Cornell Sponsorship Requirements

Cornell Sponsors 

All third-party youth programs operating on Cornell-owned or controlled property must have a Cornell Sponsor.

The sponsor serves as Cornell’s primary representative and point of contact for the program and helps coordinate the university’s review and oversight process. 

A sponsor is typically a Cornell college, department, unit, or individual with a legitimate university interest in hosting or supporting the program. 

The sponsor works with the third-party organization and relevant Cornell offices, including Children and Youth Safety (CYS), Risk Management and Insurance (RMI), Conference and Event Services (CES), and other stakeholders, to ensure that program requirements are reviewed and addressed before the program begins. 

Sponsor Responsibilities: 

Sponsors play an important role in:

• Serving as the primary liaison between Cornell and the third-party organization.
• Coordinating the collection and review of required documentation. 
• Facilitating communication between the program provider and Cornell stakeholders. 
• Monitoring program operations and communicating concerns, incidents, or significant changes to appropriate university offices. 
• Supporting post-program review and continuous improvement efforts. 

How Do I Find a Cornell Sponsor? 

Third-party organizations are responsible for identifying and securing a Cornell sponsor. CYS does not identify, assign, or recommend sponsors on behalf of third-party organizations. 

In most cases, a sponsor is a Cornell college, department, unit, or individual faculty or staff member with a legitimate university interest in the proposed program or an existing relationship with the organization seeking to operate the program. 

Organizations should contact the Cornell individuals or units with whom they have an established relationship to determine whether they are willing to serve as the program sponsor.  

Examples may include: 

• A Cornell academic department that collaborates with your organization. 
• A Cornell faculty member involved in your program.
• A Cornell unit that supports similar activities.
• A Cornell administrative unit that has an interest in the proposed program. 

Planning a Program at Cornell

Prospective program providers are encouraged to contact:

• Children and Youth Safety (CYS) to discuss youth protection requirements and compliance obligations

• Conference and Event Services (CES) to discuss facility availability, scheduling, housing, dining, pricing, and other logistical considerations. 

  Please note that neither CYS nor CES identifies or secures sponsors on behalf of third-party organizations.