Student Services and Advising at Dyson

At Dyson, we believe that academic advising is an intentional and developmental process in which students and advisors work together to help students succeed at Cornell. Ultimately, students are responsible for the decisions they make and how they affect their educational experience.

Academic advisors from the Office of Student Services and Advising can assist with short- and long-term course planning, degree requirements, academic difficulty, and connections to faculty. Academic advisors are also able to support students in locating additional on-campus academic, health, and wellness support services.

There are three dedicated professional academic advisors in the Dyson Office of Student Services and Advising who meet with and support Dyson students as they navigate the complexities of their college experience.

It is vital for students to develop meaningful relationships with an academic advisor as well as build an expanded network of people and resources throughout campus. Ultimately, your success is up to you! Utilizing resources and connecting with people will enhance a student’s opportunities for success. Keep in mind, success looks different for each student, and rarely is success accomplished alone.

Students can make one-on-one in-person appointments with any of the academic advisors throughout the year, including summers. Virtual appointments are accommodated as well. Academic advisors also host virtual drop-in hours at various times throughout the year. Students with questions regarding Academic Advising can email the Dyson Office of Student Services and Advising at Dyson_OSS@cornell.edu for more information.

No, Dyson does not assign faculty advisors. However, students are strongly encouraged to connect with Dyson faculty both inside and outside of the classroom through office hours, research, and teaching assistantships. Faculty are the experts in their field of study and can serve as vital resources to help students connect their career and academic interests. They can also be helpful in providing letters of recommendation as well as providing information regarding graduate school.

Matriculating first-year students may be able to successfully graduate in less than eight semesters. If this is of interest, we recommend taking a minimum of 15 credits per semester and meeting with an academic advisor early to discuss your options. Transfer students should plan to meet with an academic advisor to determine if this may be possible given each student’s individual and unique situation.

Delaying graduation is typically only approved if a student is facing extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing degree requirements within eight semesters (or designated semesters for transfer students). Students are not permitted to extend their graduation dates to pursue optional programming such as double majors, minors, or study abroad experiences.

It depends. We would recommend sophomore transfers meet with an academic advisor during their first semester at Cornell to determine if studying abroad is an option for them. Unfortunately, junior transfers are not generally able to fit a semester abroad into their degree plan.

Yes! Dyson students can apply to double major within the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The Dyson Scholars Program was established by the Dyson Foundation to recognize and support undergraduate applied economics and management (AEM) majors. Guided by Charles H. Dyson’s belief that financial support is critical to academic success (so that students may focus on the demands of academia), the program provides extra financial support to scholars with financial needs.

Financial Assistance

• All Dyson Scholars receive a cash award for books and supplies each semester.
• Dyson Scholars with demonstrated financial need will be provided with additional financial assistance.

Cornell’s Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment administers the financial awards and will notify students of their award prior to the start of the fall semester.

Other Program Benefits

The Dyson Scholars Fund also covers various individual student needs, such as: 

• Compensation to Scholars serving as teaching assistants (TAs)
• Financial support for faculty-guided independent study and research
• Travel and registration expenses to attend conferences, workshops, or competitions

The Fund can also be used to host guest speakers or sponsor networking events.

Dyson Scholars represent the top 10 percent of their class year. They are identified during the summer prior to the beginning of the new academic year as follows:

• Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are selected based on their grade point average (GPA) earned in the previous two semesters on-campus as an AEM major

Students who are selected as Dyson Scholars are notified before the start of the fall semester.