Cornell is a privately endowed research university and a partner of the State University of New York. As the federal land-grant institution in New York State, we have a responsibility—unique within the Ivy League—to make contributions in all fields of knowledge in a manner that prioritizes public engagement to help improve the quality of life in our state, the nation, the world.

It has been described as the first truly American university because of its founders' revolutionarily egalitarian and practical vision of higher education, and is dedicated to its land-grant mission of outreach and public service. Cornell is a private university with a public mission where "any person can find instruction in any field of study" Ezra Cornell. Cornell ranked No. 14 in the world, in the top 1% of universities in the 2018 QS World University Rankings. The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management's undergraduate business program is in a four-way tie at No. 7, and the College of Engineering is ranked No. 10 for undergraduate engineering programs in Ph.D.-granting institutions. Cornell's School of Hotel Administration was ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality and hotel management for 2017 by CEOWORLD magazine.

University research strengths/areas of expertise related to activities in Consortium


Cornell's links with Colombia are constantly reinforced by a dynamic group of students, professors and alumni. The College of Agriculture and Life Science works across disciplines and many Colombians have had the opportunity to develop important research projects in coffee, bird conservation, plant science and pathology among others in CALS. Cornell faculty, graduate and undergraduate students have also visited rural areas of Colombia such as Antioquia, Cauca and Nariño and worked in diverse projects including establishing sustainable production costs for coffee production and designing accessible soil testing tools for small landholders. Recently, Cornell hosted 20 top-tier undergraduate students in STEM and agricultural sciences from Colombia's Universidad Nacional through the Colciencias program Nexo Global. In addition, ProColombia and the Colombian Student Association are active undergraduate and student organizations that create a sense of community among the Colombian students in our campus in Ithaca. Cornell's impact in Colombian agriculture is also reflected in their pool of alumni leading institutions like Corpoica. The international program of the College of Agriculture and Life Science (IP-CALS) is particularly interested in facilitating exchanges, fellowships and research projects dedicated to their mission of meeting fundamental challenges of development and food security. IP-CALS has sponsored and hosted professional enrichment at Cornell for experienced mid-career Colombian professionals under programs such us the Humphrey Fellowship Program and the Borlaug Fellowship Program.

University webpage and other relevant links

Tim Devoogd

Coordinating Council Member