News Briefs

Changes Made to Street Parking on Schenley Drive and West Circuit Road

The new bike lane near Phipps Conservatory has prompted a shift in some local street parking rates and restrictions. A section on the south side of Schenley Drive, near the Visitors Center, with space for approximately 15 vehicles, will be designated as a 3-hour parking area. The remainder of Schenley Drive between Panther Hollow Road and campus will be designated as 10-hour parking. Street parking on Schenley Drive will be set at $1.25 per hour as of Nov. 1.
 
Parking on West Circuit Drive adjacent to the Westinghouse Memorial, which had previously been free parking, is now metered and will be included as part of the CMU Parking Study. The parking rate in this area will be set at $0.25 per two hours of parking, or $1 for 8 hours, beginning Nov. 1. It is important for commuters to utilize the parking pay station closest to and on the same street as where they park.

Celebration of Education Award Nominations Due Nov. 3

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Celebration of Education Awards — the Doherty, Ryan, Academic Advising, Barbara Lazarus and Gelfand awards. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 3.

The Celebration of Education awards recognize the accomplishments of those who exemplify the university's standards of excellence in education. This event celebrates distinguished faculty members and educators for their outstanding contributions to the university and their devotion to and effectiveness in teaching.

In addition to the above award winners, the Celebration of Education awards ceremony honors the most recent Wimmer Faculty Fellows, recipients of the College Teaching Awards, and the Graduate Student Teaching Award and Graduate Student Service Award winners.

Submit your nomination.

Food Drive Begins Nov. 3

Carnegie Mellon's 21st annual food drive, sponsored by Staff Council, begins Monday, Nov. 3 and runs through Monday, Nov. 17. Collection containers will be placed in many campus buildings, including the Cohon University Center (CUC).

You also can bring donations to the One Day, One Can event during the Benefits and Fitness Fair on Nov. 5 in the CUC's Rangos Hall and/or to the annual Cans Across the Cut event on Nov. 17. Those bringing donations to the One Day, One Can event at the Benefits and Fitness Fair will be entered into a special raffle for great prizes.

Toys for Tots Campaign Begins Nov. 4

The College of Engineering’s First-Year Advisory Board and the Carnegie Mellon Police Department are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of their Toys for Tots Campaign. The program is modeled after the national U.S. Marine Corps program that has been collecting toys for needy children since the early 1950s. This year’s campaign will run from Nov. 4 through Dec. 9. Donated toys must be new and unwrapped.

Here are the drop-off locations:

• Carnegie Mellon University Police, 300 South Craig Street, Main lobby;
• Software Engineering Institute, Main Lobby;
• Mellon Institute, 3rd floor Security Desk;
• UTDC, Main Lobby;
• Morewood Gardens, Student Life Office;
• Warner Hall, Enrollment Services;
• Cohon University Center, Student Activities Office;
• College of Fine Arts, Room 104;
• Pittsburgh Technology Center, Technology Drive, Main Lobby;
• NREC, 40th Street, Main Lobby;
• Hunt Library, 1st Floor Lobby;
• Tepper School of Business, 1st Floor Main Lobby; and
• Scaife Hall, Room 110.

If anyone has toys that need to be picked up, has questions or would like to participate further, contact CMU Police Officer Donald Campbell at dktb@andrew.cmu.edu.

CMU Becomes Affiliate of Joint Center for Energy Storage Research

Carnegie Mellon has received affiliate status with the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), an energy innovation hub sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The JCESR approached Carnegie Mellon's Venkat Viswanathan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Jay Whitacre, associate professor of materials science and engineering and engineering and public policy, to form a partnership with researchers from the College of Engineering and the Mellon College of Science who are researching energy storage.

Carnegie Mellon researchers will participate in workshops where they will collaborate with partners, other affiliates and the JCESR hub to find cheaper and more efficient systems for energy storage.

Learn more.

HCII To Celebrate 20th Anniversary

The Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) will celebrate two decades of innovation and research into engaging, life-changing interactions with technology at HCII20, Nov. 14–16. The anniversary celebration will begin with hands-on workshops and tutorial sessions during the day on Friday, Nov. 14, and a kickoff reception for all attendees that evening.

