New Student Orientation

The following videos have been procured specifically for the Heinz College Orientation to serve as an introduction to the many important items a student should know prior to the first day of classes.

Students starting classes in Fall 2023 should view the following videos by August 20, 2023

• What I Wish I Knew 
  Students from across Heinz College will be sharing some of their experiences, as well as answering your questions.
  View this video
   
• Heinz Student Affairs and the GSA
  Associate Director of Student Affairs, Annie Julian shares insight into all the exciting opportunities her office provides students. Learn about the GSA, joining clubs/organizations, getting involved with the Student Activities Committee (SAC), participating in Leadership Development exercises, obtain conference funding, and more!
  View this video
   
• Housing in Pittsburgh
  The City of Pittsburgh consists of several distinct neighborhoods. If you’re planning to move to Pittsburgh before the start of the semester, please join us for this presentation on Pittsburgh housing.This session will provide a lot of information, especially critical for students who are not already familiar with the city.
  View the presentation of "Welcome to Our Neighborhood"
   
• Meet Your Career Advisors
  The Heinz College Career Services team is your greatest advocate. We invite you to watch the following videos so you can get to know the folks who will help you on your job and internship search
  • Tiaona Cade, Career Advisor (MSPPM and Health Care Programs): Learn more about me!
    
  • Katie Cassarly, Career Advisor (MSISPM): Learn more about me!
    
  • Karen Fleischman, Career Advisor (MISM-12 and MISM-BIDA 16): Learn more about me!
    
  • Christine Sundry, Career Advisor (MISM-16 and MISM-BIDA 12): Learn more about me!
  • Matthew Spangler, Career Advisor (MAM and MEIM): Learn more about me!
  • Diane Taylor, Career Advisor (MSPPM-DA and MSPPM-DC): Learn more about me!
    
    Check out these FAQs on how and when you will work with your Career Advisor. 

• Financial Aid and Student Accounts
  This session will cover information related to CMU’s Hub and Student Accounts Office, student loans (where applicable), Federal Student Aid (where applicable), student employment, other payment options and smart budgeting and borrowing for graduate school
  View a recording of this session
  View a recording of a follow up Q & A session
  Download Slide Deck
   
• Meet Heinz College’s Student Affairs Liaison
  Holly Hippensteel, Associate Vice President for Community Standards and Diversity Initiatives, will share insight into her role as the Heinz College Student Affairs Liaison.
  View this video
   
• Student Health Insurance
  Join CMU's University Health Service's (UHS) Student Health Insurance office for an overview of the CMU health insurance plan offered to students, costs, enrollment deadlines, coverage, and more! For students seeking out a Health Insurance Waiver, please visit the Student Health Insurance Waiver webpage. To access FAQ's on the Student Health Insurance Plan, click here. After watching this session, please feel free to contact the Student Health Insurance office at shinsure@andrew.cmu.edu with any questions.
  View this video
  Understand Health Insurance Terminology
   
• University Police: Campus Safety
  Join the CMU Campus Police to know the resources and important information to protect both your personal and property safety. Students will also learn about the CMU shuttle, escort service, and self-defense classes offered. If you are on campus and in need of emergency assistance, please call the Campus Police - SAVE THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE (412) 268-2323. When off campus please call 9-1-1
  View this video
   
• University Health Services
  Join CMU's University Health Service's (UHS) for an overview of their services such as primary medical care, health promotion and insurance services. After watching this session, please feel free to contact the University Health Services office at health@andrew.cmu.edu with any questions.
  View this video
   
• CMU Libraries Resources and Services
  Join CMU Libraries as they share resources and services covering the basics of searching the CMU catalog to access books, and newspapers. In addition, this video demonstrates techniques for constructing effective searches in academic databases and covers the wide array of e-resources offered by the Libraries including resources for data and statistical information, mapping and GIS, and industry and company research. Finally, you'll learn about the many other ways the librarians and other experts in the library can help with software tools, data visualization, data analysis, coding and more through consultations and in-person and virtual workshops.
  View this video
   

The safety and well-being of every individual in the Carnegie Mellon University family is a top priority for the university. The university’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plans and resources have been implemented to:

• Preserve life and safety of students, faculty and staff

• Provide concept of operations and direction, control, and coordination of resources needed for incident or event stabilization

• Protect University property, the community, and the environment

• Manage communications and information regarding incident and event response operations and safety

• Provide and analyze information to support decision-making and action plans

 

Heinz College wants to ensure that student's attention can be focused on their academic and career journey upon arrival in Pittsburgh. In advance of your arrival on campus, we strongly recommend that all students become familiar with the resources and trainings the University offers in relation to Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Please take the time to watch each video below (8 minutes or less) before you travel to Pittsburgh.

