Education & Training

As part of its commitment to fostering a campus free of discrimination and harassment, Cornell makes a concerted effort to ensure that our community can identify potential acts of discrimination and harassment and knows who to contact and consult with if they learn about or experience discrimination or harassment. Our aim is to make sure our campus remains a safe and respectful environment focused on education.

The staff of the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, together with our community partners, are available to provide in-person trainings to students, staff, and faculty.

If your Department/Unit or Student Group is interested, please complete this brief training request form or email civilrights@cornell.edu and include “TRAINING INQUIRY” in the subject line.

Addressing Discrimination and Harassment Based on Race, Color, or National Origin (Including Shared Ancestry)

COCR partnered with the Office of General Counsel to create an online training that explains the applicable law and regulations that require Cornell University to create and maintain an environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, or shared ancestry. This training module is designed to help individuals understand their responsibilities and the available resources.

As part of its commitment to fostering a campus free of discrimination and harassment, Cornell makes a concerted effort to ensure that our community can identify potential acts of discrimination and harassment, and knows who to contact and consult with if they learn about or experience discrimination or harassment. Our aim is to make sure our campus remains a safe and respectful environment focused on education.

Sexual and Related Misconduct Training Program

COCR is responsible for developing the Sexual and Related Misconduct Training Program. Currently, this program includes the following courses:

Students
- COCR 100: Discrimination and Harassment on Campus – Your Rights and Responsibilities as Graduate and Professional Students
- COCR 200: Discrimination and Harassment on Campus – Your Rights and Responsibilities as Undergraduate Students
- COCR 300: Student Leader Responsibility – Bias, Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual and Related Misconduct
- Detailed information about student trainings can be found on the Students tab.
Employees (Faculty and Staff)
- HR 300: Employee Responsibility – Sexual and Related Misconduct (Full Course)
- HR 301: Employee Responsibility – Sexual and Related Misconduct (Annual Refresher Course)
- Detailed information about employee trainings can be found on the Employees tab.

Employee Accommodations

COCR offers training upon request relating to employee reasonable accommodations. These training sessions can focus on how managers should handle requests for reasonable accommodation, the ins and outs of the interactive process, best practices for implementing accommodations, and more. Please email accommodations@cornell.edu to request more information.

Presentations and Workshops

If you are part of a club, organization, or Cornell community that could benefit from a presentation or workshop, consider the following:

Request a COCR Workshop by completing this training request form or email civilrights@cornell.edu and include “TRAINING INQUIRY” in the subject line.
Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives provides education and training about sexual violence and related issues for students, staff, and faculty. Our strategic framework for addressing sexual violence (pdf) includes public health strategies that address the climate, social and cultural factors, policies, and educational strategies. Contact the Program Director for Sexual Violence Prevention for more information.
Intervene is a 20-minute online video that includes brief scenarios demonstrating ways in which student bystanders can successfully intervene in problematic situations. Seven different situations are addressed, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence (emotional abuse), hazing, alcohol emergency, emotional distress, and bias. An in-person 60-minute workshop provides an opportunity for students to view the video with others and engage in a facilitated conversation to reflect upon the attitudes and behaviors that influence the process of intervening as an individual or with assistance. For information, contact Laura Santacrose, Assistant Director of Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives.
Cornell Police Crime Prevention Unit and public safety outreach programs and services are available to the entire Cornell community.
The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, in addition to providing direct service, has been a long-standing leader in raising awareness, promoting individual and community safety, and providing outreach programs related to sexual and relationship violence.

DEI Glossary

The Department of Inclusion and Belonging has created a DEI glossary that defines terms relating to reports of bias, discrimination, and harassment.

Training Materials as Required by 2020 Title IX Regulations

Prior to the Fall 2024 semester, the Cornell Office of Civil Rights utilized a Canvas course that included sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct training materials presented to all Cornell University Title IX personnel (Title IX Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and people who facilitate an informal resolution process) under the 2020 Title IX regulations published by the U.S. Department of Education. The training materials can be accessed here.

As of the Fall 2024 semester, COCR utilizes the SUNY Student Conduct Institute training materials to train all Title IX Coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and people who facilitate an informal resolution process. The training materials can be located here.

External Guidance

The Department of Justice issued a memorandum on July 29, 2025 titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.” This Guidance identifies “Best Practices” as non-binding suggestions to help entities comply with federal antidiscrimination laws.