iii

College of Engineering
Academic Year 2021 - 2022

Graduate Student
Handbook for Online
Degree & Certificates

Revised 1.12.2022

1
Welcome

On behalf of the Integrated Innovation Institute (iii) faculty and staff, I welcome you to our
online programs. I expect your experience at Carnegie Mellon University will be both
productive and rewarding, and I look forward to getting to know you and working with you.

Whether you are joining us for one semester or a few years, the student handbook applies
to all students in the iii online programs. This resource is intended to supplement University
information found in the Carnegie Mellon University (The Word) and College of Engineering
Graduate Student Handbooks. Please review these handbooks as soon as you can so you
become familiar with iii and University policies. If you have any questions, please reach out
to me directly or [email protected].

Again, welcome aboard!

Peter Boatwright
Allan D. Shocker Professor of Marketing and New Product Development
Tepper School of Business
Director, Integrated Innovation Institute
Program Director, Online

While this handbook is specific to the student’s academic experience at the Integrated Innovation Institute,
there are several other resources and offices graduate students are encouraged to consult during their
tenure at Carnegie Mellon University. Information about The Word (the student handbook), the Office of the
Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Education, the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, and others are
included in Appendix B of this handbook

2
Table of Contents

Welcome 2

Table of Contents 3

Carnegie Mellon University 4

The iii 7

After You Have Been Accepted 9

Important Resources for You 10

Online Student Requirements 12

Academic Standards 15

Student Services & Resources 17

Tuition & Fees 20

Departmental & University Policies & Expectations 21

Grandfather Clause 29

Force Majeure Clause 30

Appendix A: Online Course Offerings 31

Appendix B: 2021-2022 Highlighted University Resources for Graduate Students and The WORD, Student
Handbook 35

3
Carnegie Mellon University

Vision
Carnegie Mellon University will have a transformative impact on society through continual
innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Mission
To create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep disciplinary
knowledge; problem solving; leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; and
personal health and well-being.

To cultivate a transformative university community committed to (a) attracting and retaining

diverse, world-class talent; (b) creating a collaborative environment open to the free
exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship can flourish;
and (c) ensuring individuals can achieve their full potential.

To impact society in a transformative way — regionally, nationally, and globally — by

engaging with partners outside the traditional borders of the university campus.

https://www.cmu.edu/about/mission.html

Statement of Assurance
Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment or
administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry,
belief, veteran status or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does
not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state or local laws
or executive orders.

Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should be
directed to the university ombudsman, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-1018. Obtain general information about Carnegie
Mellon University by calling 412-268-2000.

Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus security and fire safety report
describing the university's security, alcohol and drug, sexual assault and fire safety policies,

4
and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes committed on the campus,
and the number and cause of fires in campus residence facilities during the preceding three
years. You can obtain a copy by contacting the Carnegie Mellon Police Department at 412-
268-2323. The annual security and fire safety report also is available online at
www.cmu.edu/police/annualreports.

Information regarding the application of Title IX, including to admission and employment
decisions, the sexual misconduct grievance procedures and process, including how to file a
report or a complaint of sex discrimination, how to file a report of sexual harassment, and
how the university responds to such reports is available at www.cmu.edu/title-ix. The Title IX
coordinator may be reached at 412-268-7125 or [email protected].

The Carnegie Mellon Code

Students at Carnegie Mellon, because they are members of an academic community
dedicated to the achievement of excellence, are expected to meet the highest standards of
personal, ethical, and moral conduct possible.

These standards require personal integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise,

as well as truth without equivocation and a willingness to place the good of the community
above the good of the self. Obligations once undertaken must be met, commitments kept.
As members of the Carnegie Mellon community, individuals are expected to uphold the
standards of the community in addition to holding others accountable for said standards. It
is rare that the life of a student in an academic community can be so private that it will not
affect the community as a whole or that the above standards do not apply.

The discovery, advancement and communication of knowledge are not possible without a
commitment to these standards. Creativity cannot exist without acknowledgment of the
creativity of others. New knowledge cannot be developed without credit for prior knowledge.
Without the ability to trust that these principles will be observed, an academic community
cannot exist.

The commitment of its faculty, staff and students to these standards contributes to the high
respect in which the Carnegie Mellon degree is held. Students must not destroy that respect
by their failure to meet these standards. Students who cannot meet them should voluntarily
withdraw from the university.

The Carnegie Mellon Code can also be found on-line at: https://www.cmu.edu/student-
affairs/theword/.

University Policies & Expectations

It is the responsibility of each member of the Carnegie Mellon community to be familiar with
university policies and guidelines. In addition to this departmental graduate student

5
handbook see Appendix B for resources available to assist you in understanding community
expectations.

Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar can be found at https://www.cmu.edu/hub/calendar/index.html and
provides information on all deadlines including registration dates, class start dates,
add/drop deadlines, exam dates and more.

6
The iii

Background Statement
The Integrated Innovation Institute is built on three primary disciplines: engineering, design, and
business. Just like successful products or services, successful innovation covers technological
performance (engineering), human interface (design), and economic value (business). The
Integrated Innovation Institute focuses on education and research in innovation methods and
practice. We are one of the few top educational institutions that unites the three disciplines to
cross train students to become elite innovators, which enhances the effectiveness of thinking and
generating results.

The Integrated Innovation Institute has homes at two of the Carnegie Mellon University campuses:
Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley. The Institute is administratively housed within the College of
Engineering.

In 2022, the III launched our online programs – a series of certificates, which can be taken alone or
stacked into our Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services degree. This curriculum is
designed for the fully online student and will complement our residential degrees.

Mission Statement
The Integrated Innovation Institute combines the strengths of engineering, design, and business to
professionally cross-train students to be change makers and elite innovators, enhancing the
innovation process and generating impact.

Online Degree & Certificates Offered

Online Certificates:

• New Product Management

• Technology for Product Management
• Methods & Tools for Product Innovation
• Product Design Innovation

Each certificate is comprised of 20 units, divided into two 10-unit classes. These courses can be
completed simultaneously or sequentially.

Students interested in pursuing the full degree - Master of Integrated Innovation for Products
& Services will complete all the certificates above, along with our capstone course – Product
Development Implementation for 22 units.

7
Key Department Contacts

Leadership
Peter Boatwright, iii Director & Program Director, Online
Allan D. Shocker Professor of Marketing and New Product Development
Tepper School of Business
[email protected]

Emma Zink, Director of Operations

[email protected]

Faculty
For a complete list of iii faculty, please visit our directory:
https://www.cmu.edu/iii/innovators/faculty-staff/index.html

iii Staff
Leia Delabahan, MSSM/MSTV Residential Academic & Student Services Advisor
[email protected]

Jess Ignasky, Communications Manager

[email protected]

Mary Kilcoyne, Alumni Relations Manager

[email protected]

Kelly Pittman, Operations Coordinator

[email protected]

Carly Ochs, Associate Director of Marketing

[email protected]

Gabi Rogers, MIIPS Residential Academic Advisor

[email protected]

Ben Walfish, Assistant Business Manager

[email protected]

Athena Wintruba, Associate Director of Admissions

[email protected]

8
After You Have Been Accepted
This section presents guidelines for accepted students prior to matriculation into their programs.

