Last Updated:

2024-04-18 23:11:15

Carnegie Mellon University

Private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Carnegie Mellon University, founded in 1900, is a prestigious private research university known for its advancements in various fields. With over 15,000 students from 117 countries, the university offers a wide range of programs and has a strong presence globally. Carnegie Mellon is a member of the Association of American Universities and is recognized for its high research activity.

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1900-11

Founding of Carnegie Mellon University

In November 1900, industrialist Andrew Carnegie declared his plan to establish a new technical school in Pittsburgh, leading to the foundation of Carnegie Mellon University.

1904

Design Competition for Original Institution

George Carnegie Palmer and Henry Hornbostel of Palmer & Hornbostel won the 1904 competition to design the original institution, which later became the Carnegie Mellon University.

1905

Founding of Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University was founded as a birthplace of innovation and has become a leader in higher education and research over the years.

1912

Establishment of Carnegie Institute of Technology

In 1912, Carnegie Technical Schools transitioned into Carnegie Institute of Technology, which is now known as the College of Engineering within Carnegie Mellon University.

1914

First U.S. Drama Degree Awarded at Carnegie Tech

In 1914, Carnegie Tech awarded the first drama degree in the United States, marking a significant milestone in the field of performing arts education.

1916

Painting the Fence Tradition Begins at Carnegie Mellon

In 1916