Welcome aboard, new undergraduate, graduate and professional students! And welcome back, returning faculty, staff and students. We’re glad you are part of our community. To help you get off to a safe and productive start, I would like to introduce you to – or remind you of – my weekly Public Safety message and resources offered by the units and staff of the Public Safety Division.

Weekly Public Safety messages and resources are emailed to all members of our community to help you enhance your safety both on and off campus. I try to keep the messages short and sweet and encourage you to play an active role in your own safety. In addition to this message, you can also review Campus Watch, our annual security report detailing policies and information related to your safety.

Cornell has many resources to help you navigate concerns related to safety, security, health and well-being. Every Public Safety message provides links to Cornell’s Sexual Harassment and Assault – Response and Education (SHARE) resources, the Mental Health at Cornell website, RAVE Guardian, the Silent Witness program and information about our Blue Light Services, which include virtual escorts, phones and buses. We have added a link to Cornell’s COVID-19 website to provide you with important information about the pandemic. If you are in need of health care, Cornell Health provides on-campus services and 24/7 phone consultation.

Again, welcome back! I hope your break went well and you’re excited for the start of the spring semester.