Enrolling Student Checklist: Admitted Students, Part Time

After you have accepted your offer of admission by submitting the response form (and paid the enrollment deposit, if required), you will receive an email with the Subject: “Action Required: Your Andrew userID Has Been Created” from it-help@cmu.edu. Follow the directions in that email. Expect this email within 2 weeks of accepting the offer of admission. (If you have a current Andrew ID, ignore and delete this email).

The email will provide instructions on how to receive your Andrew userID, set a password, and enroll in two-factor authentication (2fa) with DUO, Carnegie Mellon’s multi-factor authentication service provider. Please be sure to check your spam folder, in the event the email does not appear in your inbox.

Your "Andrew ID" is required to login to university services such as SIO, Canvas, and HealthConnect. If you misplaced or did not receive this email, please email it-help@cmu.edu and request an "Andrew replacement email."

Please note: Your activated Andrew userID will be required to successfully complete all of the subsequent steps on this checklist.

CMU Employees: All CMU employees will continue to use their current Andrew Account. Please ignore/delete the email regarding a new Andrew ID.

Deadline: Within five days of receiving the “Action Required: Your Andrew userID Has Been Created” from it-help@cmu.edu email.

The following information is specific to MPM students with the Quantitative Methods course condition in their letter of admission.

Quantitative Methods course: Prior to enrolling in the MPM program, students must successfully complete Heinz College's (free) online Quantitative Methods course and pass an exam with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) in each of the 4 sections and a total score of 32 or higher.

Registering for the Course

First, you must officially accept the offer of admission (through the link in your online admission letter). Within 7 days of accepting the offer, you will receive an email entitled “Action Required: Your Andrew userID Has Been Created” from it-help@cmu.edu.

Once you have your Andrew ID, email Jessica Bowser Acrie to be added to the online course. (You cannot do this yourself.) You will be added within 3 business days and will be notified via email to your Andrew email once enrolled. Current CMU employees who already have an active Andrew ID may email Jessica immediately to request access.

The online course will cover topics in a self-paced, 6 module format:

Module 1 – Mathematical Foundations
Module 2 – Algebra Foundations/ Solving Equations
Module 3 – Geometry Foundations/ Graphing
Module 4 – Simplifying Mathematical Expressions
Module 5 – Basic Statistics Concepts
Module 6 – Probability Concepts

The time needed to complete each module will depend upon one’s level of experience with the concepts covered in that module. Use the following estimates as a guideline:

Basic Quantitative background: Estimate 9 to 12 hours per module
Intermediate Quantitative background: Estimate 5 to 8 hours per module
Advanced Quantitative background: Estimate 1 to 4 hours per module
Those with significant quantitative experience may choose to test out of the course.

Before Taking the Quantitative Methods Exam

The Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor serve as digital proctors for each exam by limiting access to other websites and applications and recording your exam attempt to ensure compliance with the University's academic integrity policy. For more information about the recording and how to prepare, please review the Respondus Monitor details.

A practice test will be available for all students to make sure they can access an assessment in Canvas using the Respondus lockdown browser and Monitor prior to any scheduled exam. Please send any questions via email to Jessica Acrie.

Carnegie Mellon University is committed to helping students maximize their learning in all of their courses during their degree program.

Students with physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional disabilities are encouraged to self-identify with the Office of Disability Resources and request needed accommodations.

Masters students may submit an application for accommodations as soon as they receive their Andrew ID and password (see below). For your convenience, the Office of Disability Resources' staff are happy to meet with students by phone to discuss setting up accommodations prior to your arrival on campus.

Obtain accommodations prior to the start of the program by following the steps outlined on the Disability Resources website.

For more information and to begin the application process, please visit the Disability Resources website.

Please contact Catherine Getchell at getchell@cmu.edu should you have any questions or concerns.

If you feel your disability will inhibit your ability to participate in any Heinz College Orientation activities, please contact the Heinz Admissions Office at 412-268-2164 or hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu.

