Cornell University, Annual Report for the Year 2007
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MS Fa Above ... Inentinl1 - Coe* in **aracNe or*iy 9 22 Govrn en Relations1 2070 2060 200-0 Fal enolm n (ecudn inabsentia) Toa fal eno. mn 2066 2041 20,69 PhDaere 517 526 51 Toa dere grned607a,6 6,2 Tuto rates * * aa aa dwe-. Itac $3 ,0 $3,0 $31,0 Cotrc Colleges. Reidn $1*16 * $1,6 65 $17,200 Norsdn $3350 $3,0-3,0 Meia Ca pu $3,8 $3.3,77**a 5 $3,2 Buins $4,0 $3,0 ** $36,350 La *a* $4,2 $40,-. 580 $37,75 5* fcut 980 98 1,014- Faut 33 33. 2184 Tota acde i wokfrc 4,52.6 4,4 a4,419S Noaae i workforce .* 5 * aa- Fultm em lye * .- ..- 9,6 9,23:6 9,032 Se -/57 M 0 AMessage from the President o z (I) 0 -4J Dear Cornellians and Friends of the University, 0 he year that ended June 30, 2008, was remarkable for its successes and its 0 0o challenges. First, there is much good news to report: Our Class of 2012 was chosen from the largest applicant pool in Cornell history, and they are already contributing to the university academically, culturally, and through public service and civic engagement. Our faculty, the core strength of the institution, continues to innovate and excel in teaching, discovery, creativity, and outreach and to attract high levels of research funding in a very competitive environment. Our staff colleagues are a critical part of the fabric of excellence at Cornell, and the university again received several awards in recognition of our efforts to create a.productive, welcoming environment for all Cornell employees. Despite the challenges of the national, state, and regional econo- mies, the alumni and friends of Cornell continue to be incredibly generous, propelling Far Above ... The Campaign for Cornell beyond the $2.25 billion mark on the way to its $4 billion goal. We have adopted a strategic plan that sets five overarching goals for the university that serve to unite and guide the institution's long-term course as well as specific strategies the university is using to reach them. In addition, we have completed the 2008 Cornell Master Plan for the Ithaca Campus, which provides an integrated framework to guide the campus's long-term physical development. I invite you to learn more about the ways in which Cornell has demonstrated national and international leadership this year while also positioning itself for continued excel- lence in its core missions of teaching, research and creative work, and outreach. Best regards, David J. Skorton President Cornell University /4 0 2 In October 2007 Cornell was privileged to host one of the world's foremost spiritual leaders, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose message of tolerance and peace speaks directly to the moral thinker who resides in each of us whatever our worldview may be. The Dalai Lama's ethos is one to be emulated, given the disturbing increase of high-profile news stories reporting incidents of intolerance across America and right here in Ithaca. "Let us remember the Dalai Lama's message: We are brothers and sisters, all part of the same humanity." President David J. Skorton • .. ..• • i•r¸ ' f 2 3 H 0 z':13 Major Themes of the Year Z P- F-M z (I- 0 mH -- 4 0 0 0co 030 Dalai Lama visits Ithaca President Skorton urges Cornell to help reduce global inequities • new mass casualty unit provides care for up to 100 people Cornell plans to invest $20 million in the local area - a sweep- ing new financial aid initiative is announced Cornell master and strategic plans completed - Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar graduates first class - victims of China earthquake mourned Themes sirens. In addition, the largest mass casualty unit in Tompkins County was made operational in the fall. Calling international education and research The 16-foot-long red trailer carries everything from among the nation's most effective diplomatic as- bandages to generator-powered floodlights and can sets, President David Skorton told the U.S. House of provide medical care for up to 100 people. Representatives Committee on Science that Cornell In October President Skorton announced the uni- is playing an active role by increasing, its presence versity's plans to invest $20 million over the next around the world. Testifying before the committee decade in the Ithaca and Tompkins County com- in July, Skorton echoed a theme from his first com- munities. He outlined six broad areas. in which Cor- mencement address several weeks earlier, in which nell would work actively with local partners in the he urged Cornell-and higher education in general- years ahead: housing, transportation, economic to play a role in reducing global inequities. development, educational services, health care, and am calling for a new national ap- the environment. The first