Presidential Communications

Academic Year 24-25

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues:

Welcome back!

I hope to greet many of you in person during the coming weeks -- including at our All-College Meeting on Aug. 27. In the meantime, let me extend this virtual welcome with hopes that your summer was a time of rest, inspiration, and plenty of laughter with friends and family.

It certainly was anything but a quiet summer for the College and, as our students might say, we have the receipts. From an alumna competing in the Paris Olympicsand many other graduates involved in NBC's coverage, to our hosting on campus the New York state Special Olympics; from celebrating the London Center's 50th anniversary to holding an award celebration during Alumni Weekend; and from students conducting research as Summer Scholars to announcing the addition of women's wrestlingto our athletics program -- it's been an exciting summer!

We expect about 1,100 first-year and transfer students to join us beginning today, with a total of about 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students on campus by the start of classes next Monday. As you probably know, the new-student population is approximately 200 students below our target and we are reviewing budget projections accordingly. We will have more to share later in the semester, but we donotanticipate making any layoffs.

The Class of 2028 that begins arriving today comes from 20 nations, and 43% of the class is from New York State. Thirteen new students are children of employees, students of color constitute 27% of the class, and the average GPAis 3.37. Please joinme in welcoming the entire class to our community in the coming days. I look forward to them becoming a beautiful part of the tapestry that is Ithaca College.

Thank you for all you do for our incredible community.

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

Dear IC Community,

Please be reminded that the Office of the President is hosting an All-College Welcome next Tuesday, August 27, during the common hour, from 12:10 – 1:05 p.m., in Emerson Suites. In addition, an Ice Cream Social will be held at 4 p.m. at the Dillingham Fountains.

These are in-person events for the entire community—faculty, staff, and students are welcome. As a reminder, if you cannot attend the meeting in-person, please emailpresident@ithaca.eduand a link to watch remotely will be sent to you.

The All-College Welcome is an opportunity for us to connect in solidarity and celebration as we welcome new students to campus, recenter ourselves around our goals for the year, and reaffirm the strengths of our community of care.

Our agenda includes:

A research update by biology Professor Andrew Smith.
Comments by council chairs David Gondek (faculty), Marilyn Dispensa (staff) and Rishabh Sen (student governance).
Comments by Stanley Bazile, new VP for Student Affairs and Campus Life.
Comments by Laine Norton, VP for Philanthropy and Engagement.
An enrollment and financial update from VPs Tim Downs and Rock Hall.
An overview of institutional priorities and goals for the year.

In October, we will convene once more for a more formal meeting, where I will deliver information about the state of the college.

I look forward to seeing you Tuesday, and I wish you a wonderful beginning to your academic year.

Take good care,

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Whether today marks a return to classes for you or it is your first day – the latter includes about 1,100 first-year and transfer students – welcome to Day One of what promises to be an exciting year of inquisitiveness, discovery, and experiences that will be too numerous to count.

At Ithaca College we attach great importance to our teaching philosophy of theory, practice, and performance. Here, education flows seamlessly among classrooms, laboratories, and rehearsal spaces; internships, sports practices, and student research; and the opportunity to bring it all together in our recital halls, on our athletic fields, and in everyday interactions.

We also place a high value on respect and accountability within our community. Everyone is to be treated with dignity, and we seek to create a social environment where everyone can flourish and be their authentic self. As another college president said to me recently, “We want our campuses to be safe spaces for every student – physically, socially, and emotionally – so that we can make each student intellectually uncomfortable.”

Given the ongoing strife in the Middle East and a contentious election campaign season here at home, let me emphasize, for all of us, but especially for our students, the central principles that will guide our life together as a community this fall.

Students, we expect you to be informed, thoughtful, and sometimes passionate about events around the world. We also expect you to behave in ways that are respectful of others. We value freedom of thought and speech, and we respect everyone’s right to peacefully demonstrate. But conduct that disrupts a college activity, poses a threat to the safety of others, or otherwise violates College policy, will result in disciplinary action.

