Learning, not lazy days, define on-campus summer activities

Commencement and Reunion are over, many students and faculty have departed, and the quads seem empty. But not for long. Expect the sounds of sneakers pounding the pavement, a blaze of red T-shirts flying by and the sight of visitors of all ages from as far away as China and Qatar as thousands of summer students come to campus this summer for its rich educational opportunities.

Whether it's learning Swahili, exploring severe weather phenomena, painting, studying art history or physics, learning about wildlife parasitology or learning how to teach writing -- Cornell's School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions offers a wide range of courses for high school students trying out the college experience, college students supplementing their regular semester coursework and adults enrolled in Cornell's Adult University.

"The majority of the 1,400 students attending either a three-, six- or eight-week summer session class are Cornell undergraduates," said Cathy Pace, registrar, "with a smaller number of Cornell graduate students, staff members, professionals, area residents, senior citizens and others seeking to continue their education, further their career or have fun learning something new."

An average 1,900 additional students are enrolled in special programs offered each summer. Each year some of the top students from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar come to Ithaca for research experience.

"These students are phenomenally good," said David Robertshaw, biomedical sciences professor emeritus and former Weill Cornell-Qatar associate dean. "For the duration of their time here, they are part of our research community, working in the top laboratories at Cornell on cutting-edge research in such areas as molecular biology."

In addition, the Summer College Program for High School Students hosts some 675 outstanding high school students from across the United States and about 210 international students from 40 countries, including a large number enrolled in the China-Cornell College Preparatory Program. During their six weeks on campus, these students earn college credits, explore academic majors, study alongside Cornell undergraduates and meet Cornell professors.

Add to the mix about 400 adults in Cornell's Adult University, with about half of them bringing children or grandchildren ages 3-16 who participate in CAU's children's activities. The adults have a host of one-week courses to choose from, from learning about wines to war. About three-quarters of the participants are Cornellians or Cornell spouses.

More than 60 conferences will be held on campus this summer, drawing hundreds of people with a wide variety of interests, from sustainability and engineering to food science, history and minority studies. A number of executive and professional programs address finance, computer policy and law, administrative management, English for international students and scholars, labor and employment arbitration and wine making.

For the adventurous, Cornell's Outdoor Education Program offers summer camps devoted solely to rock climbing, tree climbing, canoeing or outdoor adventure.

As for the youngsters with the colorful T-shirts who can be seen eating at the Robert Purcell Community Center, they are most likely some of the 4,000 young athletes, ages 7-18, who attend the Cornell Summer Sports School, taught by coaches from Cornell and other universities, professional players and Olympic level athletes in a host of sports, from baseball and track and field to wrestling, rowing and sailing.

Media Contact

Joe Schwartz