Cornell University Athletics

Cornell student-athletes should be mindful that they are representatives of Cornell University at all times, and especially during trips, which begin when the team leaves campus and ends upon the return to campus. Student-athletes are expected to know and observe team and university rules at all times, including all general university travel policies. They should remain respectful with opponents, officials, spectators, and members of the media.  
 
All team travel arrangements are made through the department's travel coordinator or his or her designee in conjunction with the coaches. The same mode and quality of transportation, quality of housing, length of stay and per diem are provided to all Cornell's student-athletes, except when travel logistics dictate a different service or accommodation.  
 
Lodging 
Charges for the hotel room and taxes are the responsibility of the University. Rooms will typically be double occupancy, though circumstances can arise when the occupancy is higher than that depending on the room configuration. However, all members of the travel party must have his or her own bed. Males and females will not room together. Coaching staff and other adult employees will not room with student-athletes.   
 
Incidental expenses incurred by student-athletes, including telephone, room service (above the provided meals), and pay movies must be paid by the room occupants prior to checking out. University payment of such charges represents an impermissible benefit per NCAA bylaw 16.11.2 and may impact a student-athlete's eligibility to practice and compete. This also includes taking towels, pillows, etc from hotel rooms. 
 
Meals 
The Cornell Athletics Department budgets the same amount per person for each full day of meals during travel. The department pays for meals or distributes money to the student athletes as deemed appropriate by the coaching staff, and in accordance with university cash handling policies.  
 
Transportation 
Generally, teams travel to out of town competition in charter buses. Cornell hires reputable firms in the Ithaca area and others that carry appropriate levels of insurance for interstate travel. Cornell executes contracts with appropriate terms of conditions. In rare circumstances, vans driven by coaches will transport small numbers of student-athletes, in accordance with university van use policies. Vans are never to be driven by student-athletes. When van travel is allowed, coaches are directed not to drive unless all passenger seat belts are secured. Decisions to utilize vans on trips are approved in advance by the head coach and the sport administrator. The decision to fly a team to a competition venue is made by the sport administrator and the director of athletics, and is based on distance of the venue from campus, the academic calendar and the competition schedule.  
 
Student athletes are expected to travel to and from competitions with the team. Under rare circumstance, permission may be granted to the student-athlete to travel to or from the competition separately. The student athlete is required to request permission from the head coach and sign a personal travel hold harmless and release agreement that will be filed with the Team Travel Coordinator.  
 
Student athletes are expected to stay with the team for the duration of the trip. Student athletes are not to leave the travel party including with parents, friends, or other family members, except in special circumstances with advance permission from the head coach and sport administrator. This includes meals, etc. Parents, friends, and other family are welcome to visit with the athlete at times and locations designated by the head coach, but are not to enter hotel rooms or other areas designated as off limits by the coaching staff.  
 
Dress Code 
Student-athletes are expected to follow the guidelines provided by the head coach prior to travel. 
 
Missed Class Time Policy 
Student-athletes are responsible for informing their instructors well in advance of any class days to be missed due to athletics events in which you are participating.  It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to make arrangements with their instructor(s) to make up any missed assignments or requirements. It is imperative that all student-athletes review their class syllabus in addition to their travel schedule and alert the professor to any conflict.  University excuses will be issued at the beginning of each semester by the coach or at the student-athlete’s request from the Office of Student-Athlete Services for approved leave time.