Whereas the prospective creation of a part-time bachelor’s degree program is consistent with Cornell’s legacy of, and historical commitment to, increasing access to higher education on behalf of “any person”;

Whereas there are populations of prospective students that are underserved by institutions of higher education who might benefit from increased access;

Whereas three relevant Standing Committees of the Senate, Committee on Academic Programs and Policies, Educational Policy Committee, and the Committee on Academic Freedom and the Professional Status of the Faculty, studied the proposal and identified several important implementation issues that need resolution before the program can be implemented by the university administration;

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate recommends approval, in principle, of the concept of Cornell creating a part-time bachelor’s degree program;

Be it further resolved that this recommendation approval is subject to satisfying a number of as yet unresolved implementation issues. These issues include maintenance of academic excellence and quality, the financial feasibility of the program, the appropriate mix of online and in-person instruction, faculty roles and labor, and addressing specific needs of prospective underrepresented groups noted in the proposal, among other matters;

Be it further resolved that the university administration and the Provost involve Cornell faculty in all stages of program planning and provide regular updates to the Faculty Senate on the resolution of critical unresolved questions;

Be it further resolved that the Provost, at the conclusion of the program planning process, solicit the approval from the Faculty Senate and explain how the implementation questions and problems raised by Faculty Senate committees were addressed before commencement of the part-time bachelor’s degree program