News Briefs

New Virtual Networking Program Opens a CMUniverse of Possibilities

A new virtual networking program, CMUniverse, can help students and alumni connect and reach for the stars.

With the new virtual networking platform, alumni can share their expertise and mentor students embarking on a similar career journey, and students can build their networks and hone professional development skills to land dream jobs in their chosen fields.

“CMUniverse is a fantastic career resource that everyone in the CMU family can use,” says Kevin Monahan, associate dean for career and professional development at CMU’s Career & Professional Development Center (CPDC). “From students to alumni to faculty and staff, CMUniverse brings together Tartans from all over the world, facilitating and expanding quality professional relationships that ultimately enhance each participant’s career journey.” 

The CPDC, School of Computer Science, Information Networking Institute, Athletics and Alumni and Constituent Engagement partnered to make this resource possible. Future plans are to expand to include other departments and colleges throughout the university.

For alumni, CMUniverse allows them to give back to the next generation of Tartans — on their schedule — through online, phone or in-person conversations about topics like job searches, interview strategies, career paths, industry trends, resume or cover letter advice, and challenges in specific fields. It’s a volunteer mentorship opportunity that can greatly enhance a student’s chance for success as they embark on their career journey.

Learn more about the CMUniverse.

Alumni Bring Home Four Prime Time Emmys

It was a trophy night for several School of Drama alumni during last weekend’s 73rd Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The alumni winners are:

• Mark Worthington, production designer, College of Fine Arts 1991, for “WandaVision”;
• Eugene Lee, production designer, College of Fine Arts 1962, for “Saturday Night Live”;
• Alana Billingsley, art director, College of Fine Arts 2004, for “The Oscars”; and
• Nanrose Buchman, assistant costume designer, College of Fine Arts 1976, for “"The Queen's Gambit."

During the broadcast, the ensemble cast of "Hamilton" received an Emmy, which was accepted by alumna Renee Elise Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler. She was joined onstage by cast members, including CMU alumnus Leslie Odom, Jr. Goldsberry and Odom won Tony and Grammy Awards for their work on "Hamilton."

Carnegie Mellon alumni and faculty have received at least 142 Emmy Awards to date.

Learn more about CMU and the Emmys.

Recognizing National Coming Out Day, Oct. 6

Staff Council and the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer are collaborating on the recognition of National Coming Out Day. These recognitions will feature an online panel event (5-6:15 p.m., October 6) with members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as a virtual collage, where people can contribute images or words of reflection. Both events are open to all CMU faculty, staff and students.

For additional information, please see the Staff Council event website. To contribute questions for the panelists and submissions for the virtual collage, please submit this Google Form (also linked on the website).

Parking to Offer CMU Community Discount Hourly Rates in East Campus Garage

Discount hourly rate cards for the East Campus Garage (ECG) will be available to CMU students, faculty, staff and affiliates for $10 beginning October 1. The cards, which can be purchased at Parking & Transportation Services, will be good for one year and will offset the upcoming hourly rate increase in the ECG.

Effective, October 1, the retail hourly rates in the ECG are increasing by $3 to better align with current market prices. Students, faculty, staff and affiliates swiping the discount card at the pay station, will receive a $3 savings each time they use the card.

Hourly rates in the garage have been the same since 2019, and despite the pending increase, ECG rates will continue to be competitive with parking garages in Oakland. 

Learn more about the discount card and hourly rates on the Parking & Transportation Services website.

Questions? Send email to parking@andrew.cmu.edu.

CMU Earns Tree Campus Designation for Being Green

For the ninth consecutive year, Carnegie Mellon has been recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education Institution by the Arbor Day Foundation for promoting healthy trees and engaging the campus community in the spirit of conservation and sustainability.

CMU has achieved the annual award every year since 2013 by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee and a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.  CMU’s Pittsburgh campus has more than 7,000 trees and shrubs.

“Over the past year, many have been reminded of the importance of nature to our physical and mental health,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation in a letter to CMU President Farnam Jahanian. “Your campus trees provide spaces of refuge and reflection to students, staff, faculty and the community. Thank you for your contribution to this work.”

