Carnegie Mellon University

SAMS Student Life Information

This site is intended for students, and families, who are enrolled in the Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) Program. Please visit the Office of Admission SAMS website for information about applying to the program and the logistics of enrollment. The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion oversees the implementation of the SAMS program for students after they are enrolled.

The Student Experience

The SAMS program aims to develop students both inside and outside of the classroom. The program is designed to mirror the first semester of the CMU freshman experience including orientation, rigorous academics, and experiential learning all in a safe and supportive environment.

Important Dates

Saturday, June 30 - Move In
Monday, July 2 - First Day of Class
Wednesday, July 4 - Holiday Festivities 
Friday, August 10 - Student Symposium
Saturday, August 11 - Move Out

Staff Information

The SAMS Student Life experience is supervised by Bianca DeJesus out of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion. Bianca asupervises the Program Coordinators and Resident Assistants. 

Program Coordinators (PC)

The PCs are part of the professional staff for the SAMS program. Program Coordinators hold bachelors degrees as well as bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the SAMS residential life component. These individuals are responsible for the supervision of the RA staff and the day to day operation of the SAMS residential life experience.

Resident Assistant (RA)

SAMS RAs are student staff members who facilitate the co-curricular experience and plan group activities for students in the program. RAs have the most direct out-of-classroom contact with SAMS students, each being responsible for 10-15 residential students.

What To Pack:

  • Alarm clock – for those early morning classes
  • Summer clothing
  • Bathing suit
  • Extension cord
  • Surge protector
  • Extra hangers
  • 2 Fans – 1 box fan for the window and 1 for air movement in the room
  • Laundry supplies
  • Linens (Extra-long twin-sized sheets, pillow cases)
  • Pillow(s)
  • Light blanket or comforter
  • Towels, hand towel, washcloth
  • Desk lamp
  • Dressy outfit – for special occasions
  • Posters/paint-safe poster putty – to make your room look like home (optional)
  • Sporting supplies – tennis racket, softball glove, etc. (optional)
  • Cell phone
  • School materials
  • Toiletries

What NOT To Pack:

  • Air conditioners (ONLY students with a serious medical condition, confirmed by their physician with documentation received by Health Services, will be permitted to rent their own air-conditioning unit for installation. For more information, please visit the enrollment portal.)
  • Cars
  • Expensive jewelry (and other valuables)
  • Large amounts of money
  • Knives or other weapons
  • Toaster ovens
  • Pets of any kind (service animals must be approved through Disability Resources)
  • Candles, incense and other open flames

Click here to get a downloadable .pdf of this list.

SAMS 2018 FAQs

As you prepare for SAMS, here are some frequently asked questions typically posed by incoming students and families. All further details about the program will be covered in the SAMS Handbook (students will get access to the handbook after they deposit and complete the enrollment process). If you have a question that is not addressed below, please email cmu-sams@andrew.cmu.edu

All students are required to live on campus. A part of the Summer Academy for Math and Science experience is learning to live in the residence hall with a roommate.

A typical day of the program starts around 7:30am with breakfast and runs through the evening.  The day includes classes, seminars, projects, time to meet with faculty in office hours, as well as breaks for lunch and dinner.  The full details of the student schedule will be outlined in the handbook; this will be distributed to students after they deposit and complete the enrollment process.

The residence hall staff consists of two adults (1 male, 1 female) with counseling and residence hall supervision experience. There will also be a team of college student resident assistants who will mentor, advise and support the health, comfort and general welfare of the students. The residence hall staff will live in the residence halls and are available to respond 24 hours a day.

In order to build a strong residential community we strongly encourage students to limit weekends away from campus. However, if students must be away overnight or for the weekend, an "Absence from Campus Release Form" signed by the parent or guardian, granting permission for the absence, must be completed. Overnight absences during the week when classes and projects are in session will not be permitted.

Registration and Opening Day are Saturday, June 30.  Participants should plan to arrive and check in between 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Students should plan to leave after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 10, but before 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11.

No, roommates assignments will be made based on information provided on the personal profile form provided in your on-line enrollment packet. These assignments will not be given out prior to arrival.

All U.S. Postal Services mail and all other packages (UPS, FedEx, and local deliveries) must be addressed as follows. Deliveries will not be accepted at the residence hall front desks. 

Student's Full Name
5032 Forbes Ave.
Summer Academy for Math & Science
SMC #7360
Pittsburgh, PA 15289

All letters and packages will be picked up by a staff member and delivered to the residence hall.

The full-service campus Post Office located in the lower level of the Cohon University Center is where students can purchase stamps, envelopes, or boxes, and mail items. Please check the postal services website for summer hours.

The campus post office will be accepting packages for you starting 2 weeks prior to Opening Day.  It is important that you do not send packages before this date, as we do not have the space to store them.

The most important thing to remember is to address mail and packages correctly. We cannot guarantee the delivery of your mail if we do not know who you are and which program you are attending.

The Postal Services Pick-up Center will be open on Opening Day from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Package pick-up regular hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SAMS Mailing Address:
Student’s Full Name
5032 Forbes Ave.
Summer Academy for Math & Science
SMC #7360
Pittsburgh, PA 15289

If you have a laptop, we encourage you to bring it. While having a personal laptop is convenient, the university has extensive computer labs or clusters available campus-wide. They offer a variety of Windows, Mac and Linux computers, peripherals and an extensive complement of software.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate early arrivals in the residence hall.

All summer meal plans operate on a debit system, which is encoded on students’ CMU ID cards. No refunds for unused meals are available. The SAMS meal plan, which provides for 19 meals per week (3 meals per day Monday – Friday, 2 meals per day Saturday & Sunday).