Deferral
CMUiii will accept deferral requests for students admitted to a iii Online Certificate or the MIIPS
Online Degree. An offer of admission is valid for one year. Should you be unable to enroll within
one year after your original admitted start term, you will need to reapply.

Applicant’s Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide all required information on the program
application.

As a condition of enrollment at Carnegie Mellon, applicants admitted to an Integrated Innovation

Institute certificate or degree must submit final transcripts upon completion of their
undergraduate or master’s degree program from the institution conferring their degree. Failure to
provide an official transcript confirming the conferral of an undergraduate degree one week
before the first day of class at Carnegie Mellon, or failure to graduate, will nullify admission to the
Integrated Innovation Institute.

Confidentiality of Communications
All information provided to students because of their application is considered confidential and
should not be communicated to other applicants. Applicants are expected to comply with the
confidentiality requirement as a condition of admission.

Academic Integrity
Please review the University Policy on Academic Integrity: https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-
student-life/academic-integrity.html. The policy includes the University expectations around academic
integrity and provides definitions of cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized assistance.

A review of the University’s Academic Disciplinary Actions procedures: https://www.cmu.edu/student-

affairs/theword/academic-discipline/index.html is also recommended. These procedures outline the
process for investigating, reporting, and adjudicating violations of the University Policy on
Academic Integrity. The procedures also outline the appeal process.

Departmental expectations and actions taken if students are found in violation are outlined in
Violation of Student Conduct or Academic Standing section.

9
Important Resources for You
This section contains important links and information for graduate students. The resources
specified below will be helpful to your success as an online student.

Academic Calendars
Integrated Innovation will release an academic calendar for online programs. Integrated
Innovation tries to respect scheduled holiday breaks and special events within the University’s
Academic Calendar and reserves the right to adjust the schedule of classes as needed.

Computing Services
https://www.cmu.edu/computing/index.html
Computing Services at Carnegie Mellon manages email, provides software, and manages the
technology help desk, among other services.

New students should access the Getting Started Guide on their website:
https://www.cmu.edu/computing/start/students.html

The HUB
https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/registration/certificate/

The HUB is Carnegie Mellon's one-stop student service center. The staff in The HUB provide
services related to enrollment including billing and payments, financial aid, course registration and
scheduling, transcript and verification requests, diplomas, grades, and more. The HUB assists
currently enrolled students, parents/guardians of currently enrolled students, faculty, staff, and
departments with all the above.

Student Information Online

https://www.cmu.edu/hub/sio/about.html
Student Information Online (SIO) serves as the student's secure profile. Students should ensure it
is kept up-to-date with their most recent contact information and emergency contact information.
An Andrew User ID and password are needed in order to log in to SIO.

Within SIO, students are able to:

▪ View grades, QPA and enrollment status
▪ Order transcripts and verifications
▪ View student account invoices and activity
▪ Make payments via Online Banking and designate a bank account for electronic refunds

10
 ▪ Manage family and friend contact information and invite individuals to view student
account invoices, make payments, and order verifications through My Plaid Student
▪ View important campus contact information (Academic Advisor and/or Associate Dean,
Student Affairs contact and HUB liaison)

Canvas Learning Management System

https://www.cmu.edu/canvas/
Canvas, Carnegie Mellon’s Learning Management System, is a tool for faculty and departments to
communicate with students and distribute course documents, assignments, and other resources.

In addition, Canvas may be used for orientation materials, to share important information and
resources (like this handbook), and for onboarding tasks essential to a students’ success with the
iii.

Box File Storage & Collaboration

https://www.cmu.edu/computing/services/comm-collab/collaboration/box/index.html
Box is an enterprise-level file storage and basic collaboration service. It provides an easy-to-use
and protected way for CMU affiliates to consolidate files into 1TB of personal online storage. Users
can upload and manage content using a browser or supported app from any web-enabled device.

Slack
www.cmuiii-online.slack.com
Slack is an online communication and collaboration platform. Join our CMU iii Online slack channel
to access resources and interact with the MIIPS Online community.

Google Mail
https://www.cmu.edu/computing/services/comm-collab/email-calendar/google/index.html
Students automatically receive a CMU Google Mail account when their Andrew userID is created.
Google Mail, or Gmail, is an integrated cloud-based solution for email, calendar, contacts, notes
and tasks offered by Google.

Miro
https://miro.com/sso/login
Miro is an online whiteboard tool that allows for a distributed workforce to visually collaborate
during the course of a project. CMU provides all students with a free Miro account. You can login
to your Miro account using CMU Web Login/Single-Sign On (SSO).

11
Online Student Requirements
Please read this section to learn about online degree & certificate requirements.

Academic Progress
Student Responsibilities
To earn the online Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services, students are required
to complete four stackable certificates, which may be taken in any order and the final capstone
course. While this degree is flexible in nature, it is the sole responsibility of the student to manage
the academic progression of their program. Students are expected to ensure that they are taking
the necessary prerequisites and courses to complete degree requirements.

To earn an individual certificate, students are required to complete the courses required per
certificate. Certificate courses may be taken simultaneously or sequentially. Course and certificate
offering will vary per semester. Upon finishing a certificate, students will receive a digital
Certificate of Completion.

Statute of Limitations
Students will complete all requirements for the master’s degree within a maximum of five years
from original matriculation as a certificate or master’s student, or less. Once this time-to-degree
limit has lapsed, the person may resume work towards a certificate or master’s degree only if
newly admitted to a currently offered educational program under criteria determined by that
program.

Under extraordinary circumstances, such as leave of absence, military or public service, family or
parental leave, or temporary disability, a school or college may, upon the relevant department's
recommendation and with the written approval of the dean (or designate), defer the lapse for a
period commensurate with the duration of that interruption. Students who are pursuing a
certificate or master’s degree as part-time students for all semesters of their program, as
approved by their program, may also appeal to their program or department for extension of the
time to degree limit.

Double Counting Courses

No course that has been counted toward another degree can be counted toward fulfilling course
requirements in graduate programs, unless explicitly authorized for a particular program as set
forth in the specified requirements for the program, or by the department head(s) of the primary
department(s) of the graduate student. See https://engineering.cmu.edu/education/academic-
policies/graduate-policies/registration-grading-credit.html#double-counting-of-course-units-for-
m.s.-and-ph.d.-degrees

Pass/Fail Policy
Courses must be taken for a letter grade as opposed to pass/fail (often called pass/no-pass).

12
Audit Policy
Auditing courses is not permitted within the Integrated Innovation Institute. Students must
register for a course through SIO for the units allocated in order to sit in a course.

Program Transfer
Transferring between programs within and outside of the Integrated Innovation Institute is not
permitted. This includes transferring between the MIIPS Online and MIIPS Residential degree
formats. Students are encouraged to reach out to their program director for questions about this
policy.

Final Exams
All students must attend final exams and project presentations as scheduled by the University and
individual course instructors. If a student believes that a final exam or presentation presents a
scheduling conflict, they must discuss the issue with the course instructor.