• Active Shooter Awareness Training
  The CMU Police are trained and equipped to respond to such a situation, but it is imperative that members of the community be informed as to their options should such a problem develop here. The CMU video walks you through the phases of an active shooter incident. The active shooter summary sheet lists your action options.
• Shelter in Place
  Shelter in place means finding a safe location indoors and staying there until you are given an “all clear” or told to evacuate. You may be asked to shelter in place because of an active shooter; tornado; or chemical, radiological, or other hazard.
• CMU Alert
  CMU-Alert is Carnegie Mellon University's emergency notification service. In the event of an emergency, the system will send text, voice and email messages to members of the CMU community. Messages are posted to Facebook and Twitter for parents, alumni and community members. Messages and updates also are posted on this website. All students are automatically registered for CMU-Alert using the contact information that has been entered into Student Information Online, so please make sure your information is up-to-date.
• Emergency Phones, AED, and Stop The Bleed Kits
  Emergency Phones, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) devices (designed to restore the heart’s normal rhythm in the event of cardiac arrest), and Stop The Bleed Kits can be found throughout campus. Please explore the interactive map to know where the nearest resource is to Hamburg Hall.

To ensure you are familiar with all resources, videos, and trainings available to students, please visit the Emergency Preparedness and Response website, as well as the CMU Police website. 

The Carnegie Mellon University Police Department is a full-service, community-oriented law enforcement agency dedicated to serving CMU’s faculty, staff, students and visitors. CMU Police provide police services 24 hours a day, year-round. Police officers patrol all university-owned and leased property and, when needed, respond to and investigate crimes and other emergencies. The department also employs security officers who help patrol campus on foot and bicycles, or are assigned to fixed-location security posts.

IMPORTANT! - Please ensure the CMU Police phone number is saved in your phone and that you disable "Do not Disturb" from that number, so that all emergency notifications come through.

CMU Police Emergency Number: 412-268-2323
City of Pittsburgh Police: 9-1-1

Reregistration required for orientation sessions held on Zoom.

• Orientation Welcome, Course Exemptions & Placement Exam Logistics
  Associate Deans' Jackie Speedy and Andy Wasser will welcome all students to Heinz College. The welcome remarks will be followed by Heinz Academic Services, in partnership with Program Director's providing an overview of the course exemption process for incoming Heinz students to include the pre-exemption process, schedule for exams, process for taking exams, technology used for exams and other technical and logistical considerations. This session will help you to understand what exams are offered, why it is important to consider taking these exams, the impact of taking or not taking exams, and more. Along with the formal presentations, there will be an opportunity for Q & A.
  
  View Recordings from this session (Watch both the Main Room and Breakout Room recordings):
  • MAIN ROOM - Course Exemptions & Placement Exam Logistics
    • MEIM Breakout Room
    • MAM Breakout Room
    • MSPPM Flagship & Data Analytics Breakout Room
    • MSPPM-DC Breakout Room
    • MSHCA Breakout Room
    • MSISPM Breakout Room
    • MISM & MISM-BIDA Breakout Room
  
   
• Career Services Advising & Summer Preparation
  Join the entire Career Services staff for an introduction to the Heinz College Career Services Office. Learn about available resources and services, and get answers to some common questions that incoming students typically have during their first semester. Also, learn more about their summer onboarding program, Career Academy! Following the general session, students will split into breakout rooms by program to learn more about the program-specific outcomes and career paths, as well as industry-related resources and programming that are available to your program. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session.
  
  View Recordings from this session (Watch both the Main Room and Breakout Room recordings):
  • MAIN ROOM - Career Services Overview and Career Academy Kick-Off
    • MEIM and MAM Breakout Room
    • MSPPM (All Tracks) and MSHCA Breakout Room
    • MISM (All Tracks) and MSISPM Breakout Room
  
  

• C-Squad Introductions and Team Building
  Pardon me...what's a C-squad? C-squads are mini-communities of your fellow classmates, which you will connect with as you participate in orientation activities together. Keep an eye out for an introduction email in late July, as you learn the names of your C-Squadmates, as well as details about the many activities, team-building exercises, and friendly competitions we have planned!
   

• Academic Integrity: Expectations, Policies, and Process
  Carnegie Mellon University's Office of Community Standards & Integrity (OCSI) has developed an Academic Integrity Course/Exam which highlights the university's expectations, policies, and processes around academic integrity and violations. Heinz College students are required to complete the Course/Exam.
  
  The course opens on August 1st - Enroll Here
  
  Heinz College Academic Services will review participation to ensure you complete the online course. Students can also expect a follow-up session during the in-person Orientation programming. Failure to attend the in-person "Academic Integrity" session on August 22nd (and complete the online course detailed above) could result in a hold being placed on your schedule for the Fall Semester. If you have any questions or need further explanation, please contact Heinz Academic Services.
   

Placement Exams will take place online from July 29, 2023 to August 6, 2023 (with the exception of Python Programming I on June 10th for MSPPM-DA, MSHCA, and MSISPM students). Please visit the Placement and Exemption Exams Information page for details on when exams for your program will be held.

Please Note: You will have a 24-hour period to gain access to the timed exam. This will be your ONLY opportunity to take a placement or exemption exam.

Students must attend the Mandatory Course Exemptions & Placement Exam Logistics Q&A with Heinz Academic Services & Program Director session (July 6), as they will cover topics related to the curriculum and Placement and Exemption exams, and the impact your decision to take (or not take) an exam can have on your schedule.

