Frequently Asked Questions about The Cornell Tradition
Do I have to apply for a Cornell Tradition Fellowship?
It depends. Incoming freshman and transfer students do not need to apply. All incoming students who apply for financial aid are reviewed for participation in the Tradition program as a part of the normal admissions process, nominated by their respective college admissions office, and then selected by a campus-wide committee. Selection is based on the nominees' previous record of work and community service and/or extracurricular activities. Current Cornell students may pick up an application packet at the Office of The Cornell Tradition, 103 Day Hall, to apply for consideration for the following academic year. The application is available at the beginning of the academic year and all materials must be turned in together in mid-May.
Does The Cornell Tradition Office provide me with a job?
No. As a general rule, Tradition fellows get their own jobs. The Student Employment Office, located at 203 Day Hall, is well-equipped to help all students find employment. On-campus, Tradition fellows work in a variety of locations---libraries, dining halls, offices, fitness centers, research labs, etc.---based largely on their own needs and interests. Some fellows prefer to work off-campus or at home over academic breaks (all hours between mid-August and mid-May can be counted toward the requirement, regardless of where they are performed. Please see the Tradition Application (not yet available) for exact dates and details.). Tradition fellows have a reputation on-campus and in the local community for being hard working, dependable, and creative workers and rarely have difficulty finding a job. Community Action Fellowships are a great way to secure a meaningful, engaging job with a community organization; contact the Tradition Office for more information about this unique opportunity. On occasion, employers will call the Tradition office specifically requesting a Tradition fellow for a position and these opportunities are posted on CTTALK, the Tradition listserv.
Tradition fellows must perform a minimum of 100 paid work hours and 100 service hours each academic year. In addition, students are required to perform 50 “flex” hours, which may be any combination of work and service, bringing the total number of required hours to 250. Work and service performed over winter break and spring break may be applied toward the requirements, but not hours worked during the summer. Over the past five years, Tradition fellows averaged over 325 hours of work per academic year.
How do I fulfill the Tradition Community and Campus Service commitment?
To renew your Tradition Fellowship or to apply to the fellowship for the first time, you must demonstrate your continued commitment to service by contributing a minimum of 100 total hours of service (and a minimum of 15 hours of Community Service) in the following two categories:
1. Community Service (includes service performed in Ithaca, your hometown, your study abroad location, etc.)
2. Campus Service (includes participation in Varsity/Junior Varsity Athletics OR substantial service to a campus
organization or club sport or Cornell University. Please note that Intramurals do not count toward the service requirement. See the Service Endorsement form for more details).
Please note that volunteer hours with your on or off campus organization can count toward your service hour requirement as long as you are making a significant contribution to the organization.
Occasionally, students will have questions about whether certain campus activities fulfill the Tradition service commitment. Please know that your questions are always welcome!
You may fulfill your total hourly requirement however you like as long as you complete at least 15 hours of Community Service. The average number of campus and/or community service hours is approximately 170.
Community Service vs. Campus Service:
To determine whether an activity constitutes community service or campus service, ask the question, "Who benefits?" If your service primarily benefits a prospective or current student or an alumnus, your activity is likely campus service. If your service primarily benefits a member of a community outside of Cornell (Ithaca, your hometown, etc.), your activity is likely community service. When in doubt, please consult a Tradition staff member.
Will meeting the Tradition work and service commitment hurt my grades and academic achievement?
For the vast majority of students, the answer is no. A number of studies conducted at Cornell have found that working students at the university actually have higher GPAs than non-working students and that the average GPAs of Tradition fellows are even higher than the working student average. In fact, most Tradition fellows far exceed the minimum number of work and service/leadership hours required for continued participation in the program. A significant number of Cornell Tradition fellows have been top scholars with a record of outstanding academic achievement.
