Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs › Programs and Services › Graduate Student Orientation

University-wide New Graduate Student Orientation

Welcome to Carnegie Mellon!

It's officially time to say Welcome to Carnegie Mellon and Greetings from Pittsburgh!

You have been emailed notification that you are added to the Fall 2021 Graduate Student Orientation Canvas Course Site. Here you will be able to review the MODULES of information on SYNCHRONOUS EVENTS, as well as our ASYNCHRONOUS information. As we update information, please be sure to check here and Canvas for updates.

President Farnam Jahanian and members of the university community virtually kicked-off the University-wide New Graduate Orientation with words of welcome, bits of advice and a highlight of things to come in your graduate experience on Monday, August 16, 2021 with a University Welcome at 10:00am (EDT).

Partners around the university have contributed to your orientation experience. We are so excited to have you as part of the Tartan Community.

Sincerely,

The Graduate Student Fall 2021 Orientation Team
Desirée Chronick, Administrative Coordinator
Jen Gilbride-Brown, Ph.D., Assitant Vice Provost for Graduate and Post-Doctoral Education
Holly Hippensteel, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Community Standards and Diversity Initiatives
Jamie Rossi, Director of Student Academic Success Operations & Strategy

FALL 2021 ORIENTATION

AUGUST 16-20, 2021

Synchronous schedule (below). More information in your Canvas Course

Deadlines & Info for Incoming Students

COVID-19 UPDATES

Information and Resources for the CMU Community

Students are strongly encouraged to check often for updates and information.
Resources to support your physical and mental health include guidelines for mask-wearing and staying connected while social distancing are available.

QUICK LINKS

Email us any questions, issues connecting to Canvas or our synchronous events.
Email the Office of Disability Resources if you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate fully in New Graduate Student Orientation.

CANVAS COURSES

You will receive an email notification you have been added to your appropriate Orientation Canvas Course. Here you will be able to review the MODULES of information on SYNCHRONOUS EVENTS, as well as our ASYNCHRONOUS information.

FALL ORIENTATION - SYNCHRONOUS EVENTS

MONDAY, AUGUST 16

University Welcome @ 10:00-10:45am (EDT

Watch via Youtube

Intro to CMU Resource Panel (All students)
11:00-11:45am (EDT)
*Recording is available in Canvas courses

UHS COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
2:00-5:00pm (EDT)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17

Doctoral Students Welcome
10:00-10:45am (EDT)
*Recording is available in Canvas courses

Doctoral Students Key Resources Panel

11:00-11:45am (EDT)

*Recording is available in Canvas courses

Doctoral Students College Welcome Programs
12:00-2:00pm (EDT)

Master's Students Panel
1:00-2:00pm (EDT)

*Recording is available in Canvas courses

Doctoral Students Panel
2:15-3:15pm (EDT)

*Recording is available in Canvas courses

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18

Navigating Professional & Personal Relationships (Title IX)
9:00-10:00am (EDT)
*Recording is available in Canvas courses

Office of International Education Welcome
10:00-11:00am (EDT)

Disabilty Resources Info Session
1:00-2:00pm (EDT)

Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) Ice Cream Social
5:00-7:00pm (EDT)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19

Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Virtual Open House
10:00-11:00am (EDT)

*Recording is available in Canvas courses

Partners and Family Panel
11:00am-12:00pm (EDT)

*Recording is available in Canvas courses

All Student Support Services Resource Fair

5:00-6:30pm (EDT)
Representatives from various student services departments will be available to answer your questions via Zoom (links available in THE GUIDE) and provide useful information. You can find descriptions of the departments on THE GUIDE also. Please download THE GUIDE (pdf) as it will guide you through the Resource Fair.

Graduate Student Assembly: Trivia (All grad students)
7:30-9:00pm (EDT)
Admission to this event is free!
There will be prizes for the winning team! All CMU graduate students, your partners and families are invited. Fill out this form by Tuesday, August 17 and show up on Twitch (more details will follow) with your team. If you don’t have your team yet, don’t worry! Sign up as a free agent and we will find you a team.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20

Student Health Insurance Q&A
10:00-11:00am (EDT)
*Recording is available in Canvas courses

MISCELLANEOUS

Orientation Day of Service August 28, 2021
The FAIR September 8 & 9, 2021
University Health Services COVID Vaccine Clinics

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION

Office of International Education

International students with a Fall 2021 program start date on their I-20/DS-2019 who are physically present in the U.S. are required to complete a mandatory orientation and immigration check-in with the Office of International Education (OIE). This includes:

Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 admits who began their program remotely overseas who are physically present in the U.S. for the Fall 2021 semester
New Fall 2021 admits who are physically present in the U.S. for the Fall semester
Return from leave students who are physically present in the U.S. for the Fall semester

The Fall 2021 OIE immigration check-in for international (and transfer) students will take place remotely: see "Mandatory International Student Orientation and Check-In"

Visit the Office of International Education for more information.

Mandatory International Student Orientation & Check-In

Orientation & Immigration Check-In: Begins Early August

STUDENTS WHO WILL BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE U.S.
The orientation and check-in is mandatory for non-immigrant international students on Carnegie Mellon’s visa documents (F-1 or J-1 status) and who are physically present in the U.S.
For Fall 2021, orientation and check-in will be offered remotely.

Visit the Office of International Education for more information.

International Graduate Student Welcome

August 18 at 10:00am (EDT) via Zoom
All new international students are invited to attend a virtual, live Welcome Session with the Office of International Education Director Linda Gentile and the OIE staff. This session will include an introduction to the OIE office and services, remote orientation details, and answers to some frequently asked questions about the fall semester. Session details:

Registration is not required.
OIE will send an email to all new students that will contain the Zoom link.
On the scheduled date and time, log in to the Zoom session with your AndrewID.
All international students are welcome, but not required, to attend the session.

TARTAN PRIDE KIT

Show your Tartan Pride by downloading a cut-out, sign or virtual background that can be used while you participate in events and even during virtual classes!