About Us
Who We Are:
Children and Youth Safety (CYS) is Cornell University's centralized resource for faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and external program providers whose work involves minors under the age of 18 in Cornell-affiliated programs. We provide guidance, resources, and support to help ensure that youth participants have safe, positive, and enriching experiences.
What We Do:
Youth are at the heart of all we do. CYS develops and administers policies, procedures, and practices that help protect the safety and well-being of minors who engage with Cornell University.
We support the Cornell community by:
- Providing guidance on University Policy 8.8, The Protection of Minors and Abuse Reporting
- Offering training, education, and resources for individuals who work with minors
- Supporting program planning, registration, and compliance efforts
- Coordinating youth protection initiatives across Cornell's campuses and affiliated programs
- Promoting nationally recognized best practices for youth-serving organizations
- Helping programs create safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate experiences for young participants.
Why It Matters:
Cornell University serves thousands of young people each year through camps, academic programs, outreach initiatives, events, research opportunities, and community partnerships.
Because universities are designed primarily for adult learners, employees, and visitors, additional safeguards are needed when minors participate in University programs and activities. Cornell is committed to creating environments where youth are protected from harm, treated with dignity and respect, and able to learn, grow, and thrive.
Together, we can ensure that every young person who engages with Cornell has a safe, enriching, and high-quality experience.