Engineering Community Allies and Resources (CARES) Program

The Engineering Community Allies and Resource (CARES) Program seeks to equip College of Engineering graduate students and postdoctoral research associates with access to trained empathetic listeners, allies, and resource connectors. The program provides these community members with lower barriers to bring up concerns about problematic or potentially inappropriate behavior, experienced or witnessed, that interfere with dignified and productive learning. This can range from academic mentoring (official or unofficial) that is dismissive, demeaning, offensive, or intimidating in nature, or more generally, from a difficult interpersonal relationship with an academic advisor, to more egregious behavior by an individual that may require an institutional response. Engineering CARES allies serve as empathetic listeners and can also help connect students with existing university resources, including referring them to the Title IX office, an associate dean, HR, etc., if there are allegations of abusive, unethical, discriminatory, or biased behavior, especially as it relates to protected identities.

Conceived of and supported by Engineering graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, faculty, and staff, Engineering CARES aspires to become an essential part of the Cornell Engineering community. Our mission is to provide a safe space for Cornell Engineering graduate students and postdocs where they can find allies and resources within a familiar and relatable college environment. 

Engineering CARES adheres to Cornell Engineering’s core values of excellence, purpose, innovation, community, and collaboration. It is aligned with the core values of Cornell University, which strives to be a welcoming, caring, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation.

Who can use this Service?

In general, graduate students and postdocs who belong to College of Engineering graduate fields may access this service. Additionally, graduate students or postdocs from other disciplines may do so if their concern is with a College of Engineering faculty member.

How does it work?

Our current Engineering CARES allies are listed below (coming soon). Graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to reach out to the Engineering CARES team member that they feel the most comfortable with. To schedule a meeting with an ally, use the link next to their name.