Opportunities for Involvement

Activities Fair

Carnegie Mellon University is home to over 270 student-run organizations recognized by Student Government. The Office of Student Activities organizes a Fall and Winter Activities Fair that will showcase many of our student organizations. Groups span a wide variety of interests and passions representing religious/spiritual, community service/philanthropy, student government, media/publications, club sports/martial arts, professional/academic, political, performance/artistic, gaming, technology, and general interest opportunities.

The Fall Activities Fair will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 on the CFA Lawn (rain location: Wiegand Gym, University Center) and the Winter Activities Fair will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 in Wiegand Gym, University Center.

These fairs are a great way for undergraduate and graduate student organizations to highlight their group, recruit new members, and publicize upcoming programs and initiatives. Attending these fairs will be a great way for undergraduate and graduate students to find their niche and make the most of their university experience.

Arts Pass Program

University Center 103, 412-268-8704
Ben Davis, Coordinator of Student Activities
http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/studentactivities/pghconnections/artspassprogram.html

Carnegie Mellon students, with valid ID, are provided free access throughout the year to the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center & Sportsworks, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, the National Aviary, and the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Students are encouraged to experience these wonderful Pittsburgh attractions.

Civic Engagement and Community Service
Partners Allied in Civic Engagement (PACE)

Kristine Kengor, Housefellow and Coordinator of Residential Service Learning
Student Life Office, Morewood Gardens, 412-268-2142
Elizabeth Vaughan, Director of Student Activities
Student Activities, University Center 103, 412-268-8704
http://www.cmu.edu/service 

Civic Engagement is at the heart of the Carnegie Mellon experience, and students participate in a variety of ways: through New Student Orientation; student organizations; residence hall activities; local, national or international immersion experiences, typically known as ‘alternative breaks'; leadership development programs; and athletic teams' activities. 

Diverse service opportunities throughout the academic year vary in scope and level of commitment, from Spring Break service trips for disaster relief to collecting food for Thanksgiving baskets or Christmas toys for families in Pittsburgh. Students can choose to participate in individual projects or develop ongoing relationships with local nonprofits.  Updates about upcoming university service events and non-profit needs for volunteers are sent regularly through the service distribution list at cmu-service@lists.andrew.cmu.edu.

Partners Allied in Civic Engagement (PACE) are responsible for coordinating many of the service and civic engagement activities on campus. PACE defines civic engagement as a range of individual and/or collective efforts including but not limited to philanthropy, direct service, civic discourse, activism, and social justice towards identifying, deliberating on, and addressing issues of public concern.

PACE strives to create engaged citizens while fostering a lifelong commitment to civic engagement by focusing on three key areas: embedding civic engagement in the student experience; developing intentional PACE programming; and fostering campus and community partnerships.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, PACE will focus a significant portion of its efforts on broadly exploring the issue of inequality in education. Email cmu-service@andrew.cmu.edu with ideas or suggestions for exploring this topic.

Attending the Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 11:30am-1:30pm on the CFA Lawn (rain location: Rangos Ballroom) is one of the best ways to explore the variety of service-focused student organizations and meet approximately 40 local non-profits who are looking for volunteers. You can also meet with PACE staff or one of the service interns to plan a customized service project for your organization, residence hall or group of friends. We can also help match you with a volunteer opportunity that meets your interests and your schedule.

Save the Date for Carnegie Mellon's Day of Service on Saturday, April 6, 2013. 1000plus, a student organization, organizes this exciting day with the goal of having 1000, or more, students, faculty, staff, and alumni doing service on the same day.

Leadership Development

Many opportunities exist at Carnegie Mellon for you to develop and enhance your leadership skills.  The Division of Student Affairs coordinates a variety of formal programs for leadership exploration and skill development including the Emerging Leaders program and the Women's Leadership Program.  Additionally, student organization leaders, House Council members and fraternity and sorority members may attend leadership seminars designed specifically around their common needs.  Faculty and staff members are also available to present workshops or facilitate discussions on a wide range of special topics relating to leadership and teamwork as well as opportunities to cultivate leadership experiences in academic life, athletics and research.

Pittsburgh Connections: Outdoor Adventure Series

University Center 103, 412-268-8704
Tim Leonard, Coordinator of Student Activities
www.cmu.edu/StudentActivities/pghconnections

Through a partnership with Sustainable Pittsburgh, Venture Outdoors and generous funding support from the RK Mellon Foundation, students are offered the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of recreational activities unique to Western Pennsylvania. Events take place on Saturdays throughout the fall and spring semesters. Each trip can accommodate up to 40 students and provides participants with the opportunity to engage in exciting activities at a significantly reduced cost. The core goals of this program are to help students develop and maintain a physically active lifestyle, build leadership skills and to increase the appreciation for the Western Pennsylvania region. Past activities have included: whitewater rafting, urban kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, caving, snow boarding, skiing, wilderness survival, snow shoeing, snow tubing, and a GPS scavenger hunt. All tickets can be purchased at the University Center Information Desk on the Monday prior to the trip. Activity schedules and descriptions can be obtained at our website. E-mail pgh-connections@andrew.cmu.edu to be included on our d-list.

Student Organizations & Eligibility to Participate

Activities involving the students at Carnegie Mellon are under the direction of Student Government, the dean of student affairs, or particular university committees and councils that advise the officers of the university. Students at Carnegie Mellon are encouraged to form organizations that serve their extracurricular needs and qualify for recognition by the Student Government. Extracurricular activities include any campus social, service or honorary organization; varsity or intramural athletic team; or any other campus organization recognized by the Student Government of Carnegie Mellon or by the university whether participation is on the intercollegiate level or within the university. To be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, a student must pay the student activities fee, be registered in a degree course and carrying a schedule of not less than 36 units. Seniors may be excused from the 36-unit requirement by a letter from the dean or head of the department in which they are enrolled to the dean of student affairs stating that they are carrying all of the courses needed for their graduation.

University Lecture Series

The University Lecture Series (ULS) is intended to host speakers on a diverse range of topics seeking to educate and inspire members of our community.  The ULS ties all lectures available at Carnegie Mellon University together, including the JOURNEYS program which highlights some of our distinguished faculty members and special guests, sharing reflections on their journeys - the everyday actions, decisions, challenges and joys that make a life.

Lectures are traditionally scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. in the Adamson Wing of Baker Hall unless otherwise noted.  The ULS schedule is distributed at that beginning of each semester and for up-to-date information on upcoming lectures please visit our website at www.cmu.edu/uls.  The ULS has been made possible by a partnership between the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of the Vice Provost.  For more information, please contact the Office of Student Activities at (412)268-8704.