ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University President Hunter R. Rawlings announced today the university's decision to open its doors to students and faculty of Tulane University, which was closed due to devastating damage sustained from Hurricane Katrina.

Cornell has developed plans to admit Tulane undergraduate students as well as providing openings for graduate and postdoctoral students. At the same time, arrangements have been made to offer Tulane faculty members support, including the possibility of coming to Cornell as visiting faculty.

Emerging from a planning meeting with university's top administration and deans, Rawlings said: "The entire Cornell community recognizes the terrible plight of our colleagues at Tulane University. We want to do everything we can to help them in their time of need."

Cornell also will be working with members of the Ithaca community to identify ways to provide additional needed support.

The following Cornell contact information has been established for Tulane students and faculty:

• Tulane undergraduate students should contact Cornell's School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions at (607) 255-4987, immediately. Tulane graduate students should contact the Cornell Graduate School at (607) 255-5820. Tulane students must be prepared to begin classes no later than Monday, Sept. 12. Requests for financial aid are welcomed.
• Tulane faculty members should contact the Cornell Office of the Dean of the Faculty at (607) 254-4843.

Further updated information will be available at Cornell's Web site at http://www.cornell.edu/katrina.