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Strategic Framework

Read the Leadership Announcement

The Persistent Pursuit of Excellence

Our 125-year legacy is only the beginning. With entrepreneurship and innovation in our DNA, we thrive on agility, seize pivotal moments, and embrace the future in our persistent pursuit of excellence.

We're ready for the challenges and opportunities that await us. Our priorities rest on a storied history and solid foundation, but we remain nimble and adaptable to our ever-changing world. This Strategic Planning Framework is a dynamic roadmap that will help us measure our achievements and uncover new opportunities.

Driven by our ambitious goals, a culture of excellence, and an eye on the future, CMU continues to advance our mission of having a transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Our Four Strategic Priorities

Human-Centered Future of Education and Work

Shaping the future of education and the global workforce by prioritizing human intelligence, leveraging AI and learning science, promoting experiential learning, and equipping our community to lead in a rapidly evolving global economy and cultural landscape.
 

  • Redefining Learning Outcomes and Teaching Excellence for an AI-Powered World
  • Developing Ethical and Future-Ready Leaders
  • Fusing Disciplines to Impact Society

 

Our Impact

Ways we are shaping the future of education, work and innovation to drive real-world change. 

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Igniting Interdisciplinary Innovation

Shaping the future of education by merging technology and arts, the IDeATe (Integrative Design, Arts and Technology) program fosters innovative learning and creative practice.

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Empowering a Continent's Digital Leap

Leveraging AI and learning science, a perpetually endowed program in Africa drives digital transformation and provides career opportunities across the continent.

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Forging Future-Ready Leaders

Ensuring graduates possess well-rounded skills for a rapidly evolving global landscape, initiatives like the Core Competencies initiative and the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience are key.

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Pioneering the Intelligent Frontier

Leveraging AI and learning science, online graduate certificates in emerging fields and the foundational Bachelor of Science in Robotics program are cutting-edge.

Expanding the Frontiers of Research and Creativity

Boldly expanding the frontiers of research, creativity and development through targeted investments, interdisciplinary collaboration and calculated big bets that have the potential to advance human progress at scale.
 

  • Shaping the Impact of AI and Emerging Technologies in Service to Humanity and Discovery
  • Fueling Breakthroughs with World-Class Research Support and Infrastructure
  • Becoming the Partner of Choice for Collaboration across Sectors and Industries

 

Our Impact

Ways our strategy is driving innovation and improving lives at scale.

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Forging Global AI Superpowers

Accelerating AI innovation through strategic international and industry collaborations, including the $110 million U.S.-Japan partnership with Keio University and access to Google cloud resources.

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Unleashing the Power of Creative Vision

Investing significantly to foster creative collaboration and bold artistic exploration through the Dietrich Foundation Endowment Fund for Artistic and Creative Discovery.

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Revolutionizing Discovery with Intelligent Automation

Expanding data-driven experimentation through the nation’s largest academic automated scientific lab, a unique, AI-powered resource accessible globally.

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Reaching for the Stars Through Collaborative Innovation

Demonstrating university-wide interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve ambitious goals in space exploration with the Iris lunar rover project.

A Vibrant and Engaged Global Community

Cultivating a vibrant, engaged and impactful community, building on our history and leveraging new ideas to strengthen a sense of belonging and ensure the CMU experience is meaningful for students, faculty and staff and beneficial to the communities we serve, including those at our international locations in places like Qatar, Rwanda and Portugal.

 

  • Expanding Opportunities for Respectful Dialogue and Creative Connection
  • Nurturing a Healthy Community through Well-Being and Place-Making Support
  • Promoting Community Engagement and Service as Core to the CMU Experience

 

Our Impact

Ways we are cultivating a vibrant, engaged and impactful global community.

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Championing Holistic Well-being and Engagement

Creating a central hub that fosters a vibrant and supportive community, the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics offers comprehensive health, wellness, and athletic resources for body, mind and spirit.

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Fostering Dialogue and Meaningful Connections

Building an engaged and impactful community, initiatives like Deeper Conversations and the President’s Lecture Series promote civil discourse and explore relevant societal issues for students, faculty, and staff.

