Good afternoon, Tartans! It's Monday, August 4th, and here's what's happening at Carnegie Mellon University.
Today in Pittsburgh, expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 86°F (30°C) this afternoon. Currently, it's 63°F (17°C) and sunny. Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Carnegie Mellon University has announced the appointment of Dr. Tania Castañeda as the new Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, effective August 25th. Dr. Castañeda brings a wealth of experience in higher education administration and is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the university's enrollment strategies.
In other leadership news, Dr. Kirsten Martin has been appointed as the H. John Heinz III Dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, effective July 1st. Dr. Martin's expertise in technology ethics and public policy is anticipated to drive the college's mission forward.
CMU researchers, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, are participating in the DARPA Triage Challenge, a three-year, $7 million competition aimed at developing autonomous systems for emergency medical response. The team, known as Team Chiron, recently conducted successful tests at Pittsburgh International Airport, utilizing robots and drones to navigate simulated disaster scenarios and triage victims. The next phase of the competition is scheduled for late September in Georgia.
Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, CMU will launch the CMU Pathway Program, a significant student affordability initiative. This program ensures that all new and returning undergraduate students at the Pittsburgh campus from families earning less than $75,000 annually can attend tuition-free. Additionally, students from families earning less than $100,000 annually will be able to attend without borrowing federal student loans. This initiative underscores the university's commitment to making education accessible to all.
CMU has partnered with Schoolhouse.world, a nonprofit educational platform founded by Sal Khan. This collaboration will provide CMU students with expanded access to the platform and opportunities to serve as tutors, furthering the university's mission to democratize learning and foster community engagement.
The university is currently assessing its finances in response to proposed federal funding cuts to higher education institutions. President Farnam Jahanian has emphasized CMU's unwavering commitment to its values, stating that the university will not compromise its mission despite these challenges. CMU has also joined a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the National Institutes of Health from implementing significant cuts to medical research funding, highlighting the potential impact on life-saving research initiatives. ([wpxi.com](https://www.wpxi.com/news/business/carnegie-mellon-university-assesses-finances-amid-federal-cuts-vows-maintain-values/MAVX2RM3ZFHUBFMYMXSGC673AA/?utm_source=openai), [cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/carnegie-mellon-university-federal-lawsuit-nih-medical-grant-research/?utm_source=openai))
That's all for today's update. Stay tuned for more news and events happening around campus. Go Tartans!