The University Assembly examines matters which involve the interests of, or concerns the welfare of, a substantial segment of the University community, and makes recommendations to the appropriate officers or decision-making bodies of the University.  

With faculty, staff, undergraduates, and graduate or professional students appointed or elected by each of the shared governance bodies, the UA takes up issues of common interest to all members of the Cornell community. It is a stakeholder in major university policy initiatives, and works to establish and maintain open, effective, and efficient channels of communication between and amongst the community and university administration. On behalf of the community, the UA may make amendments to the Campus Code of Conduct, with approval of the president of the university.

Meet the Leadership

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  • Duncan Allen Cady

     Duncan Allen Cady
    Duncan Allen Cady Chair, University Assembly

    dc932@cornell.edu

    Duncan Allen Cady is an undergraduate senior studying Industrial and Labor Relations, with minors in Government Public Policy, Law and Society, and Inequality Studies. He is from San Francisco, California and came to Ithaca in fall 2020, being first elected to the Student Assembly that spring then later elected as an Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly. On the UA, he has sponsored more than half of the resolutions introduced over his tenure, having also served on four different committees. Away from shared governance Duncan is a co-founder of the Disability Awareness Union at Cornell and the President of Der Hexenkris Senior Honor Society’s 131st tapping class. In his free time Duncan loves to cook and follow his favorite Bay Area sports teams.

  • Debra Howell

     Debra Howell
    Debra Howell Executive Vice Chair, University Assembly (Employee Assembly Representative - Veteran's Representative At-Large)

    dhowell@cornell.edu

    Debra has worked at Cornell for over 20 years and is currently Director of IT for the University Library. Debra is proud to represent the veterans community on the EA and is excited to chair the Campus Welfare Committee this year as she is committed to bettering our community’s health, wellness, and welfare.

  • Beth Frances Milles

     Beth Frances Milles
    Beth Frances Milles Vice Chair for Operations (Faculty Representative)

    bfm6@cornell.edu

  • Gizem Akkan

     Gizem Akkan
    Gizem Akkan Ranking Member, University Assembly (Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Representative)

    ga267@cornell.edu

  • David Hiner

     David Hiner
    David Hiner Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology, and the Environment Chair, University Assembly

    david.hiner@cornell.edu

    Employee Assembly Representative

  • Andrew Juan

  • Richard F. Bensel

     Richard F. Bensel
    Richard F. Bensel Chair of Codes and Judicial Committee, University Assembly (Faculty Representative)

    rfb2@cornell.edu

    Richard Bensel (Ph.D. Cornell University) is the Gary S. Professor of Government at Cornell University. His primary research fields and teaching interests include American political development, parties and elections, the United States Congress, comparative state formation, political culture, and institutional change. His current research includes several book manuscripts: Klans, Clans, and Culture in Reconstruction North Carolina and The Founding of Modern States.

Join Us for a Meeting

Latest Meeting

Cornell University - University Assembly

05/09/2023 4:45pm
401 Physical Sciences Building // Zoom

  • Agenda
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Join a Committee

University Assembly Codes and Judicial Committee

The CJC is a standing committee of the University Assembly. The public is welcome to attend meetings in person or remotely via Zoom meeting access. Please contact the CJC Chair for details.

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University Assembly Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology and the Environment

As reflected in UA Resolution 15: Amending the University Assembly Bylaws’ Title of the Standing ‘Campus Infrastructure Committee’ (CIC) (2020-2021 term), the renamed Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology and the Environment reviews and approves proposed motions related to: environmental impact and sustainability; information technology; transportation and commuter policies; and, any other topic deemed relevant to campus infrastructure by the University Assembly Executive Board.

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University Assembly Campus Welfare Committee

The Committee reviews any proposed motions and university policies related to diversity and inclusion; family support; health services; and, any other topic deemed relevant to campus welfare by the University Assembly’s Executive Board.

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