| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.88 |
| Liaison | Deborah Steinberg |
| Submission Date | Dec. 17, 2024 |
Carnegie Mellon University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Deborah
Steinberg Green Practices and Sustainability Manager FMCS |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Since the last STARS report, Carnegie Mellon has established new programs aimed at empowering students from underrepresented and under-resourced backgrounds to pursue a degree at Carnegie Mellon. These programs are the CMU Rales Fellows Program and the CMU Pathway Program.
In February of 2023, Carnegie Mellon University and the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation announced a transformative new initiative to help address the Missing Millions — individuals whose personal circumstances have presented a significant obstacle to careers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields (STEM). Engaging and creating opportunities for these individuals to join the STEM professions is a priority for the nation’s economic prosperity, security and global competitiveness.
“Addressing the challenges of our modern world will require the concerted efforts of a highly talented pool of STEM trailblazers who can bring a diversity of ideas and experiences to engender solutions,” said CMU President Farnam Jahanian.
The CMU Rales Fellows Program will increase access to STEM graduate education and help cultivate a new generation of domestic national STEM leaders. At its core, the program will eliminate cost as a barrier to select master’s degree and Ph.D. programs for students from under-resourced and underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation students, by providing full tuition and a stipend; it also will support students through a distinctive, holistic ecosystem of developmental and networking opportunities that will benefit Fellows both during their time at CMU and as they advance in their careers.
In November 2024, it was announced that the CMU Pathway Program, which will begin with the 2025-2026 academic year, ensures deserving, talented and high-achieving students can afford and attend CMU regardless of their socioeconomic background or family resources.
Under the CMU Pathway Program, students from families earning less than $75,000 annually will be able to attend CMU tuition-free. Additionally, those from families earning less than $100,000 annually will have the opportunity to pursue their studies without the burden of federal student loans. This program is designed to support new and returning undergraduate students on CMU’s Pittsburgh campus who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and whose families have typical assets for their income.
“Our aspiration for Carnegie Mellon University is simple. We want every student who has earned a spot at CMU to be able to join us and thrive regardless of their family's financial resources or socioeconomic status,” said CMU President Farnam Jahanian. "The CMU Pathway Program represents our greatest investment so far in realizing this powerful vision."
Excerpts taken from CMU, Rales Foundation Announced Groundbreaking Initiative to Broaden Access to STEM Education and New CMU Pathway Program To Provide Significant Financial Relief to Undergraduate Students.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
In April 2023, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, launched an initiative to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at their campus. The EcoCampus initiative, led by the Foundation for Environmental Education, is a structured plan to improve sustainability for the entire community.
Carnegie Mellon University has prioritized sustainability by creating a global campus initiative to strengthen CMU’s commitment to the United Nations’ SDGs. Alexandra Hiniker, director of the sustainability initiative at the Pittsburgh campus, visited CMU-Q to provide information on how the Pittsburgh campus has incorporated the SDGs and to learn more about the EcoCampus Initiative.
In December 2024, CMU-Q was awarded the prestigious Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) EcoCampus Green Flag designation, becoming the first university in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to achieve this recognition. CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university.
Jennifer Bruder, associate dean of research, and Elissar El-Akra Hajjar, director of facilities, became co-directors of the EcoCampus initiative. They mobilized a large community effort to transform the campus, focusing on three key areas: food equity, climate change and campus waste management.
Excerpts taken from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar earns first FEE EcoCampus Green Flag Designation in the MENA Region and Carnegie Mellon announces EcoCampus initiative to empower students.
https://www.qatar.cmu.edu/news/carnegie-mellon-launches-ecocampus-initiative-to-empower-students/
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Food & Dining
Waste
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.