1. Cornell University Council Ambassador Program Training Module
Welcome to this training module for the Cornell University Council Ambassador Program.

2. Introduction
As a Cornell University Council member, you serve as an Ambassador for the University. One of the reasons you were elected to Council is because you have demonstrated yourself to be a strong advocate for Cornell.
Your family, friends, and colleagues know you as an engaged and involved Cornellian. To many, you are seen as a go-to resource for information about the University.
Now you have an opportunity and a responsibility to become even better-informed and a more effective advocate. This Ambassador training module will show you how.
This module will introduce the opportunities and responsibilities of your role as an ambassador for Cornell.

3. What is a Cornell University Council Ambassador?
Effective Cornell ambassadors are: 
Informed representatives 
Enthusiastic advocates 
Empowered to share information 
Trained in their role 
Conveyors of appropriate questions to appropriate University offices
Council Ambassadors are informed and enthusiastic advocates for Cornell. This summary description of the ambassador’s role will be explained in more detail during the next few minutes.
Cornell ambassadors are NOT: 
Legal representatives of Cornell 
Authorized to make commitments on behalf of Cornell 
Creators of information about Cornell 

4. Ambassador Activities Take Many Forms
Ambassador Opportunities
Affinity group events
Business & community groups
CAAAN contacts
College and Unit activities
Friends and family
Homecoming
Regional club meetings
Reunion
Social Media
Formal talks
Informal discussions
CAAAN contact reports
Social media activities
/ Text / Conference calls
Ambassador activities can take many different forms. From formal talks addressing large gatherings of alumni, to smaller, more casual conversations, one-to-one communications, and social media. Actively seek out opportunities to be an Ambassador for Cornell.

5. Basic Requirements for All Council Ambassadors
Share news and information about Cornell at least once a year
Submit an Ambassador activity report
Provide feedback to the University
The minimum expectation for council members is to provide at least one ambassador update a year and record your ambassador activity online. You’ll find this link on the Cornell University Council website. Recording your updates is important for several reasons. It helps staff and volunteer leaders stay informed about ambassador activity and measure its impact for strategic planning. Updates also provide a convenient way for you to relay any feedback, questions or comments you receive. 

6. Examples from Reports
Event / Engagement Described
Presentation to 100 high school students interested in veterinary medicine
Public Service Volunteer Event
Zincks Night
Cornell Posse Reception
Regional Club Luncheon
Cornell Annual Fund Reception
Cornell Law School Alumni and Students of Color Mixer
Regional Freshman Send-Off Event
Monthly Networking Breakfast
Dinner with two Cornell AA&P graduates who are practicing architects in Baltimore
Ran into a Cornell friend at the airport
University Information Shared
Cornell's CIS major and its growing popularity among students
Plans for expansion on North Campus that I had learned about in a CIG Webinar
Discussed Rand Hall renovation, new architecture library
Milstein Program for Technology and the Humanities
Makeup of the class of 2022, change of Agricultural Station name to Agritech, announcement that plants from the Botanic Gardens could be bought online
New members of the alumni relations team and the new dean of the college of Arts and Sciences
Feedback or Questions Received
Is Cornell Tech overshadowing news from Ithaca campus?
I met an alumnus who is interested in volunteering for Cornell. I referred him to alumni.cornell.edu. What more should I do?
Here are a few examples of the kinds of information that Ambassadors provide in their reports.

7. Set Up a Shortcut on Your Phone
iPhone
Use Safari browser to navigate to reporting page.
From the menu at the bottom of the screen, select the “Share” icon.
Select “Add to Home Screen.”
Android
Use Chrome browser to navigate to reporting page.
Click the menu icon (3 dots) at the top of the screen.
Select “Add to Home Screen.”
If you like, rename the icon, then click “Add.”
If you’d like to set up a shortcut to the ambassador reporting form on your phone, follow these steps to add the link to your home screen.

8. Automatic Reporting
CornellSOCIAL
Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN)
Council Interest Group (CIG) webinars
Your involvement in these activities is automatically reported, so you do not need to submit an ambassador report.
Use the links to learn more about CornellSOCIAL and the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network.
While your Council Interest Group webinar attendance is automatically reported, you are encouraged to share the information you learn and that sharing should be reported using the online form.

9. Choosing Information to Share
Keep the needs of your audience in mind
Make a personal connection
Stay informed
Attend TCAM (Trustee Council Annual Meeting)
View Council Interest Group (CIG) Webinars
Read Council newsletter
The information that you choose to share will depend upon you and your audience.
Always keep the needs of your audience in mind. Consider which topics will interest them most.
If possible make a personal connection; provide a story of how the information you are sharing is meaningful to you.
There are many ways to stay current with University news and initiatives.
Attend the Trustee Council Annual Meeting every fall.
Participate in Council Interest Group Webinars throughout the year.
Read the Council newsletter each month.

10. Online Resources
Ezra Magazine
Cornell Chronicle
CornellCast
Cornell Daily Sun
Cornell Alumni Magazine
College and unit newsletters
Media Relations — In the News
Google News Alerts
Cornell’s online information sources are numerous. In addition to general interest sources, you can sign up for college or unit newsletters. Consider forwarding links to specific articles that may be of particular interest to one or more of your contacts. A personal note from you with a link is almost sure to be read and appreciated.
If you’d like to see how Cornell is being covered in the news media, visit the University’s Media Relations Office website and take a look at the tab “In the News.”
If you want to keep abreast of Cornell mentions on the web, you could sign up for News Alerts from Google. Please remember to confirm information you find on the web with reliable University sources before you use it.

11. Presidential Priorities
When possible, share information that relates to one of the University’s priorities. Learn more and stay current with the priorities at Cornell’s Office of the President website.

12. Additional Important Information
What if you don’t know the answer to a question? You are not expected to be an expert on all things Cornell. Depending on the situation, you might offer to do some research and get back to the questioners, or refer them to an appropriate Cornell information source.
What should you do if approached by the news media or another organization seeking official information about Cornell?
Please refer inquiries to University Media Relations. Ambassadors are not creators of information about Cornell and are not legal representatives of the University.
Please read these additional tips for ambassadors.
What’s the best way to convey feedback or observations to the University?
For general feedback or observations use the ambassador activity report.
If you want to convey a comment or pose a question to someone at Cornell, but are not sure who to contact, the Office of Volunteer Programs is a good place to start.
Contact:

13. In Summary Stay up-to-date with University news and initiatives
Seek out opportunities to be an ambassador
Report your ambassador activity and, as appropriate, provide feedback
The role of ambassador is a natural extension of your enthusiasm for Cornell. And it’s an important part of your Council participation. Stay current. Seek opportunities to be an ambassador. Report your activity and provide feedback as needed.

14. Resources Ambassador Activity Report
Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN)
Cornell Alumni Magazine
CornellCast
Cornell Chronicle
Cornell Daily Sun
Cornell Social
Cornell University Council Website
Ezra Magazine
Media Relations – In the News
Office of the President

15. Thank you for being an ambassador for Cornell.
Thank you for being an ambassador and for all you do for the University.
Thank you for being an ambassador for Cornell.
END