Our block plan is all about taking One Course At A Time, which builds in flexibility throughout the academic year and in your day to day academic life. We have a chance to change course every 3.5 weeks to be on or off campus without disrupting class if COVID-19 prompts the college to take action for the safety of our community.
Or to customize your journey
Two new flex blocks mean that courses that require hands-on learning can be moved around in the calendar so they happen safely. if COVID-19 prompts this change, students won't don’t delay their course of study. If you need to miss a block due to illness, travel restrictions, or other unexpected factors, you have the ability to restructure and stay on track. Flex blocks give you the opportunity to accelerate your education, and move on to graduate school or enter your career path sooner if desired.
On campus?
Here’s what a typical day might look like, Monday-Friday for your 18-day block:
9-11 a.m. Cognitive Neuroscience class with Professor Steven Neese and your block mates focused on discussion
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch at the Hilltop Café, study, work out, or whatever you want
1-3 p.m. Cognitive Neuroscience class with Professor Steven Neese lab immersion
After 3 p.m. Study, work out, eat, see friends, work, attend athletic practice or fine arts rehearsals, whatever you want to do!
Off campus?
Here’s what a typical day might look like, Monday-Friday for your 18-day block:
9-11 a.m. Multicultural Literature Zoom class with Professor Rebecca Entel and your block mates
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch, study, work out, or whatever you want
1-3 p.m. Multicultural Literature Zoom meeting with a few block mates to work on an end of block presentation
After 3 p.m. Study, work out, eat, see family, online work-study, attend online yoga class with Chaplain Catherine, whatever you want to do!
Off campus? Netflix binge-watching? Yep, you can do that. Catch up on some online work-study hours? Good time to get some hours logged in.
On campus? Hit the slopes with Cornell’s ski and snowboarding club? Always a nice way to chill with friends. Hike the Pal (Palisades-Kepler State Park)? A good option on a nice spring day.
Basically, you do you and if you want, you might check to see what student organizations and clubs are doing over block break (on campus or off campus) and join them (in real life or virtually).
What campus-sponsored things are there to do?
Volunteer with the civic engagement office on campus or off campus. Attend spiritual life events sponsored by the Chaplain’s office. (Watch the master calendar to stay up to date on what’s happening!)
Find a hood with one of our many unique to Cornell Greek organizations. (Not your ordinary frats and sororities; even our Greek life orgs are a bit on the rebellious side.)
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Luce Art Gallery hosts senior art projects and national artists.
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Cornell's esports team shares the Esports Arena with students who want to game for fun, not just in competitions and tournaments.
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With a campus nickname like the Hilltop, you can imagine the good sledding opportunities every winter. The city of Mount Vernon actually shuts down a street just for sledding enthusiasts.
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Nothing says fall like a firepit with s'mores. The campus firepit is at the heart of campus near the Thomas Commons and you can buy the s'mores fixings inside.
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Fun fact: Cornell offers a B.F.A. in musical theatre and their department produced shows and the student-led productions are phenomenally fun to watch.
On campus? Play sand volleyball or join in on many of the intramural sports offered. Attend a concert in King Chapel, catch a show in Kimmel Theatre, or the Black Box Studio. Walk through the Luce Art Gallery or attend a reading at Van Etten Lacey House. Make s’mores around the fire pit in the fall, sled down the hill in the winter, play frisbee golf in the spring.
Game in the Esports Arena on campus, join the Chess and Games Club online or on campus, serve on the Student Senate on or off campus, or join one of the many clubs and organizations on campus that is your home away from home, and if you can’t find that—create your own club. We do that here.