projects, to be carried Iproach, with university teaching, out in 2009, were announced in June. research, and outreach at its cen- Investment in Cornell students also received a ter, to address the socioeconomic boost. Building on a long history of need-blind inequalities that threaten our na- admissions and need-based aid, Provost Carolyn A. tion and the world, and to spur "Biddy" Martin announced in January a sweeping economic growth through inno- new financial aid initiative, starting in 2008-09, to vation and capacity building as eliminate need-based loans for all undergraduate the Marshall Plan did 60 years ago through aid and students from families with incomes under $75,000. joint planning," Skorton wrote in his 22-page offi- Approximately 4,500 students will be affected. cial testimony before the committee. "This initiative will strengthen the economic When students arrived in September they added a diversity of our student.body and, most important, new task to their to-do lists: log onto "Who I Am" free our students to pursue studies and careers that and provide emergency contact information. The match their skills and interests, rather than those new service is part of Cornell's ongoing emergency that ensure they will be able to repay their loans," planning effort. During the course of the year four noted Deputy Provost David Harris. strategies for notifying students, faculty, and staff Having been named the "Hottest Ivy" by News- were tested: text messaging, voicemail, e-mail, and week magazine in August, Cornell announced in 4 0 1_7 0 0 0 Ln Li LEFT:Johnson Museum director Frank Robinson, with a tall friend, celebrates the museum's expansion at a community party. RIGHT.The goals of the Tern Restoration Project aý z are to protect, manage, and enhance the breeding population of common (state endangered), roseate (state and federally endangered), and arctic terns (state threatened) on _J Seavey Island and protect the population on White Island, NewHampshire. -.- U T April a record number of applicants for freshman plan summaries from every college and administra- admission. Some 33,011 high school seniors vied tive unit), the plan sets out Cornell's objectives for for entry into the class of 2012, a 9 percent increase building on its stature as a private university with a from 2007 and a 17 percent increase from 2006. public mission. The ambitious goals include recruit- Those were also record years. ing exceptional teachers, students, and staff; n a visit to New Orleans in March, attracting the best students regardless of their abil- President Skorton shared a stage at ity to pay; and extending Cornell's role in public Tulane University with former U.S. service in the United States and around the world. president Bill Clinton at the inaugu- The plan can be viewed at www.cornell.edu/presi- ral meeting of the Clinton Global dent/strategic-plan.cfm. Initiative University (CGI U). decade ago Cornell set out to become Appearing before student leaders the firstAmerican medical school to from 40 states and 15 countries, offer the M.D. degree at an overseas Skorton spoke about the obligation of modern uni- campus. On May 8, 15 newly minted versities in closing the economic divide. He also M.D.s received their degrees from announced that the Cornell Center for a Sustain-• the Weill Cornell Medical College in able Future will be the university's commitment to Qatar. The nine women and six men CGI U. The center will develop practical solutions in the inaugural class came from to the multitude of problems that pose grave threats Bosnia, Nigeria, India, Syria, the United States, to present and future human welfare and develop Israel, and Qatar. real-world solutions to sustainability problems. "As these students become practitioners around Two visionary planning documents were com- the world, they have the opportunity to bring medi- pleted this year. In March, the first draft of Cor- cal care to underserved populations and to encour- nell's Campus Master Plan-designed to provide a age others to seek medical education," President context for, physical changes on campus, over the Skorton noted in his address to the graduates. next 25-plus years-was approved by the Board of A week later the Cornell campus community gath- Trustees. Driven by academic planning priorities, ered at Sage Chapel to remember the more than the master plan provides a set of guidelines for 21,000 victims killed in the magnitude 7.9 earth- locating the university's research, teaching, resi- quake that struck Sichuan province, China, on May dential, and recreational priorities and programs. It 12. "Time is running out," said senior Mimi Yang, a also offers a campus-wide frame of reference for the native of the Sichuan province city of Shifang.