It was the world's first school for college-level study in workplace issues and remains as one of the leading institutions for industrial relations.

In addition to its undergraduate curriculum, the school offers professional and doctoral degrees, as well as executive education programs.

[4] In 1944, a coalition of leaders in American business, industry, labor, government, and education formed to establish the school.

The committee’s response to this observation was to recommend that the state of New York provide "a common training program" for representatives of labor and management.

[5] The committee stressed that the importance of such a training program is "not merely attendance at the same institution or in the same school, but rather mutual and cooperative analysis of the problems common to both groups."

On July 1, 1945, ILR became a going educational enterprise, charged with the mission "to improve industrial and labor conditions in the State through the provision of instruction, the conduct of research, and the dissemination of information in all aspects of industrial, labor, and public relations, affecting employers and employees.

However, due to time constraints, the school soon moved into quonset huts on the Ithaca campus and later into buildings vacated by the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine.

The first two years consisted of many social science classes such as American history and government, sociology, psychology, economics, and law.

To fulfill this expectation, students would spend three of their summers working in the field for each of the following types of organizations: industrial or commercial, government, and labor.

[9] Between 1959 and 1961, a new ILR quadrangle was constructed using state funds on land formerly occupied by the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

[9] Of these, the 1911 building housing the ILR Conference Center (and renamed King-Shaw Hall in 2012[12]) is listed on the register of historic structures.

The ILR Conference Center, with its distinctive belfry atop, hosts special training sessions and recruiting events and offices for the United Auto Workers.

In 1998, New York State replaced the portion of Ives Hall fronting along Tower Road with a new 110,605 sq ft (10,275.5 m2) building.

[16] The 1911 building which houses the ILR Conference Center was rededicated as Patricia G. and Rubén Jose King-Shaw, Jr. Hall in 2012.

[12] ILR occupies 40,000 square feet of space in the General Electric Building at 570 Lexington Avenue in New York City for almost 100 staff.

These students’ passion for the underdog and stunning good looks make ILR, hands down, the number one sexiest major at Cornell.

Graduate students may also complete a semester abroad or a one-year-additional dual-degree Master in Management from ESCP Europe at any one of its campuses: Paris, Torino, Berlin, Madrid, or London.

The school's extension program provides training and consulting services to both organized labor and management on contract negotiations, handling grievances, and employee relations.

[30] The school's international program hosts scholars from other nations to conduct research in Ithaca as visiting fellows.