campaign aims to raise $640 million for students, including $200 million for endowed undergraduate scholarships. See how personal the impact on students--and donors--can be.
Oct 19 2007:Drukiers' $5 million gift endows AAP deanship
A commitment to establish a $5 million endowment for the deanship of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning has been made by Cornell trustee Ira Drukier '66, M.Eng. '67, and his wife, Gale.
Oct 19 2007:Publisher Kenneth Kahn '69 endows deanship for ILR School
"I view the ILR School as my rock," says Kenneth F. Kahn '69, whose $5 million gift to endow the deanship of the ILR School is the largest from a donor in the school's history.
Oct 19 2007:Alumna's final wish is granted: "Give my love to Cornell"
Through the Beatrice Moore Stump Endowment, the alumna has supported "worthy, needy" College of Arts and Sciences undergraduates with $3.25 million in scholarships. A further $3.25 million will give the college unrestricted support.
Oct 19 2007:Gifts for the social sciences will help attract and keep "the best people"
A pivotal campaign gift of $5 million from Cornell trustee Donald C. Opatrny '74 will bolster teaching and research efforts in the university's economics department, while an anonymous campaign gift of $5 million will endow the chair of the Department of Government.
Oct 19 2007:Three gifts have transformed the Johnson Museum
When the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art threatened to burst at its I.M. Pei-designed seams, Presidential Councillors Susan Eckert Lynch and Bob Appel '53 and wife Helen '55 stepped forward with gifts.
May 24 2007:Robert Katz '69 on why the Cornell Annual Fund is an essential resource
If you ask a thousand people why they give to Cornell, you might hear a thousand different responses. But if you ask them how they give to Cornell, a fair number and maybe even a majority will tell you that they give to the Cornell Annual Fund. The annual fund is one of Cornell's most essential resources because it supports every person, in every study, every year.
Aug 29 2007:New Bailey Hall Plaza will be celebrated October 19
Crews pounded slabs of paving stone into place as work on Bailey Plaza moved toward completion this week. Construction is expected to continue for two more weeks with a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for Oct. 19.
Jun 13 2007:$450 million gift announced in New York City
Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it is the recipient of $400 million, made up of several major gifts, bringing the prestigious Medical College to the halfway mark in just the first seven months of its $1.3 billion capital campaign - "Discoveries that Make a Difference" - launched in October 2006.
May 25 2007:Milsteins honored at building naming ceremony
Naming the proposed new building of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) for Paul Milstein is intended as a tribute to a major Cornell benefactor who attended New York University's College of Architecture as a young man, and then went on to transform and energize the urban landscape of New York City as an investor and real estate developer.
Oct 19 2007:Two major gifts will advance energy and sustainability research
University Council member David R. Atkinson '60 has pledged $1 million per year over three to five years to seed program activities and research in energy, the environment and economic development. Trustee David Croll '70 has pledged $5 million for the establishment of the David D. Croll Professorship of Sustainable Energy Systems in the College of Engineering and related programmatic funds.
May 22 2007:Meinigs create innovative investigator positions for life sciences
Cornell President David Skorton has announced a $25 million gift from the family of Nancy '62 and Peter Meinig '61 to recognize and support outstanding, innovative faculty life sciences research at Cornell.
Mar 13 2007:Three alumni have established the Clinton Rossiter Professorship in memory of their esteemed government professor.
Thanks to the effort of three notable Cornell alumni, the College of Arts and Sciences is planning to establish the Clinton Rossiter Professorship in American Institutions in the Department of Government. Pending final approval by the Cornell Board of Trustees, the endowment for the Rossiter professorship is expected to grow to $3 million. The professorship is designed to strengthen the college's teaching and scholarship in American politics while advancing the university's effort to endow faculty positions through the Cornell capital campaign.
May 22 2007:President Skorton reflects on his first year at Cornell
As David Skorton prepares to deliver his first commencement address, he looks back on his first year as Cornell's 12th president -- what he learned, how he felt and even a few surprises he encountered along the way.
Apr 12 2007:Landmark analysis of the rhesus macaque genome is completed
Cornell experts in computational biology and bioinformatics have made key contributions to the analysis of the genome of the rhesus macaque, better known as the rhesus monkey. The Cornell researchers were part of a consortium of some 200 scientists around the world whose work is reported in a special section of the April 13 issue of the journal Science.
May 9 2007:New Center for Reproductive Genomics is established
Cornell University has established the Center for Reproductive Genomics, which will combine basic and clinical research in reproductive sciences on Cornell's Ithaca campus and at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) in New York City, which has one of the country's leading fertility clinics. Infertility affects 10 to 15 percent of couples of childbearing age.
May 1 2007:Johnson Museum expansion will break ground next spring
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell is a victim of its own success. Since it opened in 1973, the museum's permanent collection has grown to 32,000 from 9,000 works of art from Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America, and more than 2 million people have visited the landmark building. Yet current gallery space in the 61,000-square-foot museum allows only 2.5 percent of the collection, or about 765 objects, to be displayed at one time.
Dec 8 2006:Jim Mazza '88, director of the Campaign for Cornell, discusses the many roles Cornellians will play in the campaign.
Jim Mazza '88, director of the Campaign for Cornell, discusses the many roles Cornellians will play in the campaign.
Dec 22 2006:Department of Music receives its largest gift ever, $6.5 million
The Cornell Department of Music has received its largest gift ever, $6.5 million, from the estate of alumnus Sidney T. Cox, A.B. '47, M.A. '48 (1922-2005). This bequest, the culmination of a lifetime of giving to the department, will be designated to support three areas within the department's activities: the performing ensembles; concerts and lectures; and graduate education in musicology, composition and performance practice.
Nov 17 2006:Leland "Lee" Pillsbury '69 and his wife, Mary, will give $15 million to the School of Hotel Administration - one of the largest gifts ever in hospitality education.
The largest single gift in the history of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration -- and one of the largest gifts ever for hospitality education in the United States -- was announced Nov. 13 at a gathering of Hotel School alumni in New York City. The gift will help support the school's Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship (IHE).
Nov 3 2006:Irwin and Joan Jacobs endow $30 million in scholarships to engineering college
Cornell alumni Irwin '54, BEE '56, and Joan '54 Jacobs have established a $30 million scholarship and fellowship endowment for Cornell's College of Engineering. It is the largest gift pledged to date specifically for scholarships in Cornell's recently announced $4 billion campaign.
Dec 1 2006:The Class of '74 has honored classmate Christopher Reeve with a scholarship fund and memorial plaque.
Christopher Reeve came to Cornell already a seasoned professional actor and with ambitions far beyond Ithaca. But he was proud to attend the same school as his grandfather.
Nov 3 2006:Cornell launches $4 billion campaign, emphasizing links between Ithaca and New York City campuses
With strong emphasis on strengthening ties between Cornell's Ithaca campus and its Manhattan medical school, alumni joined trustees, administrators and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) campus Oct. 26 to launch the "public phase" of the university's $4 billion campaign.
