Parenting Workshops

Free parenting workshops are available to Cornell faculty, staff, postdocs, and students.

Preparing for Baby Series

Register for the Fall 2026 Preparing for Baby Series

Text: Preparing for Baby Workshops; images of babies with parents

Congratulations on adding to your family! If you need more information about all things pregnancy, labor/delivery, and the postpartum period, and want to meet other expectant parents in our Cornell Community, register for the Preparing for Baby Series here.

The Preparing for Baby Series is meant to help answer your questions, offer moments of reflection, and help connect you to people who are experiencing a similar moment in time.

All those in our Cornell Community (faculty, staff, postdocs, and students) and their partners/support persons are welcome to attend.

This series is offered via Zoom and is free of charge to participants. For more information about the series, reach out to Ruth Merle-Doyle on the Work/Life team.

Fall 2026 Preparing for Baby Series

Please contact Ruth Merle-Doyle with questions or for more information.

Sessions are virtual and run Wednesdays from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Class 1: September 30, 2026 - Welcome to Preparing for Baby: Introductions, Cornell Resources/Support and Parental Leave/Accommodation Information
Class 2: October 7, 2026 - Healthy Pregnancy and Birth Choices
Class 3: October 14, 2026 - The Labor Process and Birth Planning
Class 4: October 21, 2026 - Beyond the Birth Day and the Immediate Postpartum

Breast/Chest Feeding Basics: From Birth to Return to Work - Fall 2026
Wednesday, November 11 and Thursday, November 12, 2026, 5:30-7:30 pm, via Zoom

Open to all in the Cornell Community at no cost

Preparing to welcome a new baby comes with many questions, and feeding your baby is one of the most important topics to explore before birth. This two-part workshop is designed to help pregnant parents build knowledge, confidence and more details about what to expect during their breast/chest feeding journey.

Our facilitator will be Jeanette McCulloch. Jeanette is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and currently the Lead Strategist at BirthSwell, a company that advocates for maternal and infant health. She has been facilitating breast/chest feeding workshops for Cornell for over 15 years, is highly connected to the local lactation community and brings a wealth of knowledge to her workshops.

We'll discuss how milk is made, what happens in the hours and days before and after birth for both parent and baby and strategies for establishing and maintaining a healthy milk supply. Participants will also learn about supportive lactation resources, planning for a return to work, and practical tips for successful pumping.

Whether you're a first-time parent or looking for a refresher, this class offers evidence-based information and practical tools to help you make informed decisions and feel more confident during the early months of parenthood.

Register here for this event. For more information, reach out to worklife@cornell.edu.

Preparing for College

Financial Aid 101

Coming spring 2027

Join Jennifer Fibbe Wickham, Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Admissions at Cornell University and learn about the college financial aid process and when you should start preparing. This workshop will focus on understanding college costs and strategies to ensure your student has affordable college options.

For Cornell-affiliated families only. Registration coming in early 2027.

Note: This workshop is not specific to the Cornell financial aid process and will not be recorded.

College Search and Application Workshop

Coming spring 2027

Cornellians who are parents of high school students are invited to a workshop, hosted by Pamela Tan of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, about approaching the college process in general. We will discuss tips for developing a list of colleges based on your student’s interest and abilities; conducting campus visits (including taking advantage of virtual opportunities); and advice on completing a holistic college application.

For Cornell-affiliated families only. Registration coming in early 2027.

Note: This workshop is not specific to the Cornell admissions process and will not be recorded.

Working at Cornell

Parenting