Cornell was founded to be an institution for 'any person,' and accessibility is a central commitment that is key to our mission. The online Bachelor of Professional Studies program will expand access to a Cornell education in entirely new ways, bringing a Cornell undergraduate degree within reach for working adults in many different life circumstances.
Among the gatekeepers of prestige and influence, diversity became part of the branding. Hollywood is committed to better representation. Major corporations issued statements on equity, integrating social values into their public image. Top universities centered their messaging on celebrating difference and acceptance. Together, these shifts created the sense that access had not only improved but had become embedded in the country's most powerful places.
For years, Syrians have found themselves barred from accessing even the most basic tools. U.S. sanctions meant that companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon-either by law or by cautious decisions took on restrictions.