Initiatives

Committee on the Future of the American University

For centuries, universities have been committed to seeking truth, advancing discovery-based knowledge and creative expression, and educating future generations — all in service to society. We are at a defining moment in higher education. Driven by the loss of public trust in universities, the reshaping of university-government relations, and rapid technological change including the emergence of artificial intelligence, the fundamental value of higher education is being questioned. This committee was charged with envisioning the long-term future of Cornell as an American university pursuing its core missions of education, scholarship, public impact, and community engagement. Across each of these missions, the committee assessed the challenges and opportunities presented at this historical moment, engaging with supporters and skeptics of our missions — within our university and beyond. How should the American university adapt to best serve future generations?

Cornell Future of American Agriculture Initiative

Launched in 2026, the Cornell Future of American Agriculture Initiative funds Cornell research with the most promise for practical, tangible, and applied benefits for farmers across New York and beyond, harnessing science and technology to advance American agriculture and the U.S. economy. The initiative represents an investment of $30 million over three years. It leverages Cornell’s research and outreach strengths in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine, while also incorporating the university’s broad range of expertise across the sciences.

Cornell AI Initiative

Launched in 2021, the Cornell AI Initiative supports breakthroughs in artificial intelligence across disciplines and campuses. The initiative advances research, education, and innovation in AI to guide its responsible and transformative impact in areas including computing, cognitive science, robotics, agriculture, and law. Drawing on Cornell’s broad expertise, the initiative supports multidisciplinary projects, policy development, and startups that position the university as a global leader in AI.

Explore the AI Initiative

Presidential Task Force on Institutional Voice

In March 2025, President Kotlikoff and Provost Bala established a task force to examine the university’s approach to speaking institutionally regarding matters of politics, ideology, current affairs, and world events. Cornell leadership accepted the task force’s final recommendations (PDF), issued in February 2026, committing to apply principles of institutional restraint when considering whether the university should speak publicly on matters of social and political significance. The recommendations reflect extensive universitywide input from campus stakeholders and shared governance groups and consultation with external experts.

Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault

In February 2025, President Kotlikoff and Provost Bala established a task force focused on understanding and addressing sexual assault involving undergraduate students on the Ithaca campus. The task force issued its final recommendations report (PDF) in March 2026, calling for strategies to target social conditions that enable assault and to foster a sexually safe and healthy campus, rooted in a framework that addresses individual behavior, community culture, and institutional accountability.