Assembly Resolutions

Assembly Resolutions on Sustainability

Cornell has a unique system of shared Governance called the Assemblies. Chartered by the President with delegated authority from the Board of Trustees, the Assemblies serve as advisory bodies to the administration, representing matters of concern and constituent interests to University leadership. The assemblies formally advise the administration and recommend changes to policies through legislative processes articulated in their respective charters.

You can make an impact by working with your Assembly representatives to champion or help craft resolutions on sustainability, or get involved by joining one of the Assemblies.

Read about Cornell's history of divestment which began with student activism.

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A group of staff voting at Assembly meeting

Recent Assembly Resolutions

  • 04/28/2022 — SA R62: Supporting Cornell's Hunger Relief's the Big Red Food Drive
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • At the end of each spring semester, hundreds of students don't spend and therefore forfeit Big Red Bucks (BRBs). This resolution calls for administrative and assembly support for the Big Red Food Drive, an annual non-perishable food drive that uses unspent BRBs.

  • 04/12/2022 — UA R8: Examining Cornell University's Existing Waste Management Practices
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution encourages Cornell to dedicate money towards improving waste management practices by identifying areas of weakness and opportunities for innovation. These investments would be designed to ensure Cornell remains a clean and sustainably-focused institution.

  • 01/27/2022 — SA R39: Zoom Live Transcript Implementation Request
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution urges the university to use automatic live transcription (closed captioning) on academic zoom meetings to better accommodate students, thus improving online and remote work for students.

  • 11/01/2021 — GPSA R6: Paperless Agendas for GPSA Meetings
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution ends the printing and distribution of paper agendas, resolutions, and minutes for regular GPSA meetings unless specifically requested. As a result, the GPSA aims to minimize its environmental impact.

  • 09/09/2021 — SA R17: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Art with Impact
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution approves a funding request for the nonprofit organization Art with Impact which creates programs to improve mental health within the Black community.

  • 09/02/2021 — SA R16: Calling on Cornell University to Protect and Accommodate Students During the Spike in COVID-19 Cases
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution calls for more protective and accommodating measures for students, staff, and faculty to protect their well-being during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. (A similar resolution from the GPSA: GPSA R3)

Past Assembly Resolutions

  • 04/28/2022 — SA R62: Supporting Cornell's Hunger Relief's the Big Red Food Drive
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • At the end of each spring semester, hundreds of students don't spend and therefore forfeit Big Red Bucks (BRBs). This resolution calls for administrative and assembly support for the Big Red Food Drive, an annual non-perishable food drive that uses unspent BRBs.

  • 04/12/2022 — UA R8: Examining Cornell University's Existing Waste Management Practices
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution encourages Cornell to dedicate money towards improving waste management practices by identifying areas of weakness and opportunities for innovation. These investments would be designed to ensure Cornell remains a clean and sustainably-focused institution.

  • 01/27/2022 — SA R39: Zoom Live Transcript Implementation Request
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution urges the university to use automatic live transcription (closed captioning) on academic zoom meetings to better accommodate students, thus improving online and remote work for students.

  • 11/01/2021 — GPSA R6: Paperless Agendas for GPSA Meetings
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution ends the printing and distribution of paper agendas, resolutions, and minutes for regular GPSA meetings unless specifically requested. As a result, the GPSA aims to minimize its environmental impact.

  • 09/09/2021 — SA R17: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Art with Impact
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution approves a funding request for the nonprofit organization Art with Impact which creates programs to improve mental health within the Black community.

  • 09/02/2021 — SA R16: Calling on Cornell University to Protect and Accommodate Students During the Spike in COVID-19 Cases
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution calls for more protective and accommodating measures for students, staff, and faculty to protect their well-being during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. (A similar resolution from the GPSA: GPSA R3)

  • 04/06/2021 — UA R21: Resolution Demanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accountability
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution demands the University adopt CLCPA-mandated greenhouse gas accounting and an independent audit of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to establish transparency and accountability regarding Cornell GHG emissions.

  • 03/16/2021 — UA R14: Calling on TIAA to divest funds from all fossil fuel holdings and agribusiness practices associated with deforestation and human rights abuses
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • With the rapidly warming climate and limited to shift from a fossil fuel-based energy economy, this resolution urged the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), which is one of the two major retirement funds available for Cornell employees, to divest from fossil fuel industries and called for the university to support these actions.

  • 12/10/2020 — SA R23: Demanding Cornell Allows Anabel’s Grocery to Reopen for the Spring 2021 Semester
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • Anabel’s Grocery is a student-run, non-profit grocery store on campus that sells fresh, affordable food, particularly for students needing shorter, safe grocery store commutes. This resolution called for the reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic after the university closed the store for a year.

  • 08/19/2020 — EA R3: Employee Assembly Condemning Hate Crime and Any Other Form of Racism, Religious or Ethnic Bias, Discrimination, Incitement to Violence
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • The EA encourages all members of the Cornell community regardless of disability, ethnicity, nationality, or sexual orientation to participate in the shared governance process and foster an inclusive environment for all voices to be heard.

  • 05/20/2020 — EA R9: Inclement Weather
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • Cornell’s delayed response to the February 6-7, 2020 winter storm stranded employees and students who relied on mass transit on campus due to dangerous conditions. The resolution calls on the university to improve protocols for future weather decision-making.

  • 05/12/2020 — UA R4: Support of the development and implementation of a Cornell Campus Circulator System
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • This resolution urges Cornell to prioritize the development of an innovative and sustainable Campus Circulator System, which would improve transportation around campus and reduce overall climate change contributions. Support from other assemblies: GPSA R5; EA R3

  • 02/18/2020 — UA R5: Support for the Divestment from Fossil Fuels
    Adopted by the Assembly

  • Given the global climate emergency and our desire for Cornell to remain a leader in promoting a sustainable future, this resolution calls for the university to divest from all investments in coal, oil, and natural gas. Support from other assemblies: SA R56; GPSA R6; EA R5

  • 10/11/2018 Student Assembly R14: Increasing the Minimum LEED Certification
    Adopted by the Assembly 
    This resolution urges the Board of Trustees to increase the minimum LEED certification from Silver to Platinum for campus buildings in the Climate Action Plan and conduct an Environmental Impact Statement for the North Campus Residential Expansion.

  • 04/16/2017 Graduate and Professional Student AssemblyR13: Cornell Commitment to Web Accessibility
    Adopted by the Assembly
    The resolution echoes EA Resolution 4 and UA Resolution 6, calling for the University to adopt a web content accessibility policy to be applied to all new websites, and to legacy websites upon major update. This will further the university’s commitment to inclusion, and bring us closer to becoming a welcoming campus for individuals with disabilities.

  • 11/20/2016 Graduate and Professional Student Assembly R7: In Support of Making Cornell a Sanctuary Campus
    Adopted by the Assembly
    This is a resolution declaring the GPSA’s collective support for a petition made public on Friday November 18, 2016 calling for Cornell administration to declare Cornell University a “Sanctuary Campus” in the wake of claims made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his advisers concerning potential immigration policy. According to the petition, as a sanctuary campus, Cornell would declare its intent to not cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to locate members of the Cornell community and commit to guaranteeing funding for DACA students.