Recommended Deadlines listed below:

January (Spring) Semester Incoming Students: January 1
May (Summer) Semester Incoming Students: May 1
August (Fall) Semester Incoming Students: August 15

Heinz College requires all incoming Heinz students to have a laptop computer at the start of class. Please review the Heinz computing documentation and videos. Many software downloads are also available through the jumpstart guide.

Review the laptop requirements and learn more about the Virtual Computer Lab.

Part time students do not participate in an additional computing orientation. Please be sure to review this page and the laptop requirements prior to your New Student Orientation/ Program Welcome.

Deadline

Spring Start Students: January 1
Summer Start Students: May 15
Fall Start Students - August 15

MPM & On-Campus MSIT Students:

Submit your photo for your Student ID Card and the student directory.

If you would like to have your student ID card ready for pick-up prior to orientation, and not have to wait until orientation, please visit the CMU ID card website for instructions.

When you pick up your ID card you will have to present a government issued ID.

This card will allow you free access to public transportation in Pittsburgh, student discounts around the city, and access to campus facilities, including the Library, the exercise facilities and any CMU sponsored events.

For students who do not send their photo, you will need to have your picture taken at the Hub once you arrive on campus for your photo ID to be created. You will have time during orientation week to have your picture taken.

(Current CMU employees may skip this step)

MSIT Distance Students

Please submit your photo electronically. Admissions will mail your ID Card following Orientation.

Deadline

Spring Start Students: January 3
Summer Start Students: May 10
Fall Start Students: August 20

Following the activation of your Andrew ID, you will start to receive University correspondence at your Andrew email address. Check your Andrew email daily. It is important to still monitor the email address associated with your application for admission, as Orientation-related messages may be sent there.

Read more about accessing your Andrew email.

Parking on Campus

Parking spaces are available free of charge after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. The best lot to use is the Morewood Parking Lot the parking gates at the entry of the lot are turned up at 5:00 p.m. daily for Free parking.

On campus parking permits are valid for 12 months beginning in August each year. Spaces are limited, so we recommend that you apply as early as possible if you will need to drive to the campus and park outside of the "free" parking times. For more information on parking and rates, please visit the Parking Services website.

Unless you purchase a Carnegie Mellon parking permit, parking on campus is extremely limited between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on visitor parking rates, please visit the Parking Services website.

If you will begin your program in May, parking information is a little different. Summer parking permits are available at a discounted rate. Summer permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rates for the summer will be posted on the Parking Services’ website as soon as they are announced.

Students who purchase summer parking permits and want to continue to park on campus after the summer must purchase a new permit, at the regular price, if they wish to continue parking on campus during the fall and spring semesters.

Directions to Campus

Heinz College is located in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh in Hamburg Hall, 4800 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information about visiting Carnegie Mellon, including driving directions, campus maps, and a list of local accommodations, please visit the Carnegie Mellon visitor website.

Distance-learning students are not required to come to campus unless specifically instructed otherwise; however, we welcome visits to campus. Distance-learning students who wish to visit campus should contact their program director to schedule a time to for the visit.

Public Transportation

Transportation is available to CMU students via the Shuttle and Escort Services. Shuttle Services operate on a fixed route with designated stops, while Escort Services operate in the evening/overnight providing transportation from campus to nearby neighborhoods.

In addition to the CMU Shuttle and Escort Services, transportation via the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) system is available for degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students who pay the PRT fee for the current semester. For more information on the PRT system, please visit: https://www.rideprt.org/.

Our Admissions and FInancial Aid staff has prepared a presentation to help incoming students with making the necessary arrangements for financing your graduate studies.

This presentation covers expenses, scholarships/fellowships, education loans, and how to access the The Hub/Student Accounts. Access the recording of the presentation.

For questions, please email David Eber.

Borrowing Federal Education Loans as a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

Part-time students must be enrolled for at least 18 units to be eligible for US Federal financial aid for that semester.

Students can begin the Federal Financial Aid application process by completing the FAFSA. Learn more about the FAFSA and the Federal Financial Aid application process.

Federal Financial Aid Processing

Students who are borrowing U.S. federal loans are encouraged to follow the timeline on the CMU Student Financial Services website.