Let me close by quoting Provost Melanie Stein’s remarks to our new students at last week’s convocation. She said:

“Imagine a world where we actively seek out conversations with people whose backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences differ from our own. Imagine the richness of understanding that emerges when we listen without judgment, seeking common ground even amidst disagreement. Imagine how much we can all learn from one another in a community where we consider all perspectives, in which we strive to understand the full picture for any given topic. Here at IC, you’ll have the opportunity to help build, and be a part of, just such a community.”

Have a great semester!

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

President Cornish invites you to stop by the Peggy Ryan Williams Center Lobby for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa this Friday, September 6 from 9:15 to 10 a.m.

This is not an official meeting, and there is no set agenda. This is simply an opportunity for us to connect.

If you find yourself in the neighborhood, please feel free to join us. Please continue to check the website for more events hosted by the Office of the President.

Hope to see you there!

Individuals requiring accommodations should contact president@ithaca.edu or 607-274-3111. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

Stabilizing Enrollment and Meeting Budget Challenges

Read and view coverage of last week's All-College Welcome

Dear Campus Community,

Thank you to everyone who attended, in person or virtually, last week's All-College Welcome! It was great to catch up with many of you after a long summer apart.

As I said at the meeting, “There is hard work ahead. But as you have seen and heard before, we do hard things.” This IC News story summarizes our work for the year ahead. We will convene once again on October 22for a formal State of the College meeting. More details on that meeting will be shared in the coming weeks.

In case you missed last week's meeting, you may view a replay of the event here. You will not want to miss the capitvating presentations by biology Professor Andy Smith, Student Government Council President Rishabh Sen, and our new vice president for student affairs and campus life, Stanley Bazile.

I thank you for all that you do for the Ithaca College community, and I hope you will be well, stay well, and take good care.

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

Greetings!

Please join us for the first Pop Up Pub of the semester. Specialty cocktails, local beer, and wine will be available to purchase for those 21 years of age and older. Light refreshments, including non-alcoholic beverages, will be available for everyone who attends.

The event will be held Friday, September 20 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm in the Dillingham Lobby.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact president@ithaca.edu. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

President Cornish invites you to stop by the Peggy Ryan Williams Center Lobbyfor a cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa thisFriday, October 4from 9:15 to 10 a.m.

This is not an official meeting, and there is no set agenda. This is simply an opportunity for us to connect.

If you find yourself in the neighborhood, please feel free to join us. Please continue to check the website for more events hosted by the Office of the President.

Hope to see you there!

Individuals requiring accommodations should contactpresident@ithaca.edu or 607-274-3111. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

State of the College Meeting Oct. 22

Greetings!

Please save the date and join us for the annual State of the College meeting at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, in Emerson Suites. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome and encouraged to attend. The session will include:

Centering exercise
President’s welcome
Chris Coletti, assistant professor of music
Middle States update from Stacia Zabusky, Mai An Rumeny, John Fracchia and Te-Wen Lo
Enrollment Strategy update from Rock Hall, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success
Financial updatefrom Tim Downs, Vice President for Finance and Administration & CFO
Remarks from President Cornish
Q&A

This is an in-person program designed to connect our community on South Hill. Those living outside of the Ithaca area or those seeking closed captioning or other accommodations may email the Office of the President at president@ithaca.edu to receive the livestream link. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

See you next week!

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

A message from Board of Trustees Chair John Neeson '84 and President La Jerne Terry Cornish.

The Ithaca College Board of Trustees held its fall meeting on South Hill from Wednesday, October 9, through Friday, October 11.

One of the highlights was the Tenure and Promotion Dinner, at which we joined Provost Stein, the President’s cabinet, and department chairs in celebrating members of our faculty who have achieved tenure and/or promotion, Dana Professorship, or emeriti status in the 2023-24 academic year. The list of professors whose accomplishments we celebrated at this fall’s dinner can be found at the end of this message.

