What are some unique experiences, different from other universities, which you’ve seen at CMU?

In the video you’ll find the university’s motto, "my heart is in the work," which identifies with CMU’s distinctive spirit, will-do attitude and uninhibited passion behind everything that we do here — from unique student experiences like Buggy and the Kiltie Band to research initiatives benefiting humankind like driverless vehicles and brain science.

What is an example of a unique CMU approach that has led to an impactful and important result?

As part of rolling out the video to an initial audience of students, faculty, staff and alumni, it was posted to CMU’s Facebook page to a highly engaged audience. Since its debut, it has been shared 418 times and received 87 comments like, “so proud, my heart is in the work — such powerful words” and “pretty righteous.” On YouTube, it is CMU’s 7^th most viewed video out of 1,200, with 29K views.

What aspects of the process are surprisingly unique or quirky but provide a better outcome or experience?

A challenge throughout the development of the video was how to express CMU’s unique personality and broad range of disciplines in a short, succinct package. With campus beauty shots and capture of a diverse range of students and faculty, overlaid with a script that encapsulates the university, the video showcases why someone might want to live, work, play or just somehow be a part of CMU.

What are some unique traditions, school folklore or lesser known conventions at CMU?

On a broad scale, CMU is less known for our student experiences and unique traditions. This video provides a glimpse of CMU’s attitude, ambitions and successes from the arts to technology and everything in between.

What are some unique experiences, different from other universities, which you've seen at CMU?

CMU is the only institution to have Buggy Races and the community takes pride in this tradition. Student teams commit to long hours of designing and building the vessels and they practice runs to ensure safety while generating maximum speed — all to win one of the coveted awards.

What is an example of a unique CMU approach that has led to an impactful and important result?

Buggy dates back to the 1920s and began as something fun and silly for fraternities to do. It has since evolved into a highly engineered event for fraternities, sororities and independent groups. Students collaborate in teams across academic disciplines to design and build these machines from scratch, taking the knowledge they learn in the classroom and applying it to something tangible. In turn, they learn useful skills that they then take to the workplace.

What aspects of the process are surprisingly unique or quirky but provide a better outcome or experience?

While there is no class or dedicated faculty for Buggy, students continue to innovate and share knowledge of how to build, run and train for the races. It is a true collaboration of alumni and students, reflective of CMU's passionate and collaborative culture of "my heart is in the work."

What are some unique traditions, school folklore or lesser known conventions at CMU?

The Buggy Races have been an essential component of CMU's annual Spring Carnival since the 1920s and are one of the university's oldest campus traditions. It brings together students, alumni, faculty and staff, whether they participate or spectate. It is an event that captures the quirky and collaborative spirit of the university.

What are some unique experiences, different from other universities, which you've seen at CMU?

The emoticon was created at CMU and we embraced that bit of history by creating our own emoji to welcome the new president of the university. The emoji was used on giveaways and promotional materials to engage with the students.

What is an example of a unique CMU approach that has led to an impactful and important result?

The emoji is just another way to connect with students and alumni via our ever-growing social network. The timing is perfect with President Jahanian starting his own Instagram account @cmufarnam.

What aspects of the process are surprisingly unique or quirky but provide a better outcome or experience?

We are never afraid to build upon the past and innovate our own inventions. This strive to always improve, however big or small, is what defines the culture at CMU.

What are some unique traditions, school folklore or lesser known conventions at CMU?

The emoticon — aka Smiley — was born on Sept. 19, 1982. Proud papa Scott Fahlman, a research professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon, never dreamed that his suggestion for identifying a humorous post on a b-board would have such an impact on the future of the e-world.