Frequently Asked Questions
This information is applicable to newly admitted and enrolled students. If you are a prospective student, please refer to the Graduate Education FAQs.
Welcome to Carnegie Mellon!
We are very pleased that you've chosen to pursue your graduate degree in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon this fall. I know that the next few months may be a bit stressful, but also very exciting as you make your plans for your new adventure at Carnegie Mellon. I've provided answers and/or links to the most commonly asked questions with the hope that this information will help to ease any concerns and stress that you may have. Please note that many of the university links mentioned below have not yet been updated with the new semester information so please do check back throughout the summer.
I wish you a terrific summer, and look forward to seeing you in August.
Q: Is there a New Student Orientation Program?
A: There are actually 3 orientations!
The University Wide Orientation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15th and continue through Thursday, August 18th. Events and activities scheduled are meant to introduce incoming graduate students to university-wide level resources that are applicable throughout your academic career at Carnegie Mellon. Examples of topics are health insurance, tenants rights, career services, academic integrity, graduate student assembly, university services and teaching resources. The International Student Orientation will be held on Tuesday, August 16th. This full day session will address important issues such as language training support, cultural training, immigration, adjusting to life in the US and immunizations. International students will also complete immigration check-in at this orientation. Information about the program will be included with the I-20 documents and will be posted to the OIE website in June. The schedule for both orientations is posted at: http://www.cmu.edu/graduate/programs-and-services/orientation/index.html. Please register at this site at your earliest convenience.
The CEE New Student Orientation is scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 25th and Friday, August 26th. The CEE Orientation is not meant to replace, nor expected to duplicate topics presented at the University Wide Graduate Student Orientation. Topics specific to CEE graduate students such as CEE student groups, seminar, CEE career counseling, academic expectations, and departmental computing will be presented. You will have the opportunity to meet the CEE Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students. Detailed information about all of the orientation programs will be sent mid-Summer.
Q: Are the Orientations mandatory?
A: The International Student Orientation is mandatory for all international students. All students, including Carnegie Mellon undergraduates continuing to the graduate program are strongly encouraged to plan their schedule in order to be available to attend both the University and the CEE Orientations. Please contact Maxine Leffard should you have questions or are unable to attend any of the orientations.
Q: What is my student ID number, my login ID, Carnegie Mellon email address and first time use password?
A: You may now access your Andrew id and email address through the Carnegie Mellon directory search at: http://directory.andrew.cmu.edu/. Your Andrew id is simply the name before the @ of your email address. Your password for first time log-in is the first 8 digits of your student ID number. Please note that in order to maintain privacy, you will need to complete the Student ID Number Request Form and email or fax it to the address on the form to get your student ID number. It is recommended that you login and change your password as soon as you receive your student ID number.
Q: What do I do once I arrive in Pittsburgh?
A: Obviously, the most important thing for you to do is to find a place to live and get settled in. You will be contacted (via your CMU email account) in early August with a schedule of CEE check-in dates. You will receive additional information, your keys, checklist, register your laptop, etc. during the CEE check-in.
Q: When can I expect to receive my "welcome packet"?
A: The welcome packets will be sent to the mailing address listed in your decision notification form in early June. This packet will include your CEE email account, log-in instructions, password, housing and medical information, etc.
Q: When do classes start, and where can I find the official academic calendar?
A: The first day of classes for the Fall 2011 semester is Monday, August 29th. The academic calendar is available at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/calendar.html.
Q: Where can I find the Fall 2011 course listings?
A: The Fall 2011 Schedule of Classes is available at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/.
Q: When will advisor assignments be made?
A: Advisor assignments will be posted on the CEE on-line resource page at: http://www.ce.cmu.edu/resources/index.html in mid-June. MS students will be assigned to an advisor whose interests match their own and PhD students will be assigned to the advisor with whom they will be doing research. Although we will make every effort to assign the faculty advisor that was requested in the enrollment decision notification form there are no guarantees due to faculty advisor load.
Q: May I contact my advisor prior to arriving on campus?
