August 27, 2018
Dear Members of the CMU Community,
Welcome to the new academic year!
As the campus begins to buzz with activity, I am inspired by the many ways our faculty, students and staff contribute to our global mission across a wide array of disciplines. Thanks to your passion and dedication, Carnegie Mellon University continues to be well known for shaping intellectual domains, advancing human knowledge and pursuing new modes of creative expression.
This reputation for exceptional scholarship is also attracting more and more of the world’s most talented students. In fact, we had a record-breaking number of applicants for our incoming undergraduate class, representing a staggering 19 percent jump over last year. And this week, approximately 1,660 undergraduate students across our Pittsburgh and Doha campuses and 2,742 graduate students join our story, bringing remarkable talent and a multitude of diverse perspectives to our community.
In welcoming our students, I am also reminded of how much we all gain from such a supportive network of classmates, colleagues and mentors. We can embrace and nurture this sense of camaraderie by leaning on one another and letting empathy and compassion guide our interactions. This is one of the most profound ways in which we can act as a community – and thrive as individuals.
Excitement for the new academic year is especially palpable as the 300,000 square-foot building on the David A. Tepper Quadrangle opens its doors to new opportunities. This transformative space will serve as the home of the Tepper School of Business, as well as a campus-wide hub for collaboration, innovation and creativity. We hope you will join us at the official grand opening celebrations on September 13-14. In addition, our $20M classroom and learning spaces renovation project continues to make progress. This fall, the Pittsburgh community will enjoy 37 newly-enhanced classrooms with more to come! In total, this initiative will upgrade 3,500 seats across campus, embracing the future of learning with collaborative and technology-driven environments.
At this pivotal time for society, I am truly in awe of all that Carnegie Mellon has to offer, fueled by your extraordinary energy. Whether you are a returning or incoming student, a member of our faculty or of our staff, I encourage you to seize the opportunities this new academic year offers. Claim your role in propelling CMU to new heights, even as you find your own path to success. I look forward to hearing your aspirations for the future – and working with you to make them possible.
Wishing you a successful year, and looking forward to seeing you around campus,
Farnam Jahanian
President
Henry L. Hillman Chair