Some (NOT ALL) exams require "pre-registration." Exams that require pre-registration will be noted. The deadline to pre-register for an exam that requires registration is July 22, 2023 (11:59pm EDT).

June 10 (12:00pm EDT) - June 11 (12:00pm EDT):

• Python Programming I
  • This exam is ONLY for students in the MSPPM-DA, MSHCA, and MSISPM Programs. All those who are eligible for this exam have been notified by email.

July 29 (12:00pm EDT) - August 4 (12:00pm EDT):

• Strategic Presentation Skills – pre‐registration required

August 4 (12:00am EDT - 11:59pm EDT):

• Python Programming II
  
• Applied Econometrics I – pre‐registration required

August 5 (12:00am EDT - 11:59pm EDT):

• Database
• Economics
• Accounting/Finance

august 6 (12:00am EDT - 11:59pm EDT):

• Statistics
• Writing – pre‐registration required

Click here for full details on Placement & Exemption Exams

Academic Advising will be held from August 1, 2023 to August 25, 2023

Students will be notified of their Academic Advisor assignment via email, including the date, time, and location (in-person or virtual) for when their first advising session is scheduled. If you do not receive notification of this information by August 1st, please contact your Program Director.

Ahead of your advising meeting, please visit the Registration, Courses, and Advising page for important details regarding course registration, sequencing, and activity you may see occur on your first semester schedule over the summer.

• New student check-in
• Welcome Remarks (Dean Ramayya Krishnan, David Eber - Executive Director of Admissions)
• Program specific sessions - Course Registration, Policies, and Program Preparation
• Scavenger Hunt
• Welcome Party

• Academic Integrity - Join Associate Dean's Andy Wasser and Jackie Speedy, along with Heinz College faculty for a discussion on the Univesity's Academic Integrity Polices. Student's will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss policy violation scenarios.
  
  Teamwork and Leadership - Join Professor David Lassman as he leads an interactive workshop on teamwork and leadership frameworks. During your time at Heinz College you will be on many teams and you will take on many leadership roles, both formal and informal. We want you to practice building better teams and being better leaders starting right now.
  
  
  

• MISM PROGRAMS ONLY

  Career Services: Passport to Success
  Download the Career Essentials Guide (needed for this session)
  • Take Flight with LinkedIn
    Join us for an interactive workshop covering how to optimize LinkedIn’s features and build a robust profile. In addition, learn how LinkedIn can assist in your internship/job search, enhance your networking, and how to leverage your profile to ensure you’re showing up on the radar of recruiters and hiring managers. We encourage you to bring a laptop and work alongside us.
    
    
  • Personalize Your Career Itinerary
    We’ll provide you with program-specific resources and strategies to help accelerate your internship/job search. During this session, you’ll learn more about the outcomes and career paths specific to your program as well as industry-related resources and programming that are available for you.
    
    
  • Tales from the Flight Crew
    Hear from our esteemed alumni and valued employer partners on the career paths related to your program, the skills and competencies needed to succeed in those roles, and how to navigate your time at Heinz to secure these job opportunities.
    
    
  • Prepare for Landing
    At the conclusion of the orientation program, join us in the Rotunda (where you checked in) to verify your completed passport in order to collect your Heinz College backpack, as well as submit your tickets for the book bundle raffle.

• CMU Campus Police: University police will share a presentation on the safety, security, and emergency preparedness procedures the University has in place. Highlights of the presentation will include recent scams students have fallen victim of, active shooter training, campus resources, and more.
  
  
• Identity, Community and Inclusion: What does it mean to be a member of a community? How do our values and identity shape the way we view others? Join Dr. Dareen Basma, Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Climate and Equity (DICE), Alyson Jarnagin, Senior Director of Academic Services & Advising, Annie Julian, Associate Director of Student Affairs, and your C-Squad for an in-depth conversation about how our identity, culture, and background plays a role in fostering community and inclusion at Heinz College.
  
  
  

• NON-MISM PROGRAMS ONLY

  Career Services: Passport to Success
  Download the Career Essentials Guide (needed for this session)
  • Take Flight with LinkedIn
    Join us for an interactive workshop covering how to optimize LinkedIn’s features and build a robust profile. In addition, learn how LinkedIn can assist in your internship/job search, enhance your networking, and how to leverage your profile to ensure you’re showing up on the radar of recruiters and hiring managers. We encourage you to bring a laptop and work alongside us.
    
    
  • Personalize Your Career Itinerary
    We’ll provide you with program-specific resources and strategies to help accelerate your internship/job search. During this session, you’ll learn more about the outcomes and career paths specific to your program as well as industry-related resources and programming that are available for you.
    
    
  • Tales from the Flight Crew
    Hear from our esteemed alumni and valued employer partners on the career paths related to your program, the skills and competencies needed to succeed in those roles, and how to navigate your time at Heinz to secure these job opportunities.
    
    
  • Prepare for Landing
    At the conclusion of the orientation program, join us in the Rotunda (where you checked in) to verify your completed passport in order to collect your Heinz College backpack, as well as submit your tickets for the book bundle raffle.

• Camp Guyasuta - Outdoor challenge and ropes course focusing on team building, problem solving, and having fun. (Top-rated orientation session for 10+ years!)