A: Yes, most definitely. Once the advisor assignments are posted, you are most welcome to contact your advisor by telephone or email to discuss your schedule. You are also encouraged to review the Fall 2011 Schedule of Classes through the Hub (Enrollment Services) webpage at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/ for a list of available Fall courses. CEE recommended courses for a specific interest area (Green Design, Environmental Engineering Science & Management, Advanced Infrastructure Systems and Mechanics, Materials and Computing) are available in the Graduate Program Brochures at the following website: http://www.ce.cmu.edu/graduate/index.html (see right hand side).
Q: When and how can I register for classes?
A: You may register for your classes at any time, but it is recommended that you contact your advisor prior to registration so that you and your advisor can discuss and select the courses that best meet your interests. Please do not be discouraged if you do not receive an immediate response from your advisor as they may be traveling. You can register through on-line registration at the Hub website at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/ You are encouraged to register for your classes as soon as possible after receipt of your welcome packet (and advisor assignment) so that you may secure a spot in the courses of your choice. Note that students placed on waitlists should not be concerned at this time. Graduate students have first priority in CEE graduate courses, and waitlist issues will be addressed and worked out prior to the end of the first week of classes.
Q: What textbooks do I need?
A: The Carnegie Mellon University Store posts textbook information as it becomes available at: http://bookstore.web.cmu.edu/home.aspx (see left side menu).
Q: What are the MS and PhD course requirements?
A: Our MS program is very flexible with no specific course sequence. Instead, graduate students are required to satisfy 96 units of coursework, meeting the specific criteria found at the following website: http://www.ce.cmu.edu/graduate/ms-program.html (60 CEE units, 78 graduate level units, etc.). Course recommendations are available in the Graduate Program Brochures at the following url: http://www.ce.cmu.edu/graduate/index.html (right hand side). PhD degree requirements can be found at: http://www.ce.cmu.edu/graduate/phd-program.html.
Q: What are the academic year tuition and fees?
A: The 2011-12 academic year tuition is $37,800 ($18,900 per semester) plus fees. Activity, technology and transportation fees (per semester) will be posted shortly at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/sa/sa_grad_tuition.html.
Q: When do I need to pay my bill? May I pay by credit card or wire transfer?
A: The payment deadline for Fall tuition and fees has not yet been released, but the anticipated date is August 13, 2010. You will receive email notification once tuition has been posted to your student account. Complete ebill information, including payment options is available at: http://www.cmu.edu/hub/sa/sa_ebill_students.html.
Q: What do I need to do to apply for financial aid?
A: The 2011-12 Graduate Student Financial Assistance and Billing Guides is available at the Hub website http://www.cmu.edu/finaid/graduate/applying.html.
Q: Where can I find information about student health insurance? Am I required to carry the student health insurance offered through the university? Do I need to sign-up for student health insurance?
A: Enrollment in the CMU Student Health Insurance Plan is mandatory unless you can provide proof of coverage under a sponsored plan (such as an employer or government plan). A completed waiver form must be submitted and approved by CMU Health Services in order to be waived from the plan. Self-purchased health plans are not acceptable for waiver from the student plan. We recommend that you consider self-enrolling for the CMU Student Health Insurance Plan (through the website listed below) in order to secure the plan most appropriate for your personal situation. Every student not self-enrolling or submitting a waiver will be automatically enrolled in the standard plan. Dental and Vision is optional. The health insurance policy, waiver form, payment information and insurance premium options are available at: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/HealthServices/. Payment in full for health insurance is due in August unless you sign-up for monthly payments through Tuition Management Service (TMS). Information about TMS can be found from the left side menu "monthly payment option".
Q: What is the medical health history report? Is it required? What are the immunization requirements, and what if I don't have the required immunizations?
A: A completed medical health history report is required to be on file for all Carnegie Mellon students as an aid to Student Health Services to provide you with the best possible health care while you are a student at Carnegie Mellon. This report can be completed electronically with your Andrew id, at: www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/HealthServices/immunization. Medical history reports must be submitted on-line by June 30, 2011. Immunization information is also available at this site.
Q: Are RA's permitted to have outside employment
A: Students with research assistantships are not permitted to accept employment for compensation outside of the department for the duration of their support.
Q: What are the TA requirements for PhD RA's?
