As a Health Promoting Campus, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone can flourish. The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives supports this vision by offering the following trainings in support of undergraduate, graduate, and professional student health and well-being across campus.
To request a program or training from the Skorton Center, please complete this program request form.
Please note:
- We require a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice to accommodate requests.
- In-person programs are available to groups of 30 or more students.
- Programs are only offered in-person unless otherwise noted.
Cornell Health overview
Online video | 4 minutes OR Canvas course | 10 minutes
These resources provide information about Cornell Health’s medical, mental health, and other services which are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in Ithaca. They highlight when and how to access services, information about costs and insurance coverage, and 24/7 resources.
- "Welcome to Cornell Health" – 4-minute video (see video transcript)
- "An Introduction to Cornell Health" – Canvas course; 10 minutes
Both videos provide information about the medical, mental health, and support services available to students at Cornell Health. They also highlight when and how to access services, cost for care and using insurance, along with 24/7 resources.
Intervene (Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Students)
Online video | 20 minutes OR In-person workshop | 60 minutes
"Intervene" is a bystander intervention film and program that empowers students to recognize and successfully intervene in a range of problematic situations.:
- Video: The online 20-minute video features brief, realistic scenarios featuring college student bystanders demonstrating how to successfully intervene across seven key issues: sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence (emotional abuse), hazing, an alcohol emergency, emotional distress, and bias. Characters in the film represent the diverse and intersecting identities of Cornell students (including race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, and ability). View the Intervene video.
- Workshop: The 60-minute in-person workshop provides an opportunity for students to view the video and discuss intervention strategies with others. Following the video, participants engage in a facilitated conversation about the attitudes and behaviors that influence the process of intervening in a variety of situations, explore additional real-life scenarios, and review campus resources to support themselves and others..
Notice and Respond: Friend 2 Friend (Undergraduates)
In-person workshop | 60 minutes
This interactive bystander intervention training equips Cornell undergraduates with the skills to recognize when a peer—whether a roommate or housemate, friend, classmate, or acquaintance—may be experiencing distress, and how to respond with care and confidence.
Through a short film, facilitated discussion, and resource overview, participants learn how to recognize different levels of distress (concern, elevated, and emergency), respond in supportive and effective ways, and connect peers with appropriate campus, local, or national resources. The training also covers when and how to ask directly about suicide and reinforces that doing so does not increase the risk of someone acting on suicidal thoughts.
Notice and Respond: Support Strategies for Graduate and Professional Students (Graduate and Professional Students)
In-person workshop | 60-90 minutes
This interactive bystander intervention training is designed specifically for graduate and professional students who want to be prepared to recognize signs and support peers—whether housemates, classmates, lab mates, or friends—who may be experiencing distress, and how to respond with care and confidence.
Through a short film, facilitated discussion, and resource overview, participants learn how to recognize different levels of distress (concern, elevated, and emergency), respond in supportive and effective ways, and connect peers with appropriate campus, local, or national resources. The training also covers when and how to ask directly about suicide and reinforces that doing so does not increase the risk of someone acting on suicidal thoughts.
Flourish at Cornell: Strategies for Well-being (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person workshop | 60–90 minutes
Cornell offers incredible growth opportunities—but that growth often comes with stress, pressure, and uncertainty. This interactive workshop invites undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to explore evidence-based strategies for maintaining well-being and building resilience.
This session blends guided reflection, practical tools, and engaging activities to help you manage stress and strengthen your personal “Green Zone Toolkit.” Participants will also learn about the wide range of campus resources designed to support their mental health and support flourishing—academically, socially, and personally.
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person workshop | 60 minutes
This beginner-friendly workshop offers a thoughtful introduction to the practice of mindfulness meditation, blending instruction with guided experience. Participants will explore the historical roots and evidence-based health benefits of mindfulness, learn several meditation techniques, and participate in a brief guided meditation. The training also includes time for reflection and discussion, and highlights on-campus opportunities to practice meditation, including the Let’s Meditate initiative.
Make Sleep Your Superpower (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person workshop | 60 minutes
Rest is not a luxury… it’s a necessity! Sleep is one of the most powerful tools students have for improving academic performance, boosting mental health, and feeling more energized throughout the day. In this interactive workshop, discover the science of sleep and explore why it matters.
Through a mix of interactive activities and practical information, participants discover evidence-based strategies to build better sleep habits and get the kind of rest that helps them show up fully in class, work, and life. This session will help students reimagine rest!
Refresh: Cornell’s Online Sleep Program (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
Canvas course (8-week program)
This eight-week, evidence-based self-help program delivers important information and shares strategies that have been proven to help improve college students’ sleep. The online program runs each semester and is open to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Expect to spend approximately 10 - 20 minutes each week for eight weeks to complete the program.
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person or Online workshop | 60 minutes OR Canvas course | 40 minutes
Most Cornell students either choose not to drink alcohol, or do so in moderation. Additionally, most Cornell students do not use cannabis or other drugs. Still, substance use can sometimes lead to harm for individuals and for those around them. This training equips students with the knowledge about harm-reduction strategies to make informed choices about alcohol and other drug use.
Whether you choose to use substances or not, the program offers practical strategies to reduce risk, support others, and how to recognize and respond to alcohol or other drug-related emergencies.
- In-person workshop (60 minutes), OR
- AOD online training – Canvas course; 40 minutes
Supporting Survivors
In-person workshop | 60 minutes
Through interactive discussions, you’ll learn recommended approaches to providing support to friends who have shared an experience of sexual violence or other harms: listen with compassion, respond with empathy; empower the survivor to determine what’s best for them; offer confidential resources for further support. This information helps build a culture of caring and helps participants develop skills for responding appropriately and compassionately to disclosures of harmful experiences.
The Spectrum of Relationships
In-person workshop | 60 minutes
Relationships are a central part of life—whether with family, friends, roommates, teammates, mentors, or others. This interactive session will help participants explore the full spectrum of relationship dynamics and develop the skills to build healthy, respectful connections.
Participants will learn how to recognize signs of both healthy and unhealthy relationships, listen for important cues when peers share their experiences, and reflect on how to strengthen relationships across different areas of their lives.
How to Recognize and Respond to Hazing (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person workshop | 60-90 minutes OR Canvas course | 45 minutes
Hazing is a form of interpersonal violence that can cause lasting harm to individuals and communities. This training helps students understand what hazing is, how to recognize it, and what to do if they or someone they know is experiencing hazing.
Through real-world examples and guidance, students will learn to identify various forms of hazing, understand its emotional and physical impact, how to recognize signs of hazing, and explore ways to support someone who has been hazed. The training also includes information about campus resources available to help.
- In-person workshop (60 - 90 minutes), OR
- Hazing online training – Canvas course; 45 minutes
Geographic Interventions: The Power of Using Space to Reduce Risk (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional Students)
In-person or online workshop | 60 minutes
Campus geography and space play an important role in shaping campus culture and reducing risk. In this workshop, participants will explore a case study of student-led geographic interventions that tackle problematic norms in a social event planned by a student organization. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to implement this “geographic intervention” approach and apply a spatial mapping and analysis framework to their campus organization context.