Carnegie Mellon University

The Piper

CMU Community News

Piper Logo
November 07, 2013

News Briefs

Time To Select Your Benefits for 2014

Open Enrollment for benefits, the time to review your benefit plans and make new elections — if desired — for the coming calendar year, is underway and will end at 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

If you do not actively select your benefits for 2014, you will be enrolled in the same benefit plans at the same level of participation as 2013, with the exception of a flexible spending account. (You must actively enroll in the spending accounts each year to participate.)

Elections made during Open Enrollment will become effective Jan. 1, 2014, and will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2014. Unless you experience a qualified life or family status change, Open Enrollment is the only time during the year when you may change your benefit elections.
 
To learn about changes for 2014, plan and rate information and to see the 2014 benefits workbooks, visit the Open Enrollment website.

If you have questions, contact the HR Benefits Office at 412-268-2047 or hrhelp@andrew.cmu.edu.

20th Annual Food Drive: Help Feed the Hungry

Carnegie Mellon's 20th Annual Food Drive, sponsored by Staff Council, runs through Monday, Nov. 18. All proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, which helps more than 120,000 needy individuals each year.

Donations of non-perishable food items and cash are greatly appreciated. Look for the Food Drive drop box in a university building near you. Checks should be made payable to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and given to Carole Panno, chair of the Staff Council Food Drive Committee. Contact Panno at cp1g@andrew.cmu.edu.

Read more about the drive.

CMU-Q Networks With Local Business Community

Thirty executives from key Qatari organizations recently gathered at Carnegie Mellon's Qatar campus to participate in a two-day executive education course focusing on dynamic organizational leadership.

Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s programs in executive and professional education engage professionals who want to improve skills that are critical to good management, and equip organizations and their leadership with the tools needed for success.

Attendees came from organizations that Carnegie Mellon has built strategic partnerships with, including the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, the Permanent Committee for Drug and Alcohol Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Al-Jazeera Media Network, RasGas, Qatar Finance and Business Academy, Al Faisal Holding, Ezdan Holding and Commercial Bank of Qatar.

The course featured lectures by Thomas Emerson, distinguished career professor in business administration, and Starling D. Hunter, visiting associate teaching professor in business administration. The workshop was part of a series of executive training courses offered by Carnegie Mellon Qatar to develop working methods, improve job performance, and provide best practices in management.

Read more about the workshop.

Professional Writing Program Offers Info Session for Staff

Do you love to write? Have you thought about earning a master’s degree while you work? The English Department invites staff to an information session about enrolling in the Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) Program on a part-time basis.
 
When:  Noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14 
Where: Baker Hall 154-R
 
David Kaufer, interim director of the MAPW program, will host the session, and several staff members who have earned their master’s degree in professional writing will be on hand to share their experiences. Lunch will be served (pizza and salad). 
 
If you plan to attend, RSVP to kinsky@cmu.edu.

Student Team Wins Architectural Award for Mobile Water Park

The CMU student team that built PURIFLUME, a mobile water park system, has won an award from the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its use of colorful shapes in creating a moveable substitute for closed swimming pools. PURIFLUME features elements commonly found in a municipal spray park such as a water slide and jet sprays. It was designed and built by a group of students under the direction of Professor John Folan in the Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS) in the School of Architecture. The UDBS used advanced digital simulation, representation and fabrication technologies to bring the project to life. PURIFLUME was unveiled in the summer of 2012. Read more about the project at http://www.cmu.edu/architecture/udbs/puriflume/   

Shop and Support CMU's Children's School

Shop at Ten Thousand Villages in Squirrel Hill on Thursday, Nov. 14 and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the CMU Children's School Library Enhancement Project. The Children's School is an early childhood laboratory school at CMU. The school is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children to offer morning and afternoon pre-school and full-day kindergarten programs for children between the ages of 3 and 6.

Ten Thousand Villages at 5824 Forbes Avenue is open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Read more about the Children's School at http://www.psy.cmu.edu/cs/.

