Winter Welcome is almost here! Join us from January 12-24, 2026!
Winter Welcome
Each winter the Office of Student Involvement and Traditions partners with departments across Student Affairs to organize an exciting slate of Winter Welcome events. Through these collaborative and celebratory events, we hope to reconnect students to each other, the Carnegie Mellon campus and the Pittsburgh community.
Winter Welcome events are a great way for students to meet new people, get involved with CMU’s student organizations, build school spirit, participate in service projects and practice wellness as they start their spring semester.
Our 2026 Winter Welcome schedule is listed below. More events and details will be added in the lead up to January. Check back for updates!
2026 Schedule
Winter Welcome Info Table
Monday, January 12th, 2026 | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: CUC Wean Commons
Stop by and learn more about all our exciting Winter Welcome events. Give our prize wheel a spin for some fun goodies to welcome you back to campus!
Winter Welcome Social Media Giveaway!
January 14-21, 2026Location: @CMUGetInvolved Instagram page
Check out the CMU Get Involved Instagram page for details on how to win some fun CMU goodies from the University Store.
First 100 Days Celebration
Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
Location: CUC Rangos 2 & 3
Join First-Year Orientation and Residential Education to celebrate reaching your first 100 days of classes here at Carnegie Mellon! Let’s revisit some fun activities from your First-Year Orientation week while enjoying some snacks and winning some prizes!
Winter Warm-up! S’mores with SIT
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 | 4:00 - 6:00pm
Location: CUC, Kirr Commons (Black Chairs)
Enjoy making your own toasty treats with the Office of Student Involvement and Traditions! All the classic ingredients provided - graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.
Paws to Relax (Pet Therapy)
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 | 6:30 - 7:30pmLocation: Well-Being Lab, Room 104, Highmark Center
Volunteers through Animal Friend’s Therapet program will join us on Wednesdays, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., to offer some friendly dog companions for the hour. No preregistration required. All are welcome!
Organized by the Office of Wellness and Meaning-Making Programs
Crafternoon
Thursday, January 15th, 2026| 11:00 am – 1:00 pmLocation: Well-Being Lab, Room 104, Highmark Center
Join us for a monthly Crafternoon and Start your semester with LEGO fun! Gather to make LEGO succulents, flowers, and other delightful creations. Kits will be provided. No registration required. All are welcome!
Organized by the Office of Wellness and Meaning-Making Programs
Interfraternity Council Chapter Showcase
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 7:00 - 9:00pm
Location: CUC Connan
Check out the eight chapters of CMU’s Interfraternity Council!
More information will be available soon. Check back later!
Resounding Peace & Justice: Taiko Drumming (Campus-Community Performance)
Friday, January 16, 2026 | 12:00 - 12:30pmLocation: CUC Studio Theater
Experience the thunderous power of Peaceful Forest as they bridge the gap between tradition and transformation. This special MLK Day program uses the collective energy of Taiko drumming to mirror Dr. King’s vision of a "Beloved Community." Through synchronized rhythm and shared breath, we explore how individual empowerment fuels our collective pursuit of peace. Join us at Carnegie Mellon as we drum for justice and resonate with hope. (Total performance time: 30 minutes)
Sponsored by The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Snowcade!
Friday, January 16th, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
Location: CUC Danforth Lounge & Conference Room
Come in from the cold and get your game on at the Winter Welcome Snowcade! Featuring a variety of arcade games, foosball, air hockey, Wii Sports on the big screen, board games with the CMU Board Game Club, snacks and good vibes.
Heartfulness Sunday Meditation
Sunday, January 18th, 2026| 8:30am – 11:00amLocation: Well-Being Lab, Room 104, Highmark Center
Join us for a practical session on Heartfulness Meditation with Yogic Transmission. Experience simple yet effective guided relaxation & meditation techniques. Reduce stress, calm your mind and improve the quality of life. Beginner Friendly. No registration required. All are welcome!
Organized by the Office of Wellness and Meaning-Making Programs
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Birthday Celebration
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 11:30am - 2:00pmLocation: CUC, Hunt Library/Sustainability Studio, TSB Atrium
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, the Office of the Vice Provost Community, Culture & Engagement and The Center, with support from Chartwells invite the entire campus community to join us for a special birthday celebration. Stop by a campus location to grab a sweet treat and learn more about upcoming programs celebrating the life of Dr. King.
Registration is not required.
Sponsored by The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Cozy Crafts
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 | 12:00 - 2:00pm
Location: CUC Danforth Conference Rm
Take a break and get creative! Paint a chilly winter landscape, make a decoration for your backpack or dorm room, or even build a miniature roller coaster with the Theme Park Engineering Group! Materials and supplies for a variety of small crafts will be available.