Enrollment Verifications
Enrollment Services is the only University office that can provide an official letter of enrollment,
official transcript, and enrollment verification. Enrollment verifications can be requested online
through SIO.

Change of Address
Students are responsible for updating their address through their student account on SIO in a
timely manner and will be held responsible for any failure to receive official college notices due to
not having a correct address on file.

Online Certificate Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 20 units per certificate and successfully complete all
required courses to be eligible for a Certificate of Completion. The average grade of 20 units
applied to the certificate shall be at least a B (3.0 QPA). Individual course grades below a C (2.0
QPA) are considered unsatisfactory for the certificate requirement.

Online MIIPS Degree –Requirements

Students must successfully complete the four stackable certificates and the final capstone course
for a minimum of 102 units to be eligible for graduation. The average grade of 102 units applied to
the degree shall be at least a B (3.0 QPA). Individual course grades below a C (2.0 QPA) are
considered unsatisfactory for the degree requirement.

13
Certificate of Completion Process

Certificate of Completion is awarded each semester, after final grades are reviewed.
Certificates are digital records of achievement and university credentials. However,
requirements for earning a certificate are different from those needed to earn a degree,
and a certificate is not equivalent to a diploma.

Degree Title & Graduation Certification Process

Degree Title: Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services

Certification process:
▪ Graduation certification processed each semester – fall, spring, summer
▪ Certified by iii Online Program Director

14
Academic Standards
This section contains information and policies about grades, performance, etc.

Grades

University Grading Standards

The general grading policy is described on the University’s grading policy website:
https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/grading.html.

This policy offers details concerning the University’s grading principles for students taking courses
and covers the specifics of assigning and changing grades, grading options, drops/withdrawals,
and course repeats. It also outlines graduate grading standards.

Drop/Add/Withdraw Procedures
Students taking undergraduate and Masters’ level courses must follow the procedures and
deadlines for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses as identified on the academic
calendar.

Note: Certificate only students are not eligible for course vouchers.

Information can be found at https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/course-changes/index.html

Process for Appealing Final Grades

See https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/policies/appeal-grievance-procedures.html

Final grades will be changed only in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the
instructor and the department, unit or program. Grading is a matter of sound discretion of the
instructor and final grades are rarely changed without the consent of the instructor who assigned
the grade. The following circumstances are the unusual exceptions that may warrant a grade
appeal: (a) the final grade assigned for a course is based on manifest error (e.g. a clear error such
as arithmetic error in computing a grade or failure to grade one of the answers on an exam), or (b)
the faculty or staff member who assigned the grade did so in violation of a University policy.

College of Engineering Grading Standards

The College of Engineering’s grading policy is described below and on the Graduate Policies
website:
https://engineering.cmu.edu/education/academic-policies/graduate-policies/registration-grading-
credit.html.

Project work may be given an S (Satisfactory) grade on a semester-by- semester basis, but a letter

15
grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, or R) must be given in the final semester for a multi-
semester project. The units with an S grade are counted toward degree requirements but are not
included in computing the average grade.

Coursework or graduate project units with a grade of C- or lower are not acceptable toward
graduate degree requirements.

Academic Performance

Grade Point Average

To graduate, students must have a grade point average (QPA) of at least 3.0 in all required
coursework and total units for the degree. Additionally, the cumulative QPA for all units taken as a
graduate student at Carnegie Mellon must be at least 3.0.

Coursework or graduate project units with a grade below a C (2.0 QPA) will not be considered
toward graduate degree requirements; however, they will be calculated into the student’s
cumulative QPA.

Academic Standing
Good academic standing is defined as having a QPA of at least 3.0. A student will receive a
probation letter for a QPA below 3.0 in the most recently completed semester. Students will have
one semester to improve their QPA to at least 3.0 to return good academic standing. If a student is
not in good academic standing, it is their responsibility to consult with their program director to
discuss next steps. Students not in good academic standing for more than one semester could be
subject to academic suspension or dismissal from the Integrated Innovation Institute/Carnegie
Mellon University.

A student can be in good academic standing and on student conduct probation at the same time
due to incidents unrelated to their academic performance.

Retaking a Course
If a student does not pass a required course, they must either retake the course or take a different
course that will fulfill the requirement. Retaking a course is also necessary if students do not meet
the QPA requirement for the degree or a specific course.

All grades are recorded on the transcript and factored into the cumulative QPA computation.

16
Student Services & Resources
Office of Disability Resources

Accommodations for students with disabilities

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact Catherine Getchell,
Director of Disability Resources, 412-268-6121, [email protected]. If you have an
accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, we encourage you to discuss
your accommodations and needs with your faculty as early in the semester as possible.
Faculty will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate.

Student Academic Success Center (SASC)

SASC offers a variety of academic coaching, communications support, tutoring and

workshops for all CMU students throughout the year.

As an online student, start with the following quick links to learn more:

• Preparing to learn online - tips and resources to help prepare you to learn in an
online environment.
• Student Tech Quick Start - make sure your computing resources are in place for the
start of class.

Statement on Diversity and Inclusion

We must treat every individual with respect. We are diverse in many ways and this
diversity is fundamental to building and maintaining an equitable and inclusive campus
community. Diversity can refer to multiple ways that we identify ourselves, including but
not limited to race, color, national origin, language, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation,
gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information.
Each of these diverse identities, along with many others not mentioned here, shape the
perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus. We, at CMU, will work
to promote diversity, equity and inclusion not only because diversity fuels excellence and
innovation, but because we want to pursue justice. We acknowledge our imperfections
while we also fully commit to the work, inside and outside of our classrooms, of building
and sustaining a campus community that increasingly embraces these core values.

17
Each of us is responsible for creating a safer, more inclusive environment. Unfortunately,
incidents of bias or discrimination do occur, whether intentional or unintentional. They
contribute to creating an unwelcoming environment for individuals and groups at the
university. Therefore, the university encourages anyone who experiences or observes
unfair or hostile treatment on the basis of identity to speak out for justice and support,
within the moment of the incident or after the incident has passed. Anyone can share
these experiences using the following resources:

• Center for Diversity & Inclusion: [email protected], (412) 268- 2150

• Report-It online anonymous reporting platform: Report It username: tartans
password: plaid
• All reports will be documented and deliberated to determine if there should be any
following actions. Regardless of incident type, the university will use all shared
experiences to transform our campus climate to be more equitable and just.

Office of International Education

https://www.cmu.edu/oie/index.html

The Office of International Education is the primary resource for any questions regarding
international student status for students at Carnegie Mellon University. This is an available
resource for international students on campus, however, online students are not eligible for F-1 or
J-1 visas through CMU.

Health & Wellness

As a student, you may experience a range of challenges that can interfere with learning,
such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty
concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful
events may diminish your academic performance and/or reduce your ability to
participate in daily activities. CMU services are available, and treatment does work. You
can learn more about confidential mental health services available to all CMU students at
https://www.cmu.edu/counseling/.

Support is always available (24/7) from Counseling and Psychological Services: 412-268-
2922.

