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Public Impact

Cornell returns New York State's investment

Cornell directs its education, applied research, and outreach to benefit the citizens of New York.

As our land grant university and for over 140 years, Cornell has attracted faculty, staff, and students who want to use their knowledge to improve people’s lives in New York State.

Economic Impact on New York State, March 2009

public-econ-impact-75x75As New York State's land grant university, Cornell transfers and applies university-based knowledge for practical benefits and, as a major enterprise, contributes to the State's economic prosperity. The report, Cornell University, Economic Impact on New York State, assesses the scope of Cornell's economic contributions.

Economic Impact on New York State, March 2009 (PDF)

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View the 2007 Economic Impact Report

How do Cornell's colleges carry out their land grant mission?

Four of Cornell University's 14 colleges and schools are land grant colleges.

Cornell University fullfills its land grant mission through applied research and outreach.


Applied research solves real world problems. For example:

  • Cornell researchers are collaborating on a project to protect the Lake Ontario watershed from pesticide run-off by obtaining a federal grant to provide area apple growers with a new "SmartSpray" device.
  •  A faculty member from the department of Textiles and Apparel in the College of Human Ecology has worked with researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College to develop biomaterials for tissue regeneration in applications like vascular grafts and wound closure.
  • Cornell microbiologists are investigating methods to decontaminate fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables to prevent food borne illness.
  • The Community and Rural Development Institute, in the land grant College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, partners with faculty from the privately funded College of Architecture, Art, and Planning on upstate economic development projects.

Outreach programs solve real-world problems by linking people to Cornell's rich resources.

  • Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), the largest outreach system at Cornell, has offices in 55 counties and New York City. CCE draws on the expertise of Cornell faculty and the results of their research assist individuals and communities on matters ranging from childhood development to farmland management.
  • The Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors translates basic research into forms that can be used by the public, medical professionals, and educators to provide clear information about reducing cancer risks.

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