Sexual Assault Resources & Support

What to do if you've experienced sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, or harassment 

Sexual assault and harassment are examples of Sexual Misconduct at Cornell, and can include:

• unwanted sexual contact (including touching, groping, strangulation/choking, non-consensual penetration)
• sexual violence / rape
• intimate-partner violence (verbal, emotional, physical)
• stalking 
• harassment

If you've experienced any of the above, support and medical care are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Regardless of whether the event was recent or in the past – and whether or not you’re sure what happened to you was assault – you deserve support and healing.

Cornell Police (24/7)

607-255-1111 (or 911)

Contact Cornell's Public Safety Communications Center at 607-255-1111 if you need immediate assistance (you can also connect with Cornell Public Safety by calling 911.) 

CU police can help you:

• get to safety
• receive emergency care for injuries
• access emergency housing
• if you choose to do so, gather important evidence and/or make a report of the crime (see more information about reporting, below)

Cornell Health phone consultation (24/7) 

607-255-5155

Call us 24/7 for confidential phone consultation, assistance, and support. 

• When we're open: Press 2 to be connected with a Cornell Health nurse. [see current hours]
• When we're closed: You will be given the choice of connecting with a nurse or a mental health provider from our on-call service.  

The healthcare provider you speak with can assess your needs and help you get connected with medical care, mental health care, and other support. 

Medical care

Medical care at Cornell Health 

Available Monday-Saturday during the academic year [see current hours]

Cornell Health can provide timely, trauma-informed medical care including: 

• evaluation and care for physical injuries
• testing for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and pre-emptive treatment to prevent STIs, including HIV testing & prevention (note that HIV prevention medication should be started within 72 hours of potential exposure)
• pregnancy testing, and emergency contraception ("Plan B" and other EC options)

Cornell Health does not provide SANE exams; please see information about SANE exams below.

To schedule a medical appointment: 

• For urgent/timely medical needs, call us during business hours at 607-255-5155 and press 1 to schedule an appointment.
• For non-urgent medical needs, students can also schedule appointments online through myCornellHealth. 
• If you're not sure what care is needed and whether you should schedule an appointment, call us 24/7 (607-255-5155) to consult with a nurse.

Care when we're closed: 

• You can call us 24/7 (607-255-5155) to consult with a nurse about how to get care.
• Visit our Emergencies & After-Hours Care page for information about where to get medical care off campus.
• Non-prescription emergency contraception (EC) is available 24/7 in Cornell’s vending machine and at several other campus locations. Please note that for some people, prescription EC will be more effective: review this information to learn which option is best for you. 

SAFE / SANE exams at Cayuga Medical Center (24/7)

If you're considering making a report to law enforcement (now, or possibly in the future), you may choose to have physical / medical ("forensic") evidence of sexual assault collected and recorded by specially trained providers. Evidence collection is generally most helpful when collected within 120 hours, but survivors can receive forensic care and consultation at any time. 

In Ithaca, Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFE) are available 24/7 by the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Cayuga Medical Center (607-274-4411). An advocate from the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County supports individuals receiving SAFE exams. 

Cornell Health can provide guidance and follow-up care for those who choose this option. Call us at 607-255-5155, day or night, for assistance.

Victim / survivor advocacy

SHARE Office Victim Advocacy at Cornell Health

Available Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Victim Advocates from Cornell's SHARE Office can provide free, confidential support and assistance for members of the Cornell community who have experienced sexual assault or other harmful, threatening, or violent incidents. 

Advocates provide: 

• client-centered, customized support that allows survivors to explore options and make informed decisions about what they need and navigate any next steps
• holistic, individualized safety planning consultations
• comprehensive overview of reporting options – preparing survivors for each step of the process
• accompaniment to related appointments on and off campus
• support with safe housing, academic and workplace accommodations, emergency funding, and more

To schedule an appointment (in person, by phone, or by Zoom), please email victimadvocate@cornell.edu (note: email is not a secure form of communication for private or confidential information), or leave a voicemail message at 607-255-1212. Though this is not a crisis service, messages are returned and appointments scheduled as soon as possible. 

Advocacy Center of Tompkins County (24/7)

The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County staff and volunteers are available to provide a safe, non-judgmental and compassionate place where you can ask questions, review medical or legal options, and receive support for the emotional impacts you may be feeling.

To speak with a trained hotline counselor, call the Advocacy Center's hotline at 607-277-5000 (24/7).

Mental health support through CAPS

Available Monday-Friday [see current hours]

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) can provide individual counseling to help you process experiences and cope with your feelings, and drop-in consultation to explore and connect with mental health resources.

You can also reach out directly to a counselor who specializes in supporting survivors to seek confidential support related to a recent sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact. To do so, log in to myCornellHealth and select Appointments > Mental Health appointment > Connect with the CAPS Sexual Violence Response Counselor. The counselor will follow up with you directly to schedule an appointment. You can also call Cornell Health during business hours at 607-255-5155.   

Some semesters CAPS counselors also provide group counseling for survivors of sexual violence. Check our Group Counseling page for current offerings.

Reporting to the university or police

Some survivors choose to report the incident to Cornell and/or to university or local law enforcement. 

The decision about whether to report an incident is entirely yours. Consider talking with a SHARE Office Victim Advocate who can explain your options and support you in however you choose to proceed, including going with you to make a report.

Reporting to the university 

The Title IX Office in the Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR) is responsible for responding to reports of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and stalking. Submitting a report ensures incidents are documented, and impacted parties receive information about resources and resolution options. 

• Submit an online report (can be anonymous)

After a report is submitted, you will be contacted (unless you have submitted anonymously) by a Title IX coordinator who will provide information about resources and supportive measures, including (if applicable) academic accommodations, housing changes, safety escorts, counseling/advocacy assistance, restrictive orders, and no-contact orders. (Note that you do not need to make a report to receive this support; Victim Advocates can also assist you with these needs.)

You will also be given the option to file a "formal complaint" to initiate a university investigation, which may result in disciplinary action. 

Reporting to the police

Making a police report is separate from reporting to the university, and can be done concurrently.  

Reporting to the police may be appropriate if a crime may have been committed or you need other police assistance. You can contact law enforcement directly, or COCR can assist in setting up a meeting with the police after you file a report with the university. SHARE Office Victim Advocates can also provide guidance on this option and accompany you to meet with the police.

• Cornell University Police Department
  117 Statler Drive; 607-255-1111
• Ithaca Police Department
  120 E. Clinton Street; 607-272-3245
• Cayuga Heights Police
  836 Hanshaw Road; 607-257-1011

Reports should be made to the police department that has jurisdiction in the location where the incident happened. 

How to help a friend

Refer to this information about how to help a friend who has experienced sexual assault.

Not sure where to start?

It can be hard to know what to do and how to get support after a difficult, painful, or confusing experience. There are many resources available, and you may be feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start.  

If this describes you, consider starting with these resources. You do not have to figure this out yourself or go through this alone. There are caring people who are here to support you. 

For urgent / time-sensitive needs:

• Call Cornell Health (24/7) at 607-255-5155 to consult with a nurse or a mental health provider who can assess your needs, and help you get connected with medical care, mental health care, and other support that feels right for you.

For consultation and/or ongoing support:

• Schedule an appointment with a SHARE Office Victim Advocate (available M-F, 9-5) who can explain all of your options, connect you with resources, and support you through however you choose to proceed.