Skip to main content

Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

University Assembly Meeting

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  • Term:
    2025-2026
  • Assembly/Committee: University Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Tue, Nov 18, 2025 - 4:45pm
    to
    6:15pm
  • Location:
    701 Clark Hall/Zoom
  • Agenda:

    I. Call to Order
         a. Roll Call
         b. Land Acknowledgment of the Gayogo̱ho:nǫ (Cayuga Nation)
         c. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda


    II. Approval of the Minutes
         a. November 4th meeting minutes


    III. Business of the Day
         a. Adam Smith, Committee on the Future of the American University
         b. Kyle Kimball, VP University Relations


    IV. Assembly Reports
         a. Student Assembly
         b. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
         c. Employee Assembly
         d. Faculty Senate


    V. Committee Reports
         a. Executive Committee
         b. Campus Codes Committee
         c. Campus Welfare Committee
         d. Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology, and the Environment


    VI. Liaison Reports
         a. Campus Planning Committee
         b. Coalition for Sexual Violence Prevention
         c. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee
         d. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Education & Engagement Steering Committee
         e. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Campus Operations Steering Committee


    VII. Open Forum


    VIII. Adjournment
    University Assembly Agenda November 18, 2025[88].pdf (108.87 KB)
  • Meeting Packet:
  • Audio Recording:
  • Minutes:

    I. Call to Order
         a. Chair I. Gatimi called the meeting to order at 4:49 PM.
         b. Members Present: A. Aftab, D. Bateman, V. Bell, M. Benda, N. Brennan, S. Bruyere, J. Butcher, A. Cardenas, E. Chaudhuri, J. Chobirko, Z. deRham, E. De Rosa, E. Gainor, A. Garcia-Ortiz, I. Gatimi, A. Haenlin-Mott, K. Nguyen, S. Resue, C. Tarala, W. Treat
         c. Members Absent:
         d. Also Present: B. Platt, J. Tavares, K. Kimball, A. Smith


    II. Land Acknowledgement of the Gayogo̱ho:nǫ(Cayuga Nation)


    III. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda
         a. None.


    IV. Approval of the Nov 4th meeting minutes
         a. A. Aftab motions to approve.
         b. Minutes approved by unanimous consent.


    V. Business of the Day
         a. Adam Smith, Committee on the Future of the American University
              i. Envisions and focuses on the long-term future of Cornell as an American R1 school.
              ii. Investigates several challenges that the university may face in the future, such as the loss of public trust, government relations, and rapid pace of technological changes.
              iii. The FAU took questions from the Assembly regarding the composition of the committee, advertisement for the committee’s planned outreach events, and the committee’s online website.
         b. Kyle Kimball, VP of University Relations
              i. Discusses the relationship between Cornell University and TCAT in the context of recent changes to TCAT’s business plan and its future.
              ii. K. Kimball took questions from the Assembly regarding Ithaca College’s contribution to TCAT, underperforming bus routes, and ridership concerns.


    VI. Assembly Reports
         a. Student Assembly
              i. Expecting 3 more special meetings.
              ii. Passed 1 resolution regarding accessible ramps on campus.
              iii. Fully staffed now with Freshmen and Transfer Representatives.
         b. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
              i. Had a busy meeting on Nov 10th with presentations from FAU and Cornell Dining addressing café services for graduate students.
              ii. Had one resolution that addressed the $5 million funding cuts for Cornell University Library. Called for the reversal of library funding cuts.
              iii. Initial recommendations for the 2026 – 2028 FAF allocation.
                   1. Will be continuing this discussion next meeting on Nov 24th.
         c. Employee Assembly
              i. Welcomed a presentation regarding profession development opportunities for staff on Nov 5th.
              ii. Next meeting is on Nov 19th with a presentation from Steven Burke.
         d. Faculty Senate
              i. FAU presentation and 3 teaching professor proposals in Arts and Science, CHE, and VET.
              ii. Task force presentation on institutional voice.
              iii. A revised draft resolution on the overuse of temporary suspensions.


    VII. Committee Reports
         a. Executive Committee
              i. On Dec 2nd, the president is coming to speak on submitted topics.
              ii. Dean Love will come to speak regarding the listening session on the Student Code of Conduct – want to host a special meeting with the UA
                   1. This special meeting is suggested for Tuesday, February 3rd at 4:45 PM on Zoom. There will be more information to come.
         b. Campus Codes Committee
              i. Met last week and discussed an initial proposal on code revisions for the Student Code of Conduct.
              ii. Currently drafting two additional resolutions regarding jurisdiction of the review process and the UA and its ability to regulate its own interactions with respect to central administration.
              iii. Welcomes everyone to add comments for these drafts in the Box.
         c. Campus Welfare Committee
              i. No major updates. Next meeting is planned for Early December.
         d. Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology, and the Environment
              i. Waiting on President’s approval regarding R11.
              ii. Hoping to plan a meeting soon to adjust the wording of the resolution.


    VIII. Liaison Reports
         a. Campus Planning Committee
              i. Meeting was on Nov 7th regarding the Cornell botanical garden – planning to implement an East Asian Garden.
              ii. Improvement for pathways on North Campus.
              iii. There was an update on the Maplewood 2 project.
         b. Coalition for Sexual Violence Prevention
              i. No report.
         c. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee
              i. No report.
         d. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Education & Engagement Steering Committee
              i. No report.
         e. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Campus Operations Steering Committee
              i. No report.


    IX. Open Forum
         a. I. Gatimi clarifies that there is no longer a UA liaison position for the Student Health Advisory Council Committee.
         b. A. Haelin-Mott advocates for everyone to be in person for when the President comes to visit.


    X. Adjournment
         a. A. Aftab motions to adjourn the meeting.
         b. Meeting is adjourned by unanimous consent.

    Nov 18 UA Meeting Minutes.pdf (116.44 KB)