Cornell News Update: McGraw Tower Renovation, Hiring Pause, UAW Contract, New Provost & CIS Expansion

Good afternoon, Cornell community. It's Monday, August 4, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus. First, a quick look at today's weather in Ithaca. Currently, it's partly sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day, reaching a high of 83 degrees by mid-afternoon. So, if you're planning to be outdoors, it's a great day to enjoy the sunshine. In campus news, the long-awaited renovation of McGraw Tower is nearing completion. The scaffolding is scheduled to be removed by August 15, following delays due to weather conditions and the specialized craftsmanship required for the lead roof restoration. The project, which began in July 2023, aims to preserve this iconic structure for future generations. In administrative updates, Cornell has implemented a hiring pause effective immediately. This decision comes in response to financial uncertainties, including potential federal research funding cuts and tax legislation affecting endowment income. The pause is part of a strategic effort to ensure a sustainable budget while continuing to advance the university's mission. On the labor front, members of the United Auto Workers Local 2300, representing over 1,000 Cornell employees, have reached a tentative contract agreement with the university. The agreement includes significant wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, and the elimination of the two-tier wage system. This follows a strike that began on August 18, 2024, highlighting the workers' commitment to securing fair compensation and working conditions. In academic leadership news, Kavita Bala, the inaugural dean of Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, has been named Cornell's 17th provost. She will begin her new role on January 1, 2025. Thorsten Joachims, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Computer Science and Information Science, will serve as interim dean of Cornell Bowers CIS. Looking ahead, the university is set to open a new 135,000 square-foot building for the Computing and Information Science program in 2025. This expansion aims to accommodate the rapidly increasing enrollments in computing and information science subjects, reflecting the growing importance of these fields in today's world. That's all for today's update. Stay tuned for more news and events happening around campus.