Note: CaPS resources will vary depending on student location. For more information and
assistance, reach out to 412-268-2922.

Thriving Campus: CMU is a part of the Thriving Campus community. Thriving Campus is
a search tool that is specific to clinical providers interested and experienced in working

18
with the higher education population in the United States. Students can search for
specialty insurance, demographic preferences, etc. And contact clinical providers directly
to obtain appointments. To see and access clinics near you in the United States, go to the
CMU Thriving Campus website and click “Use My Location” in the top left corner of the
page, or click change and type in your City/State and click update in the bar on the right.
Consider also reaching out to a friend, faculty, staff, or family member you trust for help
getting connected to the support that can help.

19
Tuition & Fees
The current Integrated Innovation Institute tuition rate and other University fees can be found on
the iii website: https://www.cmu.edu/iii/online/admissions/index.html#onlinetuition.

Tuition Billing & Payment

The tuition rate for all CMU students is set each spring for the following academic year (fall, spring,
summer terms).

Tuition will be charged the per-unit rate each semester a student is enrolled.

The HUB handles the tuition billing and payment process for all Carnegie Mellon students. For the
University’s billing and payment policy, please refer to the Billing & Payments section on The HUB
website: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/billing/index.html.

Please note the add/drop deadlines each semester. This could impact tuition charges. It is the
student’s responsibility to meet appropriate deadlines for registration within all colleges/schools
at Carnegie Mellon.

Student Financial Obligation & Past Due Accounts

Integrated Innovation Institute students are subject to, and must be aware of, the Carnegie Mellon
policy regarding student financial obligation: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/billing/sfo.html.

20
Departmental & University
Policies & Expectations
It is the responsibility of each member of the Carnegie Mellon community to be familiar with
University policies and guidelines. In addition to this departmental Graduate Student Handbook,
the following resources are available to assist you in understanding community expectations:

▪ The Word/Student Handbook: https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/theword/index.html

▪ Academic Integrity Website: https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-
life/academic-integrity.html
▪ University Policies: https://www.cmu.edu/policies/
▪ Office of Graduate and Postdoc Affairs: https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/policies/index.html

Please see Appendix B for additional information about The Word and University resources.

iii Procedures for Violation of Student Conduct or Academic

Standing
The Integrated Innovation Institute has outlined a specific procedure for handling student cases as
they relate to poor academic performance, violation of university/department academic
regulations or violation of student conduct as outlined in The Word. They are designed to help
students complete certificates and degrees (where possible) and equip them to succeed after
graduation despite the challenges they face. A violation will result in a student being placed on
academic or student conduct probation

Notice of Probation
Students will receive a written notification of academic probation by iii Leadership team, if they
have violated a departmental academic or student conduct regulation for one of the following
reasons:
▪ Overall QPA drops below 3.0
▪ Failing grade within a degree required course
▪ Reported Academic Integrity Violation
▪ Violation of CMU Community Standards

Academic Probation Process

Once notification of academic probation is sent, students will be required to meet with their
Academic Advisor and Program Director to establish an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP) at least
5 business days before the start of the semester.

The student will be responsible to meet all AIP milestones and achievements as noted within the

21
plan as part of their probationary status. There will be a mid-semester review of AIP milestones
against the plan. If milestones have not be completed as outlined, a registration hold will be
enforced. The student cannot register for courses in the following semester until AIP milestone
progress is up to date.

Student Conduct Probation Process

Once notification of student conduct probation is sent, students will be required to work through
the resolution process with the Office of Community Standards & Integrity at CMU.

Duration of Student Probation

A student placed on academic probation will have one academic semester to complete their
academic improvement plan. If a student fails to make progress on their academic improvement
plan and resolve their probation issues after one semester, the student is subject to dismissal
from their academic program.

If a student’s QPA drops below a 3.0 QPA or they fail a required course in their final semester, a
student will be ineligible to graduate. Students placed on probation at the end of their final
semester will have two years to resolve any academic probation issues and complete their degree
requirements. The Statute of Limitations timeline to complete a degree may limit the student to
have less than two years. In this case, students would have the remaining time to resolve their
academic probation issues.

A student placed on student conduct probation will receive notice of their probation duration and
next steps for a resolution within their probation letter.

Documentation Process
Notice of Academic or Student Conduct Probation and Academic Improvement Plan will be part of
student record at CMU and with the III. If notice is related to academic integrity violation,
additional documentation and notification processes required by CMU’s Office of Community
Standards & Integrity will be included. See additional details about Academic Integrity Violation
below. The students' Academic Advisor will update status updates/milestones in S3 via Memos.

Request for Appeal

To keep this process just, students have the right to request an appeal to the CIT dean’s office.
The specific process to do so will be included in the student’s academic integrity violation letter.
Additionally, details about the process for appealing can be found on the College of Engineering
website under the Resolution of Grievances section.

Specific Notes on Academic Integrity Violations

Please review the University Policy on Academic Integrity https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-
and-student-life/academic-integrity.html

The policy includes the University expectations around academic integrity and provides definitions
of cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized assistance.

22
A review of the University’s Academic Disciplinary Actions procedures
https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/theword/academic-discipline/index.html
is also recommended.

These procedures outline the process for investigating, reporting, and adjudicating violations of
the University Policy on Academic Integrity. The procedures also outline the appeal process.

Expectations on Academic Integrity

Students at Carnegie Mellon are engaged in intellectual activity consistent with the highest
standards of the academy. The relationship between students and instructors and their shared
commitment to overarching standards of respect, honor, and transparency determine the
integrity of our community of scholars. The actions of our students, faculty, and staff are a
representation of our university community and of the professional and personal communities
that we lead. Therefore, a deep and abiding commitment to academic integrity is fundamental to a
Carnegie Mellon education. Honesty and good faith, clarity in the communication of core values,
professional conduct of work, mutual trust and respect, and fairness and exemplary behavior
represent the expectations for ethical behavior for all members of the Carnegie Mellon
community.

Examples of Academic Integrity Violations

Cheating occurs when a student avails her/himself of an unfair or disallowed advantage, which
includes but is not limited to:
▪ Theft of or unauthorized access to an exam, answer key or other graded work from
previous course offerings.
▪ Use of an alternate, stand-in or proxy during an examination.
▪ Copying from the examination or work of another person or source.
▪ Submission or use of falsified data.
▪ Using false statements to obtain additional time or other accommodation.
▪ Falsification of academic credentials

Plagiarism is defined as the use of work or concepts contributed by other individuals without
proper attribution or citation. Unique ideas or materials taken from another source for either
written or oral use must be fully acknowledged in academic work to be graded. Examples of
referenced sources include but are not limited to:
▪ Text, either written or spoken, quoted directly or paraphrased.
▪ Graphic elements.
▪ Passages of music, existing either as sound or as notation.
▪ Mathematical proofs.
▪ Scientific data.
▪ Concepts or material derived from the work, published or unpublished, of another person.