It’s Time for Your Flu Shot

Once again, the university is encouraging students, faculty and staff to get a flu shot to support the health and well-being of the campus community.

CMU is offering flu vaccinations at no cost for faculty and staff. The flu vaccination program is sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and administered by Giant Eagle Pharmacy. Faculty and staff can receive the flu vaccine at no charge at Giant Eagle Pharmacy locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Frederick, Maryland.

University Health Services will be offering flu vaccine appointments for students in the near future. When available, students will be able to log into HealthConnect to schedule an appointment. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for Pittsburgh students and all campus members. 

To obtain a flu shot, faculty and staff will need to present their Carnegie Mellon ID card at the Giant Eagle pharmacy. As an added incentive, employees who are vaccinated at a Giant Eagle pharmacy are eligible to receive $5 off their next visit to Giant Eagle. You must present your Giant Eagle Advantage Card at the clinic to receive the $5 credit. U.S. faculty and staff members based outside of the Pittsburgh area may request a voucher to receive a flu shot at a CVS pharmacy.

Visit the Flu Vaccination Program webpage for more information on the faculty/staff program.

Expect Street Closures, Parking Restrictions for Pittsburgh’s Great Race

The City of Pittsburgh's annual Great Race will take place on Sunday, September 26, with a 5K Run & Fitness Walk beginning at 8 a.m. at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Atwood Street in Oakland, and the 10K Run beginning at 9:30 a.m. near the corner of Beechwood Blvd. and S. Dallas Ave. near Frick Park in Squirrel Hill. 

Barricades will be set up throughout the city to clear the race route, which stretches from Squirrel Hill along Forbes Avenue to Morewoood Avenue on the Carnegie Mellon campus, then onto Fifth Avenue through Oakland, and onto the Boulevard of the Allies and into downtown before finishing at Point State Park.

Approximate street closures around campus are:

• Zone A: Beechwood Blvd. to the intersection of Forbes & Morewood will be closed from
  approximately 8:30 to 10 a.m.
• Zone B: Forbes & Morewood to the intersection of Fifth & Bigelow Blvd. also will be
  closed from approximately 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Parking restrictions also will be in effect along the race routes.  

See the Great Race map for more details.

TIAA Presents Financial Essentials Webinars for CMU

The Office of Human Resources invites you to join TIAA for a series of webinars. These live programs are for Carnegie Mellon only and are not part of TIAA’s regular webinar programming. TIAA has experience helping people save and invest since 1918, and they are proud to share that knowledge with the CMU community during these fun and informative webinars.

How to Turn Your Retirement Savings into a “Paycheck” for Life

You diversify your investment portfolio before retirement to help offset risk. A similar strategy can help see you through retirement. Learn how creating a diversified income plan — one that uses a combination of income sources and includes annuity income that’s guaranteed for life — can help reduce the risks you may face in retirement and ensure you have income that never runs out.

Wednesday, October 6, noon – 1 p.m. ET; Register now.

Halfway There: A Retirement Checkpoint

Give yourself a mid-career financial checkup to evaluate your current savings, formulate a plan to help pursue your savings goals and manage competing financial priorities.

Tuesday, November 9; noon–1 p.m. ET; Register now.

Diversified Income in Retirement

Retirees face four major risks in retirement. This seminar will discuss and explain those risks, and show how a simple approach using different income sources can help address those risks while still allowing for flexibility and a potential estate bequest. 

Thursday, February 10, 2022; time TBD; Registration coming soon.

Who's New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members this week.

• Cameil Ruffing, Administrative Coordinator, HCII: Human Computer Interaction Institute;
• Demet Kuzlak, Admissions Officer, Tepper School of Business Masters Program;
• Dominic Vissotski, Investment Analyst, Investment Office;
• Joseph Greene, Senior Database Engineer, MLD: Machine Learning Department;
• Kaylyn Hickman, Security Guard, University Police;
• Nick Carney, Creative Services Manager, Rwanda - ICT;
• Gloria Mou, Project and Customer Relations Manager, PSC - Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center;
• Diane Gordon, COVID Test Coordinator, Enterprise Risk Management (Erm) Services; and
• Chris Beaulieu, COVID Test Coordinator, Enterprise Risk Management (Erm) Services.