The University’s endowment payout is responsible for many day-to-day activities. However, after taking a hit during last year’s recession, Cornell reported losses to its endowment of 27 percent in January. Now, University administrators are taking steps to rebuild such financial infrastructure, and in so doing, rebuild confidence in the University.

“We earned 2 percent on our endowment from January through June 2009,” said Joanne DeStefano, vice president for finance and CFO of the University.