In partnership with the Theme Park Engineering Group
Midday Mindfulness
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 | 12:30 – 1:15pmLocation: Well-Being Lab, Room 104, Highmark Center
Show up as you are and start your semester with more clarity and calm. Join us for guided mindfulness each Tuesday with a “choose your own adventure” feel and experiment with different practices in community. Find what works for you, cultivate equanimity and unconditional well-being, and build your everyday toolkit for the semester ahead!
Beginner Friendly. No registration required. All are welcome!
Organized by the Office of Wellness and Meaning-Making ProgramsKaraoke & Cocoa
Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
Location: CUC Skibo Cafe
Grab the mic and a mug! Sing your heart out with friends while enjoying delicious hot chocolate out of an exclusive Winter Welcome mug (while supplies last).
Study Abroad Student Panel: Insights and Advice
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00pm
Location: CUC Connan
Learn more about study abroad from students in the know! Recently returned study abroad students as well as study abroad staff will be on hand to share insights and answer your questions. We hope you can join us!
Registration recommended! Sign up on TartanConnect.
Interested in other Study Abroad events? Check out Study Abroad Events Information
Presented by the Office of International Education
The Winter FAIR
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026| 5:00 - 6:30pm
Location: CUC Wiegand Gym
Check out the FAIR! Showcasing many of CMU’s 350+ student organizations, 20+ fraternities and sororities, and campus partners, the FAIR is the perfect way to get involved! Learn about all the neat engagement opportunities on campus and meet students from across the college. Open to all members of the campus community: undergraduate students, graduate students, staff/faculty.
MLK Interfaith Breakfast
Friday, January 23, 2026 | 9:00 - 10:00 amDoors open at 8:30 am
Location: CUC Rangos Ballroom
Every year, members of the Carnegie Mellon community are invited to an informal breakfast with campus and community interfaith leaders, centering on fellowship and conversation about Dr. King’s legacy. This year, the breakfast will feature Dr. Angela Reynolds, CEO of the YWCA of Pittsburgh and alumna of Heinz College. Participants will be invited to consider how their personal values and spirituality serve as a foundation for interfaith community engagement, following the example of Dr. King.
Register for the MLK Interfaith Breakfast
Organized by the Office of Wellness and Meaning-Making Programs
Ice Skating at Schenley with Undergraduate Student Senate
Friday, January 23rd, 2026 | 4:00 - 6:00pm
Location: Schenley Park Ice Rink
Join the Undergraduate Student Senate for a FREE community ice-skating event! ⛸️ Skates Provided ⛸️. Bring your friends + warm gloves! ❄️❤️
Funded by your student activities fee
Register today on TartanConnect: https://tartanconnect.cmu.edu/rsvp?id=1934849
Pittsburgh Connections: Ice Skating at PPG Place
Saturday, January 24th, 2026 |5:30 - 8:30pm
Location: UPMC Ice Rink at PPG Place
Join Pittsburgh Connections for a night of skating at UPMC Rink at PPG Place on Saturday, January 24! Skating will start at 6:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Advance registration required! Sign up on TartanConnect starting at 9am on Jan. 16
PACE Serve & Learn Service Opportunity
Saturday, January 24, 2026 | TBDLocation: TBD
Make a difference in the Pittsburgh community! Join Partners Allied in Community Engagement (PACE) for their monthly weekend service opportunity.
Registration required. Registration link and project details available soon on TartanConnect.
Hosted by Partners Allied in Community Engagement (PACE)
Ongoing Events/Initiatives
Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment
Fraternity and Sorority Life holds a formal process and an ongoing, open recruitment process every semester. If you would like chapters to reach out to you OR learn more about the process, please fill out this form: https://cmu.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAPZbtNgNheLmYu
IFC Fraternities: Fraternity Recruitment is happening from January 18-30,2026. It will kick off with a browsing fair on Jan. 18 - stay tuned for details! To learn more, email ifcrecruitment@andrew.cmu.edu or check out @cmuifc on Instagram
PHC Sororities: Continuous Open Bidding (COB) is an informal process held by chapters individually. Spring COB will begin on January 12, 2-26. To learn more, reach out to phc-recruitment@andrew.cmu.edu or check out @cmupanhel on Instagram
MGC Fraternities and Sororities: Multicultural Greek Council will be hosting a rush period during the first three weeks of the semester. For more information, reach out to mgc-vpmd@andrew.cmu.edu or go to @cmu_mgc on Instagram.
MLK Community Celebration Events
Check out the full slate of MLK Community Celebration events and programs happening throughout January and February on The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion’s website.
Advance registration required or recommended for some events.
Group X-ercise Classes
Group X classes return on Monday, January 12! Register today for one of Carnegie Mellon’s free Group X-ercise classes. Featuring a wide variety of fitness, strength, dance, cardio, weight training, cycling classes and more, there’s options for all abilities and skill levels.
Register today: https://cmu.dserec.com/online/cr/programs/1/program-classes-grid