Purchase Discounted Tickets to Kennywood’s Holiday Lights

Staff Council is offering discounted tickets to Kennywood Park’s Holiday Lights, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22. Tickets for CMU staff are $13 ($16.99 regular price). Children 2 years old and younger are free. The park is open from 5 – 9 p.m. those days, weather permitting. There is a limit of 12 tickets per person. For more information on Kennywood’s Holiday Lights, visit http://www.kennywood.com. For discounted tickets contact Nicole Stenger at nstenger@cs.cmu.edu.

Wanted: Student Applicants for Spring Posner Center Internship

Carnegie Mellon students are encouraged to apply for a unique opportunity to pursue individual study, showcase their research in a public exhibit and earn $3,000 through the Posner Center Internship Program, sponsored by the Posner Fine Arts Foundation.

To apply, compose an essay explaining your interest or proposed research topic, including the materials you would plan to use from the Posner Memorial Collection and a brief bio.

During the spring 2014 semester, the selected intern will research their topic and work with the special collections librarian to prepare an exhibit for display at the Posner Center from summer through fall 2014. The exhibit will be promoted by the University Libraries and accessible to all Posner Center visitors, including the university’s Board of Trustees.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. Please direct any questions to Special Collections Librarian Mary Kay Johnsen at 412-268-6622 or mj0g@andrew.cmu.edu. Read more about the internship program at http://www.cmu.edu/posner-center/internship/index.html

Alumni Association Board Seeks New Members

The Alumni Association Board (AAB) seeks nominations for its 2014 class. Each year, the board elects five new members to serve four-year terms, beginning July 1. The AAB strives to strike a balance among its members with regard to college affiliation, year of graduation, gender, ethnicity and geographic representation. In addition, the board gives particular weight to the depth and breadth of the nominee’s current and previous volunteer experiences with CMU. To view the AAB Frequently Asked Questions and access the AAB Nomination Form, visit: http://alumni.cmu.edu/s/1410/alumni/index.aspx?sid=1410&gid=1&pgid=375 The nomination deadline is Nov. 30. Questions? Please contact Lynn DeFabio at defabio@cmu.edu.

United Way Needs Your Support

Carnegie Mellon’s 2013 United Way campaign is underway and will run through Dec. 13. According to Campaign Chair Everett Tademy, in the first three weeks of the campaign nearly 100 donors across campus have pledged more than $50,000. To reach the university's goal of 10 percent participation, about 400 more donors are needed. Last year the university community raised more than $175,000 for United Way and the health and human service organizations it supports.

You can help make this year a success by incorporating the theme “Live Generously” through donating, advocating or volunteering for CMU’s campaign. Please check out www.cmu.edu/hr/unitedway to make your pledge and find out how to volunteer with local organizations. Visit this webpage often throughout the campaign for success stories, contests and campaign progress.

Spring Textbook Adoptions Due

Faculty and departmental administrators are reminded to submit Spring course material adoptions as soon as possible via cmu.verbacollect.com or by email to Matt Senvisky at msenvisk@andrew.cmu.edu. Early adoptions mean more rental textbooks, more used books and better textbook pricing for students.

AED/CPR Training Offered

The Environmental Health & Safety Department is offering two upcoming AED/CPR training classes for the university community. Those who have been certified more than two years ago also can attend to renew your certification. All classes begin at 10 a.m. and last about two hours. The schedule is as follows:

  • Nov. 14 - Mellon Institute Social Room
  • Nov. 26 - University Center, Dowd Room

Register for classes at https://ehs-apps.andrew.cmu.edu/secure/ALERT-Online/aed/registration.aspx

Responsible Conduct of Research Seminar Series Continues

CMU's Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) is once again sponsoring the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Seminar Series during the fall semester to provide faculty, students and staff with an overview of topics typically covered in RCR curricula. All sessions will be held from 12 – 1 p.m. in the University Center’s McKenna/Peter conference room.  Upcoming sessions are as follows:
 
  • Thursday, Nov. 7: Safeguarding International Research
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13: Mentor Trainee, Relationships, and Collaboration
More information is available on the RCR website.  Space is limited, so please register early.