Take action on all federal aid and complete all of the required federal forms (the dates listed on the site are suggested dates, not deadlines- but following the timeline puts you in the best position for on time disbursement).

Be sure to submit loan docs (MPN) and entrance counseling (can be done as early as June 1 for the fall semester).
Beginning July 1: Accept, reduce or decline all financial aid listed in the portal.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program was established in 2007 to encourage individuals to enter and to continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on their eligible federal student loans after they have made 120 payments on those loans under certain repayment plans while employed full time by certain public service employers. Get more information about PSLF.

The HUB is Carnegie Mellon's one-stop-shop for enrollment services where all financial aid application processing and student account information is handled. Please visit their site for any questions relating to the payment of your student account.

Please visit the university's website to review the MSIT and MPM estimated cost of attendance.

When is Your Bill Available to View?

Enrollment Services and The HUB issue tuition bills (student account invoices) via email to your University "Andrew" email account. You may also view your invoice online via Student Information Online (SIO).

Email notifications are sent to a student’s Andrew ID e-mail address when a new monthly invoice is available online. The notification includes information about the student’s billing statement and a link to Student Information Online (SIO) where the student is able able to view their invoice.

Tuition is not assessed until the student has registered for classes in the MPM and MSIT programs. Assuming you have registered for class for the upcoming semester, you can expect to receive an invoice based on the following timeline:

January semester: January 1
May semester: May 1
August semester: August 1

When is the Deadline to Pay the Student Account Balance?

Spring Semester: January 15
Summer Semester: May 15
Fall Semester: August 15

When Can I Expect to Receive My Student Account Refund?

To expedite the processing and receipt of account refunds, students are asked to sign-up for electronic refunds. Students can connect a US bank account with their CMU student account to allow for immediate receipt of refunds.

Other Information

Payment Options

Several payment options are available to students, including a Tuition Payment Plan, which allows you to make monthly payments on your August or January invoice (not available during the summer semester). Review the complete list of payment options.

If you are required to pay the $500 enrollment deposit, it should appear as a credit on your account for your first semester's bill. If you have paid the enrollment deposit, and it does not appear as a credit on your first bill, please contact the Heinz College Office of Admissions.

CMU Employees

If you are applying for CMU Tuition Benefits through CMU Human Resources, the tuition benefits application must be completed each and every semester you are enrolled in classes by the tuition due date for that semester. Log in to Workday to complete/submit the required forms.

General Motors (GM) Students

Billing is processed directly between GM and CMU.

VA Benefits Eligible Students

If you are a US military veteran or eligible for VA benefits including Chapter 31, 33 and 35, please notify the VA Certifying Official of your eligibility

Mike Danko, ROTC and Veterans Affairs Coordinator
- Email: uro-vaedbenefits@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone: 412-268-8747

Get more information about veterans' benefits for students at CMU.

Academic Information and Enrollment Details

We appreciate how valuable your time is. You are about to be busier than ever and we want to be sure you hit the ground running! The Program Welcome and Orientation session will be held 1-2 weeks before your first day of classes in your master's program. Important information will be shared with you and your cohort to prepare you for success in your first semester. The session is a great opportunity for you to ask remaining questions and ensure you are getting the most out of your graduate school experience.

You will receive an email from the Office of Admissions with the date, time, location/ link for your cohort's Program Welcome and Orientation session as soon as the schedule is available.

In the meantime, review the information below regarding academic advising, course registration for your first semester, buying your books, etc.

Your Program Welcome and Orientation will answer many of your questions, but if you have a need, you may reach out directly to your program director/ advisor at any time.

MSIT On-Campus and Distance Students

You may reach out to the MSIT academic advisor, Allie Andrews, to schedule an appointment (online or in person). You may also reach out to Kayla Molzer, Academic Coordinator, at 412-268-3291.

MPM

You may reach out to the MPM academic advisor, Jessi Znosko, to schedule an appointment (online or in person). You can also reach out to the Director for Nonprofit and Public Management Programs, Jessica Bowser Acrie.