Saturday and Sunday’s schedule features keynote addresses by human-computer interaction luminaries, and panel discussions with alumni, faculty, and former and current institute leaders. Students and alumni will present posters or demos of their work during lunch on Saturday, and attendees will gather to celebrate HCII's accomplishments at a grand banquet Saturday evening.
 
Founded in 1994, the HCII works to understand and create technology that harmonizes with and improves human capabilities, goals and social environments through interdisciplinary research and education in design, computer science, and behavioral and social sciences. Housed in the School of Computer Science (SCS), the HCII includes faculty and students from SCS, the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Tepper School of Business, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Engineering and the Software Engineering Institute.
 
For more on HCII20, visit http://hcii.cmu.edu/hcii20.

MLK Writing Awards Program Seeks Submissions

Carnegie Mellon invites Pittsburgh-area high school and college students to submit poetry and prose pieces about their personal experiences with race, discrimination and other obstacles as part of the university's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Awards. The awards program — now in its 16th year — began as a way to bring students together to talk about race and has evolved into an event that unites a community. Winners receive cash prizes, read their pieces at a Carnegie Mellon awards ceremony on MLK Day, Jan. 19, 2015, and have the chance to travel to the Chautauqua Institution.

Both poetry and prose submissions will be accepted. Fiction and nonfiction prose pieces should be less than 2,000 words and double-spaced. Entrants may submit up to five poems. The deadline is Nov. 21.

Learn more about the awards program and entry requirements.

Discounts Offered on Holiday Cards

Minted, the online stationery company, is offering CMU faculty and staff 10 percent off, plus free shipping on all Christmas and holiday card orders.  

Just enter the MINTEDFF2 coupon code at checkout.
This discount code only applies to Christmas and holiday cards at this time.

Lower Hamerschlag Drive Closed Saturday

From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 1, lower Hamerschlag Drive at the south side (FMS) of the Mehrabian Collaborative Innovation Center will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
 
During this time Maxim Crane Works will be removing the crane that was used to erect the steel for Scott Hall. The complex rigging necessary to safely disassemble and remove the crane necessitates that no traffic be permitted on lower Hamerschlag Drive.
 
The City of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon police, paramedic and fire departments will have unrestricted access to the Physical Plant building, Roberts Hall, the Gates Parking Garage, the School of Computer Science Complex, and Doherty and Wean halls during the closure through a temporary emergency access road from Frew Street through the Scott Hall construction site. Please Call Campus Police (412-268-2323) for emergency access to the road.

Parking will be available free of charge in the East Campus Garage and Morewood lot during the interruption. If you have any questions, please send email to Max Dorosa, project manager, at maxd@andrew.cmu.edu.

Calls for ProSEED Grant Proposals

Three ProSEED grant programs are currently accepting proposals:

• ProSEED/EQT Energy Proposals (due Nov. 10);
• ProSEED/Simon Initiative Proposals (due Nov. 14); and
• ProSEED/BrainHub Proposals (due Nov.14). 

Grants are available to students, faculty and staff to fund new initiatives, pilot projects and preliminary work in a wide range of community building activities and research areas.

For more information on ProSEED, visit http://www.cmu.edu/proseed/index.html. Email questions to proseed@andrew.cmu.edu.

Take the What's Your Financial IQ Challenge

Test your financial know-how and you could win a tablet computer! CMU HR/Benefits has teamed up with TIAA-CREF to bring you the What’s Your Financial IQ Challenge.

Beginning Nov. 5 at the Benefits and Fitness Fair and running until Dec. 5, you can take this educational challenge to have fun and learn about financial planning. Each day five new questions will be added to the challenge. Every time you play, you are automatically entered for a chance to win one of three tablet computers. The more you play, the better your chances of winning — so sign on every day! (All responses are confidential.)

Take the challenge. You don't have to invest with TIAA-CREF to play.