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Empowering Civic Leadership and Community Impact

Leveraging new ideas to strengthen belonging and ensure a meaningful CMU experience, the establishment of the James and Sharon Rohr Director of Civic Engagement and the resources of the Nexus of Civic Engagement amplify student connections with impactful community engagement opportunities.

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Cultivating Local Partnerships for Experiential Growth

Benefiting the Pittsburgh community, the Pittsburgh Summer Internship Program (PSIP) connects Carnegie Mellon students with local organizations for invaluable hands-on experience and fosters a strong sense of belonging and service.

Institutional Agility and Resilience

Responding to societal imperatives and fostering long-term institutional resilience and agility by advancing and prioritizing the responsible stewardship of university resources, with a particular lens on expanding access and opportunity.

 

  • Enhancing Student Access and the Affordability of a CMU Education
  • Incorporating Sustainability in our Education, Practice and Research
  • Empowering People and Aligning Systems

 

Our Impact

Ways we are responding to societal imperatives and fostering long-term institutional resilience and agility.

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Opening Doors Through Transformative Access

Prioritizing responsible stewardship, the CMU Pathway Program, beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, ensures deserving students can afford and attend CMU regardless of their socioeconomic background.

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Cultivating the STEM Leaders of Tomorrow

Fostering long-term institutional resilience by investing in graduate education, the Rales Fellows Program is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of STEM innovators by increasing access to a life-changing graduate education.

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Empowering Data-Driven Decision Making

Advancing institutional agility by building a strong data culture, CMU’s annual Data Analytics Day and Iron Viz Challenge attract attendees across the university's data community.

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Ensuring a Foundation for Enduring Impact

Demonstrating responsible stewardship of university resources, Carnegie Mellon University's endowment stood at $3.2 billion as of June 30, 2024, supporting long-term institutional resilience.

This is an extraordinary time for Carnegie Mellon University. With its world-leading strengths at the intersection of technology and humanity, CMU research, innovation and creativity will help shape the 21st century.

James Rohr
Chair, Board of Trustees, 2015-2021

Updating Our Strategic Plan and Establishing a Framework

In 2015, CMU released a 10-year strategic plan (Strategic Plan 2025) to set an aspirational course for the university’s future. We have updated our strategic planning approach, transitioning to a more agile planning framework.

While continuing to follow the original 10-year plan's core paths, we are prioritizing nimbleness and focusing on critical areas as outlined in the framework. This agile planning approach provides tools for responding quickly to dynamic changes, more frequent strategic conversations, and flexible resource allocation for emerging opportunities.

The update builds on CMU's successes while using data to inform decision-making. The framework was developed by a Strategic Framework update Steering Committee with representation from across the university. The process incorporated a variety of data streams collected through surveys, focus groups, and conversations with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and senior administration.

Be Part of What's Next

Our framework is laying the groundwork for CMU's future, and you can be a part of it. See our progress, lend your expertise, and help define what's to come. Share your stories and contribute your ideas by contacting us at excellence@andrew.cmu.edu.

Strategic Framework Update Steering Committee

Tricia O'Reilly, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, co-chair
Becky Culyba, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff to the Provost, co-chair
Melissa Baker, Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Analysis
Amy Burkert, Vice Provost for Education
Gina Casalegno, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Sayeed Choudhury, Associate Dean for Digital Infrastructure, University Libraries
Cindy Crimmins, Associate Vice President, Advancement Resources and Engagement Programs
Mary Jo Dively, Vice President and General Counsel

Rhonda Fischer, Chief Operating Officer, Tepper School of Business
Tysen Kendig, Vice President for University Communications and Marketing
Lisa Krieg, Associate Vice President for Global Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Accreditation
Theresa Mayer, Vice President for Research
Robert Ramirez, Head of the School of Drama, College of Fine Arts
Bill Sanders, Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering
Keith Webster, Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries
Henry Zheng, Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning

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Download the Strategic Framework White Paper

Learn more about the strategic framework, our process, and measurements for success in our strategic framework white paper.

Download the Strategic Framework White Paper