Carnegie Mellon measures coursework in terms of units rather the credits. A full semester course is typically 12 units (which is equivalent to 3 credits of graduate work at other universities). Half-semester courses, termed minis, are typically 6 units. You can expect to devote an average of 12 hours per week to each course, whether it is a full- or half-semester course.

A part-time course load is between 6 and 24 units. The average part-time course load is 18 units. (students must register for at least 18 units to be eligible for US federal loans)

To view your program’s curriculum, please visit the following sites:

Please note, students are able to cross-register for courses that are offered by another degree program besides their own.

Students may apply for exemptions from core courses in which they have a significant background. Contact your academic advisor for further information regarding course exemptions. To exempt a course you will need to prove that you have the required knowledge of the course material to the instructor by:

Providing a copy of your transcript,
Taking an exemption exam, or
Providing other information as deemed necessary by your advisor and the instructor for that particular course.

Please note that exempting a course does not reduce the required number of units you must complete. Exempting a course does free your schedule to take additional elective courses that interest you.

MSIT On-Campus and Distance Students

We will discuss the exemption and transfer credit process during our Program Welcome and Orientation. We typically offer exemption exams for core curriculum classes including: Database Management, Statistics, and Economic Analysis. Please discuss your interest in exemptions or transfer credits with your program director, David Riel.

MPM

91-717 Business Writing for Leaders

MPM students have one opportunity to take an online exemption exam for 91-717 Business Writing for Leaders in their first year of the program. Students will access the exam online through Canvas during a pre-determined timeframe. The exam asks students to respond to a prompt in a set time. Your program director will communicate the semester and dates of the exam via email. Students do not earn units for the course if they earn an exemption. Instead, they will choose an elective in place of the course.

90-718 Strategic Presentation Skills

MPM students have one opportunity to take an exemption exam for 90-718 Strategic Presentation Skills in their first year of the program. Your program director will communicate the semester and dates of the exam via email. Once scheduled, students who wish to take the exemption exam will submit their 1) resume highlighting three years of work experience and 2) a summary of presentations completed within a professional setting. Faculty will review to determine if a student qualifies to take the exam.

Students who qualify will receive the parameters of the final deliverable graded for exemption and will be given a window to complete. Students do not earn units for the course if they earn an exemption. Instead, they will choose an elective in place of the course.

Requesting to Exempt Courses that Don't Offer an Exemption Exam

MPM students may petition an exemption from a core course that does not offer an exemption exam using this exemption form. Students should submit all requests in the first semester of their program. Students are required to attach an official course description or syllabus from the prior course(s), (including the professor's name, textbooks used, and particular chapters covered) as well as a copy of your transcript showing the grade you received for the course.

The faculty or staff member designated to make decisions for that specific core course (not necessarily the instructor of the course) will review the materials and determine if you have mastered the skills covered in that course. Mastery does not mean that you are familiar with all of the material taught in the course, but rather you know enough that your time is better spent pursuing alternate coursework. Students who gain an exemption may need to learn some particular skills taught in the exempted course on their own time. Faculty very rarely grant exemptions based on work experience alone.

Students do not earn units for the course if they earn an exemption. Instead, they will choose an elective in place of the course.

Your academic advisor will register you for your first semester of classes:

MSIT Distance and On-Campus Students

Program staff will register you for your first semester according to your major (BIDA, ISA, ITM) and your first semester (Fall, Spring or Summer). To confirm, you do not need to get into the registration system at this time.

MSIT program director David Riel can be contacted with any questions. You may also reach out to Kayla Molzer, Academic Coordinator (412-268-3291).

MPM

You will automatically be scheduled for the following classes for your first semester:

August Start students:

91-800 Organizational Management (12 units)
91-804 Financial Management (12 units)

January Start students:

Schedule will be available for your review during orientation.

Please contact Jessica Bowser Acrie to discuss any adjustments to your schedule.

Please follow the links below for the important dates you want to be aware of for the academic year. The calendars include start and end dates for each semester, holidays, final exams schedules, and more.

Heinz Academic Calendar

CMU Academic Calendar

Some online classes in the MSIT program may require a proctored exam. Registered students will be expected to complete and return an Exam Proctor Form two weeks prior to the scheduled exam. You do not need to turn this form in now, but please read it now so you are familiar with the process, guidelines for identifying an acceptable proctor, and potential costs for that service.