Attending classes

Trustees had the opportunity to attend one of several classes on Thursday morning, after which they met for lunch with the faculty teaching those classes. We appreciate this opportunity to get some firsthand insight into the academic experiences of our students and hope to repeat similar immersion experiences at future board meetings to the extent possible.

Presentations to the Board
Each slate of board meetings includes plenary sessions, where trustees hear directly from members of the college community or outside experts for a closer look into important topics. Plenary topics for this meeting included:

Middle States: The co-chairs of the reaccreditation self-study team, Te-Wen Lo, associate professor of biology, and John Fracchia, a specialist in Career Engagement and Technology, provided an overview of the upcoming Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) reaccreditation visit, which will take place during the 2025-26 academic year. Last year was devoted to preparation and design of the self-study process, and this year the campus is actively working on writing its self-study.

Spotlight on H&S: Dean Claire Gleitman led an overview of the School of Humanities and Sciences which demonstrated how liberal arts study is braided into the fabric of an Ithaca College education. Then, examples of the liberal arts in action were offered by Professors Chris Holmes (Literatures in English) and Jacob White (Writing); Susan Allen (Environment); and Zohreh Soltani (Art, Art History, and Architecture). The faculty members were accompanied by selected students in their programs who shared some examples of their impressive work. The Board also heard from Associate Dean Raul Palma about examples of careers that H&S graduates have pursued and how their Ithaca College education provided them with the skills they need to excel in their chosen fields.

Advancement: Vice President Laine Norton and members of her senior staff provided a quick FY24 recap and discussed policy updates as well as goals for FY25 and beyond. They brainstormed ways to increase alumni and donor participation through stewardship and broad-based solicitations, as well as engagement opportunities.

Other key sessions for trustees included reports on enrollment and finance.

Community conversation

Following the conclusion of the meetings on Friday, Board Chair John Neeson ’84 and Vice Chair Chris Palmieri ’96 continued the tradition of hosting an open conversation with members of the IC community. They shared highlights from the meetings and fielded questions on such topics as the board’s role in the governance and management of the college, strategies for boosting enrollment, and how the college is being proactive in planning for the promises and threats of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning as well as in college operations.

Cost of Attendance for Academic Year 2025-26

On Friday, the Board approved Tuition, Room and Board for the 2025-26 academic year, with modest increases planned for both new and returning students. This represents our ongoing efforts to keep an Ithaca College education affordable and accessible for students and their families while continuing to invest in the resources necessary to provide the best possible learning and living environment. The average tuition increase for returning students across all class years will be 4.2% for next year, with an overall increase in room and board of 1%. The actual tuition increment varies somewhat among class years, in line with the four-year price cap guarantees, which began several years ago and offer incoming students cost predictability over the course of their time at IC.

We look forward to meeting again in February. Thank you to all of those who work so tirelessly to welcome us to campus and make these meetings productive.

State of the College Meeting - Tomorrow

Please join President Cornish and members of the campus community for the annual State of the College meeting at12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, in Emerson Suites. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is an in-person program designed to connect our community on South Hill. Those living outside of the Ithaca area or those seeking closed captioning or other accommodations may email the Office of the President atpresident@ithaca.eduto receive the livestream link. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
John Neeson ’84
Chair, Ithaca College Board of Trustees

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President, Ithaca College

State of the College also included trumpet performances by Assistant Professor Chris Coletti and students

Dear Campus Community,

Thank you to everyone who attended, in person or virtually, last week's State of the College meeting. In case you missed the meeting, you may view a replay of the event here. A news story summarizing the meeting is here.

As I shared at the meeting, I have been charged by the Board to present a plan at its February meeting to return the College to balanced budgets beginning inFY28. Let me reiterate here: This work is not solely focused on cost reduction. The College cannot cut its way to success. We must identify where we can invest to continue providing valuable experiences for our students, faculty, and staff. A proposed vision that I shared of IC in 2030 will be part of our conversations moving forward.