Unauthorized assistance refers to the use of sources of support that have not been specifically
authorized in this policy statement or by the course instructor(s) in the completion of academic
work to be graded. Such sources of support may include but are not limited to advice or help

23
provided by another individual, published or unpublished written sources, and electronic sources.
Examples of unauthorized assistance include but are not limited to:
▪ Collaboration on any assignment beyond the standards authorized by this policy
statement and the course instructor(s).
▪ Submission of work completed or edited in whole or in part by another person.
▪ Supplying or communicating unauthorized information or materials, including graded
work and answer keys from previous course offerings, in any way to another student.
▪ Use of unauthorized information or materials, including graded work and answer keys
from previous course offerings.
▪ Use of unauthorized devices.
▪ Submission for credit of previously completed graded work in a second course without
first obtaining permission from the instructor(s) of the second course. In the case of
concurrent courses, permission to submit the same work for credit in two courses must be
obtained from the instructors of both courses.

Leave of Absence/Withdrawal
https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/leaves-and-withdrawals/

A leave of absence (LOA) is taken when a student needs to leave the University temporarily, with
the firm and stated intention of returning. A withdrawal means a student leaves the University
with no intention of returning.

Students should discuss their plans to leave the University with the corresponding contact for their
program. Together, graduate students, staff, and the iii director will help to develop a plan for
departure and potential return to the Integrated Innovation Institute.

If taking a LOA, return plans should be discussed and noted in the student’s academic file. Please
note the Statutes of Limitation for degree seeking students.

Forms for Departure or Return from Leave of Absence with the University are housed on the
University Registrar’s website.

Online Etiquette

Being a student in an online environment requires you to be mindful of how you

communicate with your professors and peers. With the lack of non-verbal cues, it is
important to remember the following etiquette guidelines for facilitating effective
communication between students and professors. (Adapted from Kent State)

• Avoid Strong or Offensive Language

Because the reader cannot hear voice inflections in the written word, it is easy for
your writing to be misinterpreted. If you are trying to make a point, read and re-read
your comments to make sure the reader is not offended. Although the intent of

24
 humor and sarcasm are to keep conversations interesting, they are often
misinterpreted and can be offensive to the reader. You can avoid these pitfalls by
keeping your writing matter of fact and professional.

• Keep your Writing Focused and on Point

Courses taken online require a lot of reading and writing. Be considerate when writing
– keep sentences brief and to the point. Avoid wordy paragraphs that confuse the
reader.

• Read then Write

You will be tempted to jump right in and begin posting! However, to avoid repeating
comments or questions, please first take the time to read the posts and comments of
fellow students and professors before you write and post.

• Double Check Before You Send

Once you hit the “send” button, there is no going back! Be sure to double-check your
comments to make sure your writing clearly conveys your intent.

• You are still in a Classroom

Although you are learning via an online environment, you are still in a classroom. As
such, appropriate classroom behavior is expected and mandatory. It is important to
respect your peers and professors, just as you would in an on-ground classroom.

• Language
Avoid writing in all capital letters – the reader will interpret this as shouting. Do not
write as you would when you are texting. Remember, you are in an academic
environment, complete sentences with correct spelling and grammar are expected.
You will get to know your peers through your online interaction with them. You may
find it helpful to convey emotions (ex: ) but avoid overuse.

• Remember Other People’s Privacy

Before giving out other people’s personal information (e-mail, phone number,
address etc.), ask permission.

• Keep Attachments and File Size Manageable (if possible!)

• Use of Inappropriate Material will not be tolerated

Do not forward inappropriate information such as spam, virus warnings, chain letters,
or jokes, etc. to classmates or professors. Additionally, the sharing of pornographic
material is forbidden.

25
Graduate Student Appeal & Grievance Procedures
https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/policies/appeal-grievance-procedures.html

Graduate students will find the Summary of Graduate Student Appeal and Grievance Procedures
on the Graduate Education Resource webpage. This document summarizes processes available to
graduate students who seek review of academic and non-academic issues. When an informal
resolution cannot be reached, however, a graduate student who seeks further review of the
matter is to follow the formal procedures outlined in the procedures. These appeal and grievance
procedures shall apply to students in all graduate programs of the University. Students should
refer to the department-specific information in this handbook for department and college
information about the administration and academic policies of the program.

Emma Zink, iii Director of Operations, serves as a resource for graduate students in iii to assist
with difficult academic or personal situations where a confidential sounding board and/or an
intermediary can be helpful. Examples of situations where students are encouraged to seek advice
or assistance include:
▪ Difficulty in communications with advisor, particularly when those difficulties may lead to
considering changing advisors or leaving the program
▪ Conflict with other group members that is difficult to resolve within the group
▪ Issues related to diversity or the departmental climate for those in groups who are
historically underrepresented
▪ Personal concerns that interfere significantly with the ability to make timely progress in
program requirements. These might be due to health, family, or financial challenges.

Upon the student’s request, information shared will be kept in confidence, as long as no laws
require otherwise. Should help be needed from additional sources, the student would be asked
before sharing confidential information.

Additionally, students may confer with a staff member from the Division of Student Affairs, on
issues of process or other concerns as they navigate conflicts. Initial outreach should be directed
to Amy Burkert, Vice Provost for Education.

Student Privacy Rights

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have the right to:
▪ inspect and review their education records;
▪ request an amendment to their education records if they believe they are inaccurate or
misleading;
▪ request a hearing if their request for an amendment is not resolved to their satisfaction;
▪ consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information from their education records,
except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure with their consent; and
▪ file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Family Policy Compliance Office if
they believe their rights under FERPA have been violated.

26
Policy on Photo & Video Release
Students at the Integrated Innovation Institute will be asked to sign a photo and video release
form prior to student orientation each year. Student photos and videos may be used in internal
and external communications regarding the Integrated Innovation Institute.

Intellectual Property
https://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/intellectual-property.html

All Carnegie Mellon students are expected to adhere to the Intellectual Property guidelines as set
forth in this policy

Safeguarding Educational Equity: Policy Against Sexual

Harassment and Sexual Assault
The University prohibits sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/
domestic violence and stalking. The University also prohibits retaliation against individuals who
bring forward such concerns or allegations in good faith.

The University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy is available at

https://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/sexual-misconduct/index.html.

The University’s Policy Against Retaliation is available at

https://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/whistleblower.html.

If you have been impacted by any of these issues, you are encouraged to make contact with any of
the following resources:
• Office of Title IX Initiatives, https://www.cmu.edu/title-ix/ 412-268-7125, [email protected]
• University Police, 412-268-2323

Additional resources and information can be found at: https://www.cmu.edu/title-ix/resources-

and-information/resources.html.

Consensual Intimate Relationship Policy Regarding

Undergraduate Students
https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/consensual-relationships.html

This policy addresses the circumstances in which romantic, sexual or amorous

relationships/interactions with undergraduate students, even if consensual, are inappropriate and
prohibited. The purpose of this policy is to assure healthy professional relationships. This policy is
not intended to discourage consensual intimate relationships unless there is a conflicting
professional relationship in which one party has authority over the other as in the policy.

