Community Relations

The Office of Community Relations connects Cornell’s Ithaca campus with its surrounding communities, helping to address shared challenges and advance opportunities in one of America’s greatest college towns. Our goals revolve around timely sharing of information and a daily focus on service and follow-through.

Cornell is proud that the greater Ithaca area is its home community. Community Relations staff works with community and campus leaders on quality-of-life issues including area infrastructure, sustainability, public schools, economic development, transportation, equity, and planning.

We serve as coordinating staff for the Collegetown Neighborhood Council, Campus-Community Coalition, and smaller, frequent outreach sessions around Tompkins County -- informal meetings that give residents the chance to talk with Cornell representatives about community-campus topics.

Each year through Community Relations’ Town-Gown Awards, we honor proactive campus-community partnerships and local leaders.