Office of the Assemblies

Dear Andy,

 

Thank you for conveying to me GPSA Resolution 14: In Support of the University Allowing International Graduate Students to TA Remotely During the Summer 2020 Session and the Fall 2020 Semester. I’m pleased that the university has recently identified and shared guidelines that allow international students who left the U.S. this spring to hold summer or fall assistantships if they are prevented from returning to campus due to force majeure conditions and or the associated visa and immigration delays.

 

Not every assistantship can be performed remotely by students who are “stranded” abroad. Some funding agencies prohibit GRA or RA duties outside the U.S., and there are still uncertainties regarding whether all or most TA assignments in the fall will be in support of in-person classroom instruction. We have asked graduate students and their special committees to be flexible and creative as they seek ways to keep studies and research moving forward during this exceptional time. As a university, we will strive to offer that same flexibility and creativity to honor the funding commitments that were made in graduate admissions offers. 

 

Sincerely,

Martha Pollack

 

Martha E. Pollack

President, Cornell University

300 Day Hall

Ithaca, NY 14853

Tel: 607-255-5201