Bucking a recent trend of plummeting state aid to the University, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (D) proposed 2012-13 executive budget will preserve funding for Cornell’s contract colleges. His proposal, released Jan. 17, must still be approved by the New York State Legislature in March.

The New York State legislature approved a $132 billion budget Thursday with reductions to Cornell's contract colleges. Funding for many Cornell agricultural programs, however, was restored in the final budget.

The meeting between CALS leadership and students, faculty and administrators is a step in the right direction to foster better dialogue on major decisions that should be continued moving forward.

Faculty members clashed with administrators from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at a public forum on Monday, voicing their concerns on the repercussions of pending fiscal year 2012 budget cuts.

To the dismay of students and faculty, CALS cuts staff and field research programs in response to proposed decreases in state funding.  

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will begin a search for a new professor in dairy cattle genetics.

Although Cornell’s Department of Education will be eliminated, the University announced that the education minor and teacher certification program will still be offered.

CALS faculty, staff and students will relocate to various buildings on campus — including Morrison Hall, Mann Library and the facilities of the Department of Plant Biology — as renovations begin.

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory – named for the founder and first dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) – was closed to all traffic last Friday due to safety concerns of falling glass and structural deterioration. Administrators announced last week that they are considering tearing down the 78-year-old greenhouse, which is connected to the Plant Science Building. In recent years, efforts have aimed to maintain the historical foundations of the conservatory while renovating its failing structure for future use.

In spite of student and faculty protests, administrators in CALS have said that they will likely tear down the Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory. They have maintained that the building will be replaced with a similar structure.