Maternity Accommodation Protocol

27
https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/programs-services/maternity-accommodation-protocol.html

Students whose anticipated delivery date is during the course of the semester may consider taking
time away from their coursework and/or research responsibilities. All female students who give
birth to a child while engaged in coursework or research are eligible to take either a short-term
absence or formal leave of absence. Students in course work should consider either working with
their course instructor to receive incomplete grades or elect to drop to part-time status or to take
a semester leave of absence. Students engaged in research must work with their faculty to
develop plans for the research for the time they are away.

Students are encouraged to consult with relevant University faculty and staff as soon as possible
as they begin making plans regarding time away. Students must contact the Office of the Dean of
Student Affairs to register for Maternity Accommodations. Students will complete an information
form and meet with a member of the Dean’s Office staff to determine resources and procedures
appropriate for the individual student. Planning for the student’s discussion with her academic
contact(s) (advisor, associate dean, etc.) will be reviewed during this meeting.

28
Grandfather Clause
When policies are changed it is because the department believes the new rules offer an
improvement; any such changes that affect currently enrolled students will be discussed at a
meeting with those graduate students. However, students currently enrolled whose degree
program is affected by a change in policy may choose to be governed by the older policy that was
in place at the time of their matriculation. In case degree requirements are changed and certain
courses are no longer offered, the department will find some alternative courses that allow those
students to satisfy the original requirements.

29
Force Majeure Clause
Factors outside of the university’s control may impact our students’ ability to matriculate through
their CMUiii program normally. In the event of a natural disaster, such as but not limited to violent
storm, cyclone, typhoon, hurricane, tornado, blizzard, earthquake, volcanic activity, landslide, tidal
wave, tsunami, flood, damage or destruction by lightning, drought; plague, epidemic, pandemic,
outbreaks of infectious disease or any other public health crisis, including quarantine or other
employee restrictions; explosion, fire or other life-altering event that prevents normal
matriculation, CMUiii will allow for particular policy changes and will provide students with
resources that are specific to the current situation. These changes may be enacted at a central
level, campus level, or department level at any point during the academic year.

30
Appendix A: Online Course Offerings

49-600, Introduction to Design Innovation, 10 units

This course is an introduction to design principles for product development and instruct students
in techniques and applications for tangible products. During the course, students will learn about
the design process and the steps designers take from an understanding of user needs to the
creation of a fully considered solution that meets those needs and delights the user. Building on
the general principles introduced in the course, the course will give students the opportunity to
apply their learning in the context of tangible products (research, sketching, model making, user
testing, and presentation). Students experience the use of traditional design skills (drawing,
mockups, and model making) in the visualization and representation of design concepts and
solutions. This course not only introduces design innovation but also provides training in a
physical product context so that students can hone skills and techniques needed to visualize and
represent product concepts efficiently. The relationship among design, product development, and
business is explored with class projects, readings, discussions, and the analysis of artifacts and
process.

Through case histories, lectures, and a variety of hands-on exercises, students are exposed to
design thinking and practice. Students will learn about and practice techniques that include: 1.
Conducting observational research, 2. Analyzing information to inform team brainstorming, 3.
Planning projects, 4. Developing concept strategies, 5. Generating ranges of solutions especially
via methods of early prototyping and testing through the use of interactive and experiential mock-
ups, 6. Selecting and refining concepts. Students will synthesize these techniques to solve a
product design challenge in the course. Certain assignments will be completed as individuals and
other assignments in teams.

49-601, Innovation of Services & Experiences, 10 units

This course will define and study services, experiences, and related systems. Students will also
learn the basics of designing services and experiences. Innovators who focus on services and
experiences create new offerings for businesses with a primary focus on the quality of the human
interactions and experience that are often engendered in the context of functional and/or tangible
products, meaning that this course will push students to consider holistic "product" offerings that
span UI/UX, physical products, and human activity. In this course students will first study the
nature of services and experiences and then work in small project teams to analyze leading
designed solutions as well as to create new ones. Service and experience design frameworks will
also be used both for the analysis of existing offerings as well as to propose and innovative
solutions.

The learning will take place via lectures, studio projects, and verbal and written exposition.
Students will be working in familiar and unfamiliar forms including concepts for products,

31
documents, events, spaces, activities, scripts, and software. Classwork will be done individually
and in teams. By the end of this course, students should be able to: Easily distinguish and shift
between different perspectives on the same design problem space, leverage service and
experience innovation frameworks to explain how an offering unfolds for people, speak
articulately about offerings that are made up of systems of products, services and other
components.

49-602, Designing for Production and Sustainability, 10 units

This course will teach the basic principles and philosophies of engineering design, with emphasis
on mechanical engineering due to the broad scope of applications of mechanical engineering
which include but are not limited to stress analysis and fracture, heat transfer, kinematics, and
systems packaging. Recognizing that design is a first step in a sequence of later decisions and
steps (development, manufacture, distribution and life cycle of a product), this course will look at
the influence of materials, manufacturing and other downstream decisions/actions on the overall
design of a product. Some of the downstream influences that will be explored are decisions and
actions that take place prior to the sale of the product: material selection, manufacturing
processes, assembly, robustness and quality, platform design, product costing and safety.

However, what we design and how we develop it also impacts our environment for years to come,
so importantly this course will also cover various aspects of sustainable design from a product life
cycle perspective. Thus, students will be exposed to the fundamental concepts of Design for "X"
and specifically the impact that DfM (design for manufacturing) and DfA (design for assembly)
have on product development and how they affect design decisions. Students will also be exposed
to the fundamental concepts of Sustainable Design (also known as Design for Sustainability - DfS,
EcoDesign, Sustainability Engineering, LCA and others) and specifically the impact that DfS has on
product development and how it affects design decisions. This class includes lectures and labs
activities.

49-603, Cyber-Physical Product Design, 10 units

Driven by the combination of increased access to data, local data storage, computational power,
interconnectivity, and improved algorithms, mainstream technologies increasingly incorporate
sensing (IoT) and data science (AI) "smarts." As examples, thermostats, locks, power sockets, and
lights are being imbued with sensors and connectivity. There is great potential to layer in machine
learning, natural language and speech processing, expert systems. robotics, and vision. Early
applications of these capabilities were designed to operate on their own, on very narrow tasks,
based on pre-programmed knowledge. Today, we have the ability to design human-computer
systems in which both human and computers act intelligently, adapt to the world and learn from
experience, improving their performance over time. The course illustrates both the potential and
current limitations of AI, data science, and interactive connected products with examples from a
variety of applications.

Topics explored will include awareness, real time sensing and communication, embedded
intelligence, and designing experiences for the internet of things. We will also spend some time on

32
understanding the strengths and weaknesses of human decision-making and learning, specifically
in combination with AI systems that would be resident in product applications. Students will be
introduced to technologies and AI algorithms through a series of hands-on exercises, collaborative
projects, in depth discussions, and instructor led tutorials. Students will also complete a final
project that takes a project from start to finish that incorporates elements of connected products
and smart systems. The course is designed such that students can complete this course with only
a basic familiarity with statistics, without any knowledge of programming, electronics or systems.

