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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

SA R16 (2026-2027): Requesting Consent and Substance Use Training Materials from Orientation

Accepted by the President

  • Resolution:
    SA R16 (2026-2027): Requesting Consent and Substance Use Training Materials from Orientation
  • Day:
    November 5, 2026
  • Action:
    Accepted by the President
  • Summary / Notes:
  • File Attachments:
  • Text Attachment:

    Dear Eeshaan,  

     

    Thank you for conveying Resolution 16: Requesting Consent and Substance Use Training Materials from Orientation.  

    I have asked Julie Edwards, AVP for Student Health and Wellbeing, and Kevin Perry, Director of the Tatkon Center for New Students, to provide information about the consent and substance use programming that was provided to all new and transfer undergraduate students during orientation this past August, and I thank the Assembly for their interest in engaging with this important work. 

    Sincerely,  

     Michael Kotlikoff 

    We appreciate the Student Assembly’s interest in reviewing orientation programming for new students. Our staff have implemented curriculum grounded in evidence-based research and expanded our in-person programming this year for all new and transfer undergraduate students. 

    Cornell’s Caring Community is a required in-person presentation that takes place during New Student Orientation. Presenters include staff from Cornell Health, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and Student Support and Advocacy Services. In 2026, the SHARE Office and the Cornell Office of Civil Rights were added, and the presentation was made longer to include content on consent and sexual misconduct. This addition was a direct result of the Task Force for Sexual Assault recommendations. 

    In recent years, Cornell’s Caring Community has been presented in Bailey Hall to groups of 600-800 students at a time. The Tatkon Center is working with campus partners to explore how we can continue to adapt and format this session in the most beneficial way for students, such as reducing the audience size, incorporating a small group debrief session, and incorporating trained student facilitators. 

    As part of New Student Orientation, students must also complete a New Student To Do List (TDL), which is accessible beginning in March and until the first day of classes. The TDL guides students through required action items throughout the summer and includes two courses that are relevant for this resolution. Students must complete COCR 200: Undergraduate Student Responsibility – Sexual and Related Misconduct, and Alcohol and Other Drug Education for New Students, between July 1 and mid-August, before arriving on campus. Alcohol and Other Drug Education for New Students is a Canvas course that was designed for all Cornell students—whether or not they choose to use alcohol or other drugs—to help students make informed choices regarding substance use. 

    Introduction to Cornell is a series of online orientation modules, launched in 2025, that students complete over the summer prior to arriving on campus and which introduce students to resources prior to their arrival on campus, including the Sexual Harassment and Assault – Response and Education (SHARE) office, the SHARE Office Victim Advocacy Program, and Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR). The modules also provide information on Cornell policies around sexual and related misconduct, discrimination and harassment, and bias, and methods for recording related incidents. 

    Additional information about this programming is available below. If the Assembly has additional questions, please contact us to discuss further. 

    We will continue to refine student education and training based on current research, best practices, and emerging evidence. We would also like to actively engage students in future revisions to help ensure educational efforts remain relevant, responsive, and effective for the populations they serve, and we’d be happy to meet with representatives of Student Assembly to answer any questions and capture any feedback that would be useful for future iterations. 

    Sincerely, 

    Julie Edwards, AVP for Student Health and Wellbeing 

    Kevin Perry, Director of the Tatkon Center for New Students 

     

    Cornell’s Caring Community session description 

    This session, hosted by Cornell Health, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), Student Support and Advocacy Services, and the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, invites you, as a new member of Cornell’s caring community, to build your foundation—learning more about personal well-being, community responsibility, and mutual care for one another. Through the voices and experiences of students, staff, and faculty, you will reflect on the transition to college life and learn strategies for developing a meaningful and engaged Cornell experience. 

    This session will introduce shared values related to community standards, focus on what it means to be a part of a caring community, including a focus on preventing and responding to sexual violence, harassment, and misconduct. This includes discussion about shared responsibility for personal growth, well-being, accountability, and looking out for one another. You'll learn about campus and community resources and effective ways to ask for help. You’ll also learn more about Cornell Policy 6.4, the definition and presence of “affirmative consent,” and distinguishing between “confidential” and “private” resources available to support survivors and those impacted by harm. 

    Tatkon Center for New Students Consent and Substance Use Orientation Materials  

    COCR 200 – Online Course Description 

    Cornell University is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning, living, and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff members. All new undergraduate students are required to successfully complete “COCR 200: Undergraduate Student Responsibility—Sexual and Related Misconduct 2026,” an online course required by law that informs students about sexual and related misconduct. It also covers consensual relationships between employees and students, University resources, and bystander intervention options. This course is developed and administered by the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, which includes Title IX personnel. The scenario-based videos students watch are fictionalized and not based on specific incidents or real persons.   

    Online Alcohol & Other Drug Education – Canvas Course Programming 

    Home Page (“Welcome to Cornell!”)-Announcements Page-Modules Page 

    Module 1: Introduction to Alcohol and Drinking (15 minutes) 

    • Alcohol and the Brain 
    • Unique Experiences: Understanding BAC 
    • Standard Drinks 

     

    Module 2: Potential Risks and Consequences of Alcohol (15 minutes) 

    • Short- and Long-Term Harms 
    • Blackouts and Memory Loss 
    • Alcohol Poisoning and Emergencies 
    • Playing It Safe: Harm Reduction Strategies 

     

    Module 3: The Environment (15 minutes) 

    • What do you want your social life to look like? 
    • Community Mindset 
    • Alcohol and Hazing: Liquid Bonding 
    • Pregaming and Tolerance 
    • Recognizing and Responding to Red Flags 

     

    Module 4: Other Types of Drugs (15 minutes) 

    • Tobacco/Nicotine and E-Cigarettes/Vaping 
    • Cannabis 
    • Stimulants 
    • Sedatives 
    • Hallucinogens 
    • Opioids 

     

    Module 5: Relevant Policies, Laws, and Resources (5 minutes) 

    • Relevant Cornell Policies and NYS Laws 
    • Recovery Resources On and Off Campus 
    • Support for Students: Ithaca Campus 

     

    Module 6: Personalized Feedback Experience (25 minutes) 

    • Complete eCHECKUP TO GO and submit certificate of completion 

     FINAL STEP: Attestation of Course Completion 

    • Attestation of Course Completion 

    Introduction to Cornell – online orientation modules 

    Introduction to Cornell is a series of online orientation modules, launched in 2025, that students complete over the summer prior to arriving on campus and which introduce students to resources prior to their arrival on campus, including: 

    • Sexual Harassment and Assault – Response and Education (SHARE): Designed to be a comprehensive resource on sexual assault and related violence including dating violence, harassment, stalking, and gender discrimination 
    • SHARE Office Victim Advocacy Program: Provides confidential assistance to members of the Cornell community who are victims of harmful, threatening, or violent incidents. 
    • Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR): Promotes and ensures equal opportunity and access to enable all members of the Cornell community to succeed and thrive, and addresses bias incidents, sexual and related misconduct, discrimination, and protected-status harassment through data collection and analysis, incident response and resolution, and training and education. 
    • The Introduction to Cornell modules also provide information on Cornell policies around sexual and related misconduct, discrimination and harassment, and bias, as well as informing students about methods for reporting an incident involving bias, discrimination, harassment, or sexual and related misconduct in person, by phone or email, or by online form.