Carnegie Mellon University
August 27, 2020

Free Kits for Students Put the ‘Well’ in Welcome

By Kelly Saavedra

Carnegie Mellon University is providing a free Wellness Kit to each student living on or off campus in preparation for the fall semester. The Wellness Kit contains two CMU-branded cloth facial coverings, a 3.38-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, a digital thermometer, a card summarizing A Tartan’s Responsibility and use and care instructions for the facial coverings.

“Some of these items are hard to find, and we wanted students to have what they need to care for themselves as they kick off their fall semester in the spirit of A Tartan’s Responsibility,” said Melanie Lucht, associate vice president and chief risk officer.

Lucht and her team have assembled approximately 10,000 Wellness Kits. Graduate and undergraduate students who live off campus can pick up their Wellness Kits in September, after the mandatory 14-day quarantine period ends, at the following locations in Cohon University Center during normal business hours:

  • University Store (Street Level)
  • Cohon University Center Information Desk (Street Level)
  • University Art Store (Lower Level)
  • Postal Services (Lower Level)

When picking up your Wellness Kit, please remember to bring your CMU ID, wear a facial covering and practice physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart from others. Markers on the floor will be placed to identify 6 feet of distance at these locations.

“Health and safety standards are so important to the community right now. We’re all in this pandemic together, and we need to take care of each other by following the health and safety guidelines,” said Julie Schultz, associate dean for Parent & Family Engagement and First-Year Orientation. “The Wellness Kits help students to begin doing some of that related to hygiene, cleanliness and their own symptom tracking.”

First-year students living on campus will find a Wellness Kit included in the welcome packages they receive during move-in, which also include a Class of 2024+ t-shirt, an Orientation-branded BPA-free reusable cutlery set, an Orientation sticker and a welcome card from the head orientation counselors.

Students living off-campus can pick up a Wellness Kit in September, after the 14-day quarantine ends.

First-year students studying off-campus in Pittsburgh or other parts of the U.S. will receive their welcome packages in the mail, and of the wellness items mentioned, only facial coverings will be included the mailed packages in adherence with postal service regulations. Welcome packages for international first-year students will be held for them until their arrival on campus.

“We’re trying to achieve the same outcomes as we would within an in-person program, which is to give first-year students CMU items affiliated with their class and Orientation program,” said Schultz. 

“We want all first-year students, on or off campus, to feel welcomed into the CMU community and excited about being a Tartan.”

image of white CMU branded box and wellness kits in red bags
Staff volunteers from Enterprise Risk Management and the Cohon University Center assembled 10,000 Wellness Kits for students.
image of Jennifer Bett holding kit items
Jennifer Bett, business continuity program specialist, pauses packing to show some of the items CMU staff are putting into Wellness Kits for students.
image of male seated at table packing wellness kits items into a red bag
Shailendra Singh, director of Environmental Health and Safety, lends a hand assembling Wellness Kits to help ensure CMU students get their fall semester off to a good start in the spirit of A Tartan's Responsibility.
Image of staff giving thumbs up from behind table full of kits
Kurt Massarelli, senior disaster recovery and business continuity consultant, gives the thumbs up sign on a job well done by volunteers.
Image of kits on wooden tables in Weigand Gym
Staff volunteers from Enterprise Risk Management and Cohon University Center assembled 10,000 Wellness Kits for CMU students.
Image of Aaron Riddle packing boxes
Aaron Riddle, environmental health and safety specialist, lends a hand assembling Wellness Kits to help ensure CMU students get their fall semester off to a good start in the spirit of A Tartan's Responsibility.
Image of Mary Sickles kneeling next to kits on table in Wiegand Gym
Mary Sickles, training and communication specialist, pauses for a photo in Wiegand Gym as she and members of Enterprise Risk Management and Cohon University Center staff gathered to pack 10,000 Wellness Kits for CMU students.