Carnegie Mellon University

The ORIGINS Experience

The ORIGINS Experience is a year-long inclusion program that begins a few days prior to First-Year Orientation. The ORIGINS Experience focuses on community building and leadership development for historically and socially marginalized first-year students (regardless of gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, creed, color, sexual identity, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis) ability or associational preferences.) We also center first generation and under-resourced student populations. Like all of our programs, all students are welcome to join the ORIGINS Experience.

Throughout the year, this program Immerses First-Year students in a community-centered environment, Exposes students to resources and opportunities for networking and development at CMU, and Activates students by fostering a sense of belonging as an active member of the CMU community. Through the duration of the program, students will have the opportunity to connect with various community members including returning students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion’s initiatives like the Center Fellowship and the Social Justice Peer Educator Program (SJPE). The Center Fellowship empowers student leaders in their leadership development. SJPE’s provide individual connections and facilitate important, engaged workshops to increase critical consciousness, agency, and collective action.

The ORIGINS Experience will be held fully in-person. ORIGINS activities and workshops for students will begin the week of August 12 and official dates will be released at the beginning of June. Space is limited for the experience and registration is required. Participation in the ORIGINS Experience will not exclude students from taking advantage of other campus programs or initiatives, but rather serve as additional student support.