Welcome to Cornell Tech! The Student & Academic Affairs team is here to support and assist you in achieving a successful and rewarding experience while you are a Cornell Tech student. You can expect to receive weekly emails from us with important information to prepare you for your studies at Cornell Tech.
Please review the important reminders below.
Complete your New Student To Do List
Click here to complete all the steps to ensure you are fully prepared for your transition to Cornell Tech.
Activating your Net-ID – Deadline: As soon as possible!
If you haven’t already, please activate your NetID immediately. If your activation link has expired, please contact IT. As a new student, you will set up your email account when you activate your NetID. Your email address will be automatically generated using your Cornell NetID. You must also set up Two-Step Login so you can access services vital to getting started as a new student, such as Student Center and Student Essentials. Please note that starting July 1, we will only contact you via your Cornell email address. It is crucial that you activate your NetID and set up your Cornell email before this date. You can learn more about your NetID and Cornell email here.
Immunization Requirements – Deadline June 11
Make sure you are completing your required immunizations and uploading your documentation by June 11. There will be consequences for failure to comply with immunization requirements, please visit the website for detailed instructions on how to get compliant. If you need to make an appointment for immunizations in NYC and you have the student health insurance plan, you can make an appointment with Weill Primary Care in NYC for when you arrive by by completing this form. If you have questions about the requirement, please send a secure message through our patient portal: Log in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and go to Messages > New Message > Send a message or attachment to Immunization Requirements. Cornell Health only communicates through the secure portal above, therefore it is your responsibility to check the Cornell Health portal frequently for any updates and messages.
Matriculated: Transcript (Official) – Deadline: August 1
To be considered official, your transcript must be sent directly from your issuing institution and must include final grades and the degree awarded. It also needs to be properly authenticated.
If you submitted an evaluation, and it was either not official, or you are a recent graduate and still need to submit your final transcript and proof of degree. If you have already submitted official documents, no further action is necessary. We are in the process of verifying documents and will email you if we need more information. You may also check your application portal once your documents have been verified.
Test Scores:
Test scores must be reported directly to Cornell Tech in order for us to access them. If you only self-reported your scores or submitted a copy, we cannot verify them and you will need to resend your official test scores.
Submission Instructions:
Testing Codes for Score Reports:
Student Health Plan (SHP)
Cornell University requires all students to have health insurance. Please note that vision and dental plans are optional and not included in the Aetna Student Health Plan. Some students may be eligible for SHP Plus, which provides health, dental, and vision coverage to eligible students with no annual premium and provides full medical coverage abroad. To be considered for SHP Plus, you must be currently enrolled in a full-time academic program at Cornell and maintain active NYS Medicaid eligibility throughout the duration of the plan year.
If you meet requirements to waive the health insurance, follow instructions on this website. If you have any questions, please contact their office at shp-medicaid@cornell.edu or leave a message at 607-255-5467.
Orientation to Cornell Tech Community
We look forward to introducing you to your classmates and sharing campus resources. Over the course of the summer, we will be hosting virtual events where you can interact with your class and learn about Cornell Tech. We will also send you interactive modules so that you can learn more about campus resources. Remember a mandatory in-person orientation will be held on the Cornell Tech campus August 20-21!
2025-26 Academic Calendar
Please take note of the Academic Calendar. This includes important dates including scheduled holiday breaks. Classes start on Monday, August 25.
MEET THE STUDENT & ACADEMIC AFFAIRS TEAM
Jackie Klein, PhD, Assistant Dean of Graduate Education, has been working with students on college campuses for over two decades in an academic and student affairs capacity. Prior to Cornell Tech she worked to start up NYU’s newest campus in Shanghai, China where she lived and worked for two years. Jackie received her PhD in Counselor Education at the University of Iowa and her Master’s Degree in Counseling & Development at CW Post Long Island University. In her free time, Jackie enjoys traveling, working out, reading, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her daughters and husband.
Monica Patten, Assistant Registrar, received her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Higher Education from New York University. With over 15 years of professional experience in higher education at NYU, she has worked across financial aid, admissions, and registrar departments. Monica is a native New Yorker who is happy to share local (and secret!) resources for those new to the area! In her spare time, Monica dabbles in photography, travel, and foodie-related adventures!
Lauren Zehner, Assistant Director of Student & Academic Affairs, received her BA in Communication at The State University of New York at Geneseo, while also completing minors in Psychology and Music, and is currently an Executive MBA candidate at Cornell University! Lauren has been at Cornell Tech for 6.5 years working in administration, student employment, student events, and now as the Assistant Director of Student & Academic Affairs. Her favorite part of her role is creating a welcoming and inclusive community on campus! In her spare time, Lauren enjoys traveling, reading, and playing music.
Darshita Dhanak started at Cornell Tech in 2023. She is responsible for providing student support in relation to overall well-being, as well as, supporting key student life program initiatives. She moved from Dubai, where she had prior experience working in higher education, as well as, working with children with developmental difficulties. Darshita has a BSc in Psychology from University of Nottingham, UK and a MSc in Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice from University College London, UK. She enjoys dancing, watching films and traveling in her spare time.
Heidi Marshall joined the Student & Academic Affairs team as the Academic Affairs Coordinator in 2023. Heidi leads the PhD appointment process as well as course support (grader; general support) student hires. Additionally, Heidi assists with registrar functions and helps implement large scale student events. Prior to Cornell Tech, Heidi worked at the Graduate School on the Ithaca campus. Heidi received her B.S. in Actuarial Science at Bryant University and a M.A. in Higher Education Administration with a Concentration in Student Affairs from Boston College.
Danielle Gregg leads support for international students upon matriculation including orientation, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), updates to I-20s, as well as continuing support for our alumni on F-1 visas following graduation. Additionally, Danielle works with the Student & Academic Affairs team to execute large student events. She comes to Cornell Tech from Boston where she served as an International Student Advisor and Designated School Official for students at Computer Systems Institute. She received her Bachelor of Science at Union College and completed masters coursework towards a degree in Language Science and Technology at Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany. In her spare time, she enjoys studying languages including Spanish, Vietnamese, German, and Mandarin.
Laura Graffitti is responsible for overseeing Cornell Tech’s MBA programs operations and serves as the primary contact for Cornell Tech MBA students. Laura collaborates with colleagues at both Cornell Tech and the Johnson School in Ithaca to support MBA students. Laura comes to us from Columbia Business School, where she was the Senior Associate Director of Programs and Operations for the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate. Laura planned and executed student events and managed the operations for the Center. Prior to that, Laura was the Assistant Director of Student Life at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies. Laura received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. During her free time Laura loves to travel, try new restaurants, and spend time with friends and family. She looks forward to working with all of you this upcoming year!
If you have any additional questions, please email us at: studentaffairs@tech.cornell.edu.
Take Care,
The Student & Academic Affairs Team