We will convene once again on February 11, 2025 for a second State of the College meeting, following the February meeting of the Board of Trustees.

If you could not attend the meeting, you also will not want to miss the trumpet performances by Assistant Professor Chris Coletti and students Vin Tavernese and Yvonne Tucker.

Thank you for all that you do for the Ithaca College community. Be well, stay well, and take good care.

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

To the Ithaca College Community,

Today marks the 59th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which greatly expanded access to higher education through scholarships, low-interest loans for students, and increased funding for colleges and universities.

The result was an influx of first-generation college students that continues to this day, and which was celebrated on our campus during the past week through the BIPOC Unity Center’s Third Annual First Gen Week. This year’s theme was “First Gen Today, Trailblazing for Tomorrow.”

This year’s first-year class includes nearly 200 first-gen students.

In addition to celebrating First Gen Week, the BIPOC Unity Center welcomes incoming first-gen students with a special Jumpstart orientation each summer, offers a mentoring program, and works with campus partners to give first-gen students the support they need to succeed. Alpha, Alpha, Alpha Honor Society Inc. (also known as Tri-Alpha), a first-gen honor society, was chartered at IC on April 6, 2023, and has inducted 24 students.

These efforts and more at IC have earned us designation as a First Gen Forward Network every year since 2019. This distinction is awarded annually by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Let’s come together to celebrate and support our first-gen students and extend our congratulations to everyone on campus who contributes to making the IC experience enriching for our first-gen community.

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

As we approach Thanksgiving and its traditions of reflection and gratefulness, I want to take this opportunity to share with you several moments from this semester that filled me with gratitude and pride to be in community with each of you at this remarkable institution.

In late September, I participated in a panel discussion titled “Where Do We Go from Here?” at a national conference of college admissions counselors. The topic was inspired by the Supreme Court ruling banning the use of race in college admissions. I shared with the conference the steps we take to attract a diverse applicant pool , from which race-neutral admission decisions yield a student body that today is about one-fourth students of color.

In October, it was my privilege to welcome to campus business leaders from throughout Upstate New York for a roundtable held by the Diversity Consortium of Tompkins County . I told those in attendance that we value diversity as a source of strength for our community. Diversity builds understanding and fuels vibrancy, creativity, and innovation on our campus. To me, the roundtable was an indication that the broader community recognizes us as a place to come for enriching and difficult conversations.

Speaking of enriching and difficult conversations, in mid-September I joined dozens of college and university leaders at Johns Hopkins University for a Presidents Summit on Antisemitism , convened by the American Council on Education, Hillel International, and the American Jewish Committee. I was encouraged by the honest and challenging dialogue that definitively condemned any form of antisemitism, while also acknowledging the devastating impact of the continuing Israeli-Hamas conflict.

And on Oct. 8, I was proud and humbled to join many of you at an interfaith gathering in Muller Chapel , during which people of many faith traditions and no faith tradition at all came together in a moment of peaceful meditation, reflection, and care for one another.

The thread that runs through these moments is the value of an Ithaca College community that embraces diverse perspectives. That was certainly apparent at last month’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of our intergenerational partnership with Longview . Whenever I boast about IC’s dual commitment to community service and experiential learning, the Longview partnership is the first example I cite. Longview has a dedicated classroom for faculty-led courses and clinical programs, our students do internships and fieldwork there, and Longview’s residents frequently bring their perspectives and experiences to classrooms and other spaces on our campus. These relationships impart wisdom to the young and optimism to their elders, and vice versa!

This Thanksgiving, please join me in expressing gratitude for the diversity of people, perspectives, and experiences that make our community a vibrant and thought-provoking place, indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving.

