Dear Members of the CMU Community,
A healthy mind, body and spirit is the foundation for lifelong success, personally and in our work.
To help us strengthen that foundation, a group of faculty, students, staff and alumni convened last spring as the Task Force on the CMU Experience. These passionate individuals — more than 80 of your colleagues and friends — share a vision of CMU as a community that helps all its members thrive. This vision for the work of the Task Force flows from the Strategic Plan 2025, and is being addressed at many levels across the university, including previously announced steps such as expanded staffing and hours for Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS). Task Force priorities include ideas such as intentional structures for mentoring and nurturing; spaces and opportunities for reflection, play and meaningful interaction; and expanded access to academic advising and professional support, among other initiatives.
The Task Force, organized into five working groups, has mapped out an ambitious agenda. Even as members dig into some complex issues that will require sustained effort, such as programming for the new health and wellness center, we have worked hard to take a number of immediate steps forward. For example:
- Free fitness classes for all students;
- New support language on course syllabi;
- “CMU Cares” folders for faculty and staff containing a directory of student support services; and
- Consistent communication about the CMU experience throughout First-Year Orientation.
I invite you to read more about our progress and goals on our web page, but keep in mind that we have only just begun this conversation. As we aspire to reshape the campus culture in a way that promotes wellness and compassion, we are eager to learn how these issues affect YOU.
In the coming weeks, the Task Force will announce an unprecedented opportunity for all of us to engage in a campus-wide dialogue. In the meantime, we want – and need – to hear from you. Do you want to volunteer to add your voice to upcoming discussions with our five working groups? Do you have a great idea for how we can engage the community? If so, please write to us at CMUExperience@andrew.cmu.edu.
On a personal note, striving toward a stronger and healthier community has been some of my most meaningful work here at CMU. To our students: no one is immune to feeling alone or vulnerable at times – not even your faculty or administration. In moments of uncertainty, leverage the incredible network of support that surrounds you and lean on each other. This is one of the most profound ways in which we can act as a community and thrive as individuals.
I would like to thank the members of the Task Force and the working groups for their time and dedication, especially our vice chairs: Marlene Behrmann, professor of psychology in the Dietrich College, and Gina Casalegno, vice president and dean of Student Affairs.
I look forward to continuing this conversation with all of you.
Wishing you a successful and healthy semester,
Farnam Jahanian
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Carnegie Mellon University