AED Training Classes Scheduled

The Environmental Health & Safety Department has scheduled two automated external defibrillator (AED) /CPR training sessions in the next few weeks. The schedule follows:

• 10 a.m. - Noon, Oct. 30, Rangos 2, Cohon University Center;
• 10 a.m. - Noon, Nov. 10, Rangos 1, Cohon University Center.

Class space is limited, so register early. To register go to https://cmu.bioraft.com/node/284547/sessions. You must login with your Andrew ID and password.

MPM, MSIT Programs To Host Info Sessions for Staff

The Master of Public Management (MPM) and Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) programs are hosting information sessions for CMU employees interested in pursuing these degrees on a part-time basis at the Heinz College.

At each session, an admissions representative, the program director, and current students and alumni will speak to the benefits and challenges of completing a master’s degree while working full-time as a CMU employee.

The MPM and MSIT programs require three years of relevant work experience at the time of enrollment.

The sessions are as follows:

Master of Science in Information Technology
Tuesday, Nov. 11
12 – 1 p.m.
Hamburg Hall, Room 1001
Lunch provided
Please RSVP.

Master of Public Management
Thursday, Nov. 13
12 – 1 p.m.
Hamburg Hall, Room 1001
Lunch provided
Please RSVP.

Questions? Call 412-268-2164

New System To Support Research Administration - SPARCS

CMU is making significant progress toward the implementation of an enterprise-wide system that modernizes and supports the administrative aspects of the university’s research activities.  The Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance System (SPARCS) will replace existing electronic and paper processes.
 
The SPARCS project implementation schedule will deliver modules and functionality in phases through FY 2017. The system consists of four modules: conflict of interest (COI); human subject research (IRB); animal care and use (IACUC); and grants and contracts management. Once fully implemented, the system will streamline the process of submitting proposals, obtaining compliance approvals and processing awards. 
 
COI is the first module to "go live" as part of SPARCS. This new module replaces an electronic system that investigators with Public Health Service funding currently use as well as paper forms that others use. COI certifications and disclosures for investigators with external funding for research began transitioning to the new system on Oct. 21. Use of the system will be phased in, college by college, with all investigators using the new system by spring 2015. Training on use of the new system will be provided throughout the transition period and beyond. The points below show the schedule for roll-out.
 
Conflict of Interest Roll-out Dates

• The first groups to be impacted are investigators with Public Health Service funding and investigators from the Dietrich College and Mellon College of Science.  They must complete annual certifications in SPARCS by Nov. 30.
• Investigators from the Tepper School, Heinz College and College of Fine Arts will begin using SPARCS Dec. 1. They must complete annual certifications by Jan. 31, 2015.
• School of Computer Science investigators will begin using SPARCS on Feb. 1, 2015. Annual certifications for them must be completed by Feb. 28, 2015.
• College of Engineering investigators will begin using SPARCS March 1, 2015. They must complete their certification by March 31, 2015.
• From April 1, 2015, on, all investigators will complete COI Certifications in SPARCS.

Detailed information about how to access and use the new COI system is being provided to investigators and business managers.  Training sessions and a variety of materials will be available to assist users with the new system. Additional information is available at the SPARCS website and COI website.

"Be the Answer"

Carnegie Mellon’s 2014 United Way Campaign will run through Thursday, Dec. 11. This year’s theme is "Be the answer."

Employees are encouraged to live this year’s campaign theme by advocating for, or volunteering with, the United Way and by pledging or donating during the campaign. Please visit www.cmu.edu/hr/unitedway to make your pledge online and learn more about featured agencies that benefit from the United Way, including CMU's current featured agency, Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (United Way agency code #300). "Be the answer" to someone in need in Allegheny County. Pledge today!

ORIC Offers Responsible Research Conduct Seminar Series

CMU's Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) is sponsoring the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Seminar Series to provide faculty, students and staff with an overview of topics typically covered in RCR curricula. All sessions are from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Cohon University Center. Upcoming sessions are as follows:

• Tuesday, Nov. 4: International Research Considerations: Shipping and Setting Up a New Lab;
• Wednesday, Nov. 12: Data Security; and
• Wednesday, Nov. 19: Lab Safety.

More information is available on the RCR website. Space is limited, so please register early.