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

President Cornish Announces New Website for Budget Resource Planning Initiative

Campus community invited to submit recommendations

To the campus community:

As I announced at the Oct. 22 State of the College meeting, we are undertaking a Budget Resource Planning Initiative in partnership with the Huron Consulting Group. We will create a draft plan by February 2025, and a finalized plan by May 2025, to return the College to balanced budgets by FY 2028. An update to the planning process will be provided to the Board of Trustees and the campus community in February 2025.

We have created a website (https://www.ithaca.edu/budget/budget-resource-planning-initiative) at which you will find updates as they become available, and an email address (DeficitElimination@ithaca.edu) to which you can send comments, insights, and recommendations to help us reach a balanced budget by FY28.

Emails to DeficitElimination@ithaca.edu will be sent directly to the Huron Consulting team and shared with the Steering Committee, as appropriate. If you have questions or concerns about this project, please do not send them to that email address. Instead, direct them to your division head, who will share them with me. We will attempt to answer those questions directly, and/or in the website’s FAQ’s.

Thank you for your participation and patience as we undertake this important work.

La Jerne Terry Cornish

President

CORRECTED E-mail Address

Campus community invited to submit recommendations for balanced budget initiative

CORRECTION:
Yesterday's email from President Cornish included an incorrect URL for an email address that the campus community is invited to use to submit suggestions for the initiative to achieve balanced budgets. The correct email link is:
DeficitElimination@ithaca.edu. The link has also been corrected in the original message, below.

To the campus community:

Thank you for your participation and patience as we undertake this important work.

La Jerne Terry Cornish

President

Dear Ithaca College Community,

I write to you today amidst the ongoing wildfires impacting the greater Los Angeles area. The enormity of the devastation is keenly felt by our community, not only due to the presence of our ICLA program, but the many members of our college community that call this area home. Whether you have been directly impacted, have loved ones in the region, or are feeling the weight of this immense tragedy from afar, please know that our hearts and thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time.

The college continues to monitor the developing situation and any impacts to the operations of our ICLA campus. At this time, the ICLA campus is not under immediate threat, and we will continue to provide emergency notification to all individuals of our ICLA campus, as needed.

The magnitude of this disaster is difficult to fathom, but we are committed to providing comfort, care, and support to all individuals of our community. I hope that you will not only turn to each other for comfort, but also consider utilizing the numerous resources provided by the college if you are in need of additional support.

Students seeking mental health support are encouraged to connect with the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by calling (607) 274-3136. Faculty and staff can also access counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling 1-800-327-2255. I would also like to share awareness of this website dedicated to grief resources sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. If you are a student seeking assistance navigating the supports and resources available to you, please consider submitting an ICare referral.

Students studying at ICLA this semester who have questions or need assistance should email laprogram@ithaca.edu.

I encourage any other students impacted directly by these fires to contact the Center for Student Success. This office can help you navigate extenuating circumstances you may be facing as we near the start of the upcoming spring semester. I also remind students of this website highlighting the Student Emergency Relief Fund, the college’s textbook voucher program, and other financial resources to support you in times of crisis. If you require assistance in exploring these financial resources, please contact the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life at studentaffairs@ithaca.edu or by calling the office at (607) 274-3374.

Let us continue to be there for one another as a community of care during the days ahead.

In support,

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

I just wanted to take a moment to welcome you to campus for the spring semester!

Whether you are one of the new students beginning your IC education this week, or a member of the Class of 2025 looking toward graduation; a new faculty or staff member still learning your way around campus, or a returning and possibly long-term member of the IC community giving directions to a few of the newbies, welcome home!

The start of a new calendar year can inspire both reflection and ambition, with a reminder to keep our eyes on the horizon while taking care of the ever-shifting day-to-day. My wish for you in this new semester is that whatever challenges you encounter in the months ahead – in classrooms and labs, recital halls and athletic arenas, or conference rooms and Zoom meetings – remember to approach each challenge with a perspective that is mindful of its context, and of your larger purpose.

To great things ahead!

La Jerne Terry Cornish
President