We do not recommend that you purchase textbooks prior to your first class. Please review additional information regarding textbooks.

MSIT Distance Students

MSIT Distance Students will receive a course welcome, including textbook information, two weeks before the course start date via email.

MPM and MSIT On-Campus Students:

In the past, students have expressed an interest in purchasing textbooks prior to their arrival at Carnegie Mellon. We do not recommend that you do this for a number of reasons. First, faculty can change the edition of the textbook they use at the last minute requiring you to purchase a new book once you arrive. Second, we sometimes have different faculty members teaching different sections of the same course. They do not always use the same text.

We've factored the purchase of books into the “Estimated Cost of Attendance” for each degree program offered by the Heinz College. As you will see from the breakdown of expenses, the cost for books is in addition to tuition fees and other expenses. We advise that you use these numbers when planning your expenses.

Campus Bookstore

The bookstore is located in the basement of the University Shoppe, located in the University Center on Carnegie Mellon University's campus. The Bookstore's regular hours are as follows:

Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

Telephone Number: (412) 268-2967

Heinz College is committed to ensuring the integrity of our admission process and the reputation of our educational programs. We also want to protect and enhance the value of the degrees that we confer. Because of this commitment, we partner with a third-party provider, ProVerify, Powered by Application Verification, Inc., to verify the information provided in applications for admission.

Heinz College reserves the right to require all admitted students to successfully complete the Credentials Verification Process to be eligible to enroll. The purpose of this verification process is to protect all stakeholders of the program (including students, faculty, staff and alumni) from those who would falsify their backgrounds to gain an unfair advantage in the admission process.

We view this process as a partnership with our incoming students in maintaining the high ethical and professional standards of Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. Our verification process includes validating academic information, professional work experience including duration/title (we do not verify salary data), and recommendation information. Students required to complete a verification will be notified by the Heinz College Office of Admission.

CMU employees, General Motors MSIT program students (selected for TEP), and a limited number other incoming students have already been reviewed, thus these students are not required to complete this step.

Steps to Complete the Verification Process (If Required)

Complete the Credential Verification Disclosure and Authorization Form at your earliest convenience after receiving the email.
After receiving your Disclosure and Authorization Form, ProVerify will begin verifying information that was provided on the application for admission.
ProVerify will complete the verification and report your status back to Heinz College. Upon receiving the results of your verification report, Heinz College will inform you of your completion status via email. All verification reports remain active and open, until you are otherwise notified by the Heinz Admissions office.

If ProVerify is unable to verify the completion of your bachelor’s degree and/or Heinz College’s Office of Admission does not receive an official copy of your final transcript from your bachelor’s degree granting institution by the end of your first semester as a Heinz College student, you will be placed on suspension for the next semester.

You will not have to pay the vendor for this verification to be performed. The cost of performing the credential verification process is covered by Heinz College.

Additional Details

In most cases, you will not need to do anything other than submitting your release. However, in some cases, you may be asked to provide supporting documentation (such as a your SSN, diploma/degree, or a past pay slip) to facilitate the verifications process. All requests for supporting documentation will come via email directly from Proverify representatives (via phone or an email address ending in '@applicationverification.com') and will only be asked if the originating materials submitted cannot be used to complete the process.

If you wish to verify the authenticity of any request you receive, you may contact ProVerify's customer service directly at 412-349-6001 or info@applicationverification.com or reach out to the Office of Admissions at Heinz College directly at 412-268-2164 or hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu.

Please know that all inquiries may not be completed via email. You may be required to email, call, or fax additional information as needed during the verification process, including a second release form with a "wet signature." We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If ProVerify or Heinz College contacts you to request additional information, please understand we are working to complete your verification as quickly as possible.

Your timely response is appreciated. Carnegie Mellon University and the Heinz College reserve the right to revoke the admission or terminate enrollment of any student who does not successfully complete the Credentials Verification Process.

Enrolling Student Checklist: Admitted Students, Part Time