A: Participation in the teaching mission of the Department is considered an integral part of the graduate program, providing both learning and mentoring experiences for the student. For this reason, all graduate students (with the exception of non-research Masters and part-time students) are expected to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for one course each year.
Q: Are there any other requirements for incoming Research Assistants?
A: All research assistants will be required to complete on-line “Responsibility Conduct of Research” training prior to joining the program. Students with this requirement will be contacted directly via email later this summer.
Q: Are course MS students eligible for a paid TA assignment?
A: Because teaching assistant assignments are required of research MS and PhD students, paid teaching assignments are not usually available to course MS students. Each year however, TA positions may be available to course MS students as a service project option.
Q: How can I find out about on-campus jobs?
A: The Carnegie Mellon Student Employment Offices offers a comprehensive listing of on-campus student employment. Check out their website at: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/campus_employment/students/index.html.
Q: What are the Service Project options?
A: Students with a service project requirement will be provided with a list of project options shortly. Service project options vary and depending upon the scope of the service project may be completed in one semester, or over the course of the academic year. Additional information will be provided as applicable.
Q: Is on campus housing available to graduate students:
A: University housing is not available to graduate students, who instead, live in apartments in one of the many surrounding neighborhoods very close to campus. The Community Housing Office has a very comprehensive website at: http://www.housing.cmu.edu/CommunityHousing/ which provides information about housing options, roommate locator, and available apartment listings. Access to the housing registry is restricted to those with a Carnegie Mellon ID.
Q: How can I find a roommate?
A: You may enroll in the roommate registry through the community housing website.
Q: How can I find temporary housing?
A: Graduate students arriving in Pittsburgh in August may have access to limited transitional Carnegie Mellon housing if it is requested in advance. Information about Carnegie Mellon transitional housing is available at: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/settlinginguides/housing/transitional.html.
As an alternative, the Pittsburgh Council of International Visitors is an independent, non-profit, volunteer organization which assists with finding short term housing for international visitors. Check out their website at: http://www.eli.pitt.edu/GENINFO/arrival/PCIV.HTM.
Q: Are my I-20 documents complete? When will my I-20 be processed?
A: The Carnegie Mellon Office of International Education processes hundreds of I-20's for international students every year. In fact, Carnegie Mellon has the largest percentage of international students in US colleges and universities. Due to the high volume of packages received in OIE they are unable to confirm the receipt or completeness of your forms. You will be contacted directly by OIE if additional information is needed. In order to assure the smooth and expedient processing of your certificate of eligibility, please be sure to read the International Student Information form carefully and provide all required information and supporting documents. This includes photocopies of your passport, original bank certificates, etc. You should expect receipt of your I-20 approximately 3-4 weeks after OIE receives all of your documents.
Q: Where and when do I send my final transcript?
A: Verification of completion of your final degree is required prior to entering our graduate program. If you have not already done so, please arrange to have your official BS (and MS degree if applicable) final transcript(s) sent to Maxine Leffard as soon as they are available. Original and official final transcripts that were submitted with your application do not have to be resent as long as your conferred degree and final grades were listed on the transcript.
Please send your transcript to:
Maxine Leffard, Graduate Program Administrator
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Q: Should I purchase a computer?
A: The department encourages the use of personally owned laptops to maximize your productivity. If you are considering purchasing a computer, we recommend that you contact the Carnegie Mellon Computer Store at: http://www.cmu.edu/stores/computer/ prior to making the purchase in order to insure compatibility and capacity. PhD candidates should not purchase a computer until they've met with their faculty advisor.
If you already own a personal laptop and plan to bring it to campus, special connections, software, and general configuration are required, and can be arranged with a CEE computing staff member during or after the CEE Orientation. Please do not register your computer on the CMU networks until after you have been provided with registration information at the CEE Orientation. Networking and printing support will be provided for your personal machine as long as your computer is compatible with the campus network, as outlined at the CEE Orientation.
Q: How can I connect with current and incoming students during the transition process?
A: A Facebook group has been set-up so that new students can connect with each other. Current students and recent alumni are also members of the group, and are very willing to answer transition questions such as “do I need a car?” or “where is the best place to live?” that you might have. If you haven’t already done so, please join the group on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_210477348975384