49-604, Innovation Processes and Tools, 10 units

This course covers early stages of a product innovation process: identifying, understanding, and
then conceptualizing a product opportunity. The course presents fundamental tools to assess
trends, identify opportunities, identify and uncover the value proposition of key stakeholders,
articulate the value proposition, define product requirements and conceptualize solutions.
Because innovation insights and ideas are new and can be abstract without additional effort, it is
important that students learn how to make ideas more concrete via visual communication
techniques. As such, communication of work and findings are core to this course.

We will cover the following: 1. Industrial Design Sketching, 2. Information visualization &
dashboards, 3. Graphic User interface design, 4. Executive Summary and Pitch Decks, 5. Visual
Brand Language, Templates and Styling 6. Visual Explanations, and 7. Storyboarding and making
simple videos. Weekly visual communication assignments will allow students to develop their
communication skills throughout the course. The course will revolve around opportunities for
product innovation. Students will implement the innovation process that they learn in projects,
leading to a final deliverable of a product concept that they communicate with both text and visual
techniques.

49-605, User Experience Research for Digital and Physical Products, 10 units

This course will teach the basic methods of user research, including one-on-one interviewing and
ethnographic techniques. To allow students to master certain skills, the students will dive deeper
into one method. Students apply the basic principles of ethnography in a project as a participant
observer in both digital settings and in traditional settings.

Students will plan the research, collect data, analyze and synthesize what was learned and present
a research report that identifies not only what was observed but also interpret its meaning and
make indications about opportunities to innovate with new offerings. Although the course will
focus on qualitative and primary research, the benefits of quantitative and secondary research will
also be addressed. The course includes lectures and discussions, along with readings and research
assignments.

49-606, Understanding Markets, Products and Services, 10 units

This course focuses on the strategies and methods for building, leveraging, defending, and
sustaining inspired new products and brands. A successful new product has many similarities to a

33
successful new business, so this class will also cover a broad set of business management
concepts from the various functional business areas, motiving them in context of successful
product development and launch. The course also emphasizes pricing strategies and tactics,
recognizing both the importance of pricing but also the recognizing the close link of pricing to
fundamental business principles. We will discuss the actions required to bring a product to
market, including understanding your target audiences' needs, values and lifestyles and the key
elements of a launch plan. We will apply concepts and discuss the span of products: consumer
and B2B, products and services, digital and physical.

49-607, Product Strategy and Planning, 10 units

This course explores the concepts, roles and responsibilities associated with both product
management and brand management, also covering how strategy and business models intertwine
to shape the nature and success of a product and business. Tools and methods will be introduced
that allow a business to better understand and define itself and recognize its position in the
market environment. The course will also cover planning, development and marketing tools that
product and brand managers use to make decisions on how to deliver the expected value to
customers and stakeholders and differentiate itself from competition. These tools will help you
address common strategic, as well as tactical, challenges across the product lifecycle to make a
product or service successful. In addition to covering theory and applications, the course will use a
business simulation to help students to understand how the functional areas tie together. The
course will cover a variety of contexts: corporate and entrepreneurial, for-profit and not-for-profit,
products and services, business to business and consumer products, digital and physical products.
Further, the course will build on your knowledge of marketing, engineering, accounting, and
manufacturing, showing how product managers and brand managers work cross-functionally and
play critical leadership functions to make products and services successful.

49-608, Professional Practice of Product Innovation, 22 units

This course focuses on team-based product development that integrates engineering, business,
and design disciplines, focusing not solely on the tasks but also the professionalism that is
important for working on future projects in which there would be a client. The course consists of
four modules including identifying, understanding, conceptualizing and introducing a product
opportunity. Students learn methods to research the needs, wants and desires of a market
opportunity, define product specifications, conceptualize products to meet the users' needs and
desires and refine the most promising concept. Students will hone their skills of formulating a
hypothesis, supporting it with evidence, and logically presenting their conclusions. The project will
result in a resolved form, functional design, and marketing plan. That said, the goal is not only to
"build gears" or "write code" or "develop a business plan" but rather for students to develop a
deeper understanding how those methods can impact the success of innovation projects,
developing their ability to critically assess how theoretical methods and principles impact a
practical innovation challenge. The course also emphasizes communication of the project, through
multiple presentations and report

34
Appendix B: 2021-2022 Highlighted
University Resources for Graduate
Students and The WORD, Student
Handbook
Among the resources that have been developed for the broader graduate student population. The
items below are most relevant to students in online programs.

Key Resources for Graduate Student Support

Office of Graduate and Postdoc Affairs
Office of the Dean of Students
Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Office of International Education
Veterans and Military Community
Ethics Reporting Hotline
Policy Against Retaliation

Key Resources for Academic and Research Support

Computing and Information Resources
Student Academic Success Center
University Libraries

Key Resources for Health, Wellness & Safety

Counseling and Psychological Services
University Police

The WORD

35
Office of Graduate and Postdoc Affairs
www.cmu.edu/graduate; [email protected]

The Office of Graduate and Postdoc Affairs provides central support for all master’s and doctoral
students, as well as academic programs, with a focus on supporting graduate student success at
Carnegie Mellon.

The Office of Graduate and Postdoc Affairs also works with the colleges and departments by
informing and assisting in developing policy and procedures relevant to graduate students and
working with departments on issues related to graduate students. Additionally, we partner with
many other offices and organizations, such as the Graduate Student Assembly, to support the
holistic graduate student educational experience.

Office of the Dean of Students www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/dean

The Office of the Dean of Students provides central leadership of the metacurricular experience at
Carnegie Mellon including the coordination of student support. Vice President of Student Affairs
and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno leads the Division of Student Affairs which includes the
offices and departments listed below (not an exhaustive list).

Graduate students will find the enrollment information for Domestic Partner Registration and
Maternity Accommodations in the Office of the Dean of Students or on their website. Additional
resources for graduate students include College Liaisons and the Student Support Resources
team. College Liaisons are senior members of the Division of Student Affairs who work with
departments and colleges addressing student concerns across a wide range of issues. College
Liaisons are identified on the student SIO page in the Important Contacts list. The Student Support
Resources team offers an additional level of support for students who are navigating any of a wide
range of life events. Student Support Resources staff members work in partnership with campus
and community resources to provide coordination of care and support appropriate to each
student’s situation.

The Division of Student Affairs includes (not an exhaustive list):

▪ Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation

▪ Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
▪ Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
▪ Cohon University Center
▪ Counseling & Psychological Services (CaPS)
▪ Dining Services
▪ Office of Community Standards and Integrity (OCSI)
▪ Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (SLICE)
▪ University Health Services (UHS)
▪ Wellness Initiatives

36
 Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion

https://www.cmu.edu/student-diversity/
Diversity and inclusion have a singular place among the values of Carnegie Mellon University. The
Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion actively cultivates a strong, diverse and inclusive
community capable of living out these values and advancing research, creativity, learning and
development that changes the world.

The Center offers resources to enhance an inclusive and transformative student experience in
dimensions such as access, success, campus climate and intergroup dialogue. Additionally, the
Center supports and connects historically underrepresented students and those who are first in
their family to attend college in a setting where students’ differences and talents are appreciated
and reinforced, both at the graduate and undergraduate level. Initiatives coordinated by the
Center include, but are not limited to:

▪ First generation/first in family to attend college programs

▪ LGBTQ+ Initiatives
▪ Race and ethnically-focused programs, including Inter-University Graduate Students of Color
Series (SOC) and PhD SOC Network
▪ Women’s empowerment programs, including Graduate Women’s Gatherings (GWGs)
▪ Transgender and non-binary student programs

Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities

http://www.cmu.edu/disability-resources/

The Office of Disability Resources at Carnegie Mellon University has a continued mission to
provide physical, digital, and programmatic access to ensure that students with disabilities have
equal access to their educational experience. We work to ensure that qualified individuals receive
reasonable accommodations as guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students who would like to receive accommodations
can begin the process through Disability Resources' secure online portal or email
[email protected] to begin the interactive accommodation process.
Students with physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional disabilities are encouraged to self- identify
with the Office of Disability Resources and request needed accommodations. Any questions about
the process can be directed to [email protected], or call (412) 268- 6121.

37
Office of International Education
http://www.cmu.edu/oie/

Carnegie Mellon hosts international graduate and undergraduate students who come from more
than 90 countries. The Office of International Education (OIE) is the liaison to the University for all
non-immigrant students and scholars, as well the repository for study abroad opportunities and
advisement. OIE provides many services including: advising on personal, immigration, study
abroad, academic, and social and acculturation issues; presenting programs of interest such as
international career workshops, tax workshops, and cross- cultural and immigration workshops;
international education and statistics on international students in the United States; posting
pertinent information to students through email and the OIE website and conducting orientation
and pre-departure programs.

Veterans and Military Community

www.cmu.edu/veterans/

Military veterans are a vital part of the Carnegie Mellon University community. Graduate students
can find information on applying for veteran education benefits, campus services, veteran’s
groups at CMU, and non-educational resources through the Veterans and Military Community
website. There are also links and connections to veteran resource in the Pittsburgh community.
The ROTC and Veteran Affairs Coordinator can be reached at [email protected]
or 412-268-8747.

Carnegie Mellon Ethics Hotline

https://www.cmu.edu/hr/resources/ethics-hotline.html
The health, safety and well-being of the university community are top priorities at Carnegie Mellon
University. CMU provides a hotline that all members of the university community should use to
confidentially report suspected unethical activity relating to areas below:

• Academic and Student Life

• Bias Reporting
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Financial Matters
• High-Risk Incident
• Human Resource Related
• Information Systems
• Research
• Threat of Business Interruption
• Threat of Violence or Physical Harm
• Title IX

38
Students, faculty and staff can anonymously file a report by calling 877-700-7050 or
visiting www.reportit.net(user name: tartans; password: plaid). All submissions are reported to
appropriate university personnel.

The hotline is NOT an emergency service. For emergencies, call University Police at 412-268- 2323.

Policy Against Retaliation

It is the policy of Carnegie Mellon University to protect from retaliation any individual who makes a
good faith report of a suspected violation of any applicable law or regulation, university Policy or
procedure, any contractual obligation of the university, and any report made pursuant to the
Carnegie Mellon University Code of Business Ethics and Conduct.

Additional details regarding the Policy Against Retaliation are available at

https://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/whistleblower.html

Key Offices for Academic Support

Computing and Information Resources

www.cmu.edu/computing
Computing Services maintains and supports computing resources for the campus community,
including the campus wired and wireless networks, printing, computer labs, file storage, email and
software catalog. As members of this community, we are all responsible for the security of these
shared resources. Be sure to review the Safe Computing (https://www.cmu.edu/computing/safe/)
section and the University Computing Policy (https://www.cmu.edu/policies/information-
technology/computing.html)

Visit the Computing Services website - https://www.cmu.edu/computing/ to learn more. For

assistance the Computing Services Help Center is available at 412-268-4357 (HELP) or it-
[email protected].

Student Academic Success Center https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/

SASC offers a variety of academic coaching, communications support, tutoring and

workshops for all CMU students throughout the year.

As an online student, start with the following quick links to learn more:

• Preparing to learn online - tips and resources to help prepare you to learn in an
online environment.
• Student Tech Quick Start - make sure your computing resources are in place for the
start of class.

39
University Libraries www.library.cmu.edu

The University Libraries offers a wide range of information resources and services
supporting graduate students in course-work, research, teaching, and publishing. The library
licenses and purchases books, journals, media and other needed materials in various
formats. Library liaisons, consultants and information specialists provide in-depth and
professional assistance and advice in all-things information - including locating and
obtaining specific resources, providing specialized research support, advanced training in
the use and management of data. Sign up for workshops and hands-on topic-specific
sessions such as data visualization with Tableau, cleaning data with OpenRefine, and getting
started with Zotero. Weekly drop-in hours for Digital Humanities and for Research Data
Research Management are scheduled during the academic year. Start at the library home
page to find the books, journals and databases you need; to identify and reach out to the
library liaison in your field; to sign up for scheduled workshops; and to connect with
consultants in scholarly publishing, research data management, and digital humanities.

Key Offices for Health, Wellness & Safety

Counseling & Psychological Services

www.cmu.edu/counseling/

Counseling & Psychological Services (CaPS) affords the opportunity for students to talk
privately about academic and personal concerns in a safe, confidential setting. An initial
consultation at CaPS can help clarify the nature of the concern, provide immediate support,
and explore further options if needed. These may include a referral for counseling within
CaPS, to another resource at Carnegie Mellon, or to another resource within the larger
Pittsburgh community. CaPS also provides workshops and group sessions on mental health
related topics specifically for graduate students on campus. CaPS services are provided at no
cost. Appointments can be made in person, or by telephone at 412-268-2922.

University Police
http://www.cmu.edu/police/

412-268-2323 (emergency only), 412-268-6232 (non-emergency)

The University Police Department is located at 300 South Craig Street (entrance is on Filmore
Street). The department’s services include police patrols and call response, criminal
investigations, fixed officer and foot officer patrols, event security, and crime prevention and
education programming as well as bicycle and laptop registration. Visit the department’s
website for additional information about the staff, emergency phone locations, crime
prevention, lost and found, fingerprint services, and annual statistic reports.

Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus security and fire safety report
describing the university’s security, alcohol and drug, sexual assault, and fire safety policies

40
and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes committed on the campus
and the number and cause of fires in campus residence facilities during the preceding three
years.

Graduate students can obtain a copy by contacting the University Police Department at 412-
268-6232. The annual security and fire safety report is also available online at
https://https://www.cmu.edu/police/reporting-policy-training/security-firesafety-reports.html

The WORD
http://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/theword/

The WORD is Carnegie Mellon University’s student handbook and serves as the foundation
for the department (and sometimes college) handbook. The WORD contains university-wide
academic policy information and resources, community policies and resources, and
describes the university level procedures used to review possible violations of these
standards. It is designed to provide all students with the tools, guidance, and insights to help
you achieve your full potential as a member of the Carnegie Mellon community. Additional
University policies can also be found in full text at: http://www.cmu.edu/policies/.

Published January 2022

41