COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Orientation and the start of all summer courses will be delivered virtually.

Yes. All international students should attend International Student Orientation May 6 – 8, unless you qualify for a waiver.

We expect it will be a mix of both. We know we will begin in a virtual environment, but we plan to move to in-person instruction as soon as possible.

That said, we will offer the entire summer virtually so that any students whose arrivals are delayed for COVID-19 related reasons (travel restrictions, visa appointment delays, etc.), will not miss any instruction.

In recognition of the fact that incoming One-year MBA students in the Johnson Cornell Tech and Ithaca programs will be physically located around the world this summer while taking classes together virtually, we have re-engineered the summer class schedule as described below. You will be assigned to two time blocks per module throughout the summer, one from Class A, and one from Class B. You should have received your assignments from the Johnson Registrar. If you have questions, please respond to that email.

Johnson is well-known for its strong community. We are fully committed to ensuring we foster close ties among you and your classmates, even in a virtual environment. 

One way we’ll do this is through a robust, interactive virtual orientation. We will also assign all students to a core team, with whom you’ll work closely throughout the summer. The team will be comprised of both Johnson Cornell Tech students and your One-Year Ithaca MBA counterparts. Each team will receive coaching and instruction from our Leadership Programs faculty on how to build high-performing virtual teams. 

We will also organize regular virtual social events and networking activities. Our faculty and staff will hold frequent online office hours, and will also be available for virtual video meetings and appointments. We’re confident that these mechanisms will get the program off to a great start.

Earlier this year, Cornell President Martha Pollack convened an advisory committee to study options for fall instruction in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee will be presenting their report and recommendations to President Pollack in mid-June, and we have been told to expect a decision on fall instruction by the end of June.

The committee is weighing a number of scenarios (for example, one might be a blended model, with some courses delivered online and some in person; another might be that we initially start in a fully virtual environment). The committee is also working closely with New York State officials and public health experts as they consider their options. Additionally, Cornell Tech’s location means that decisions made for the Cornell Tech campus might differ from decisions made for the Ithaca campus.

To stay abreast of Cornell-Tech specific COVID-19 developments, please visit https://tech.cornell.edu/coronavirus/.

Please review these resources and feel free to contact us at newstudents@johnson.cornell.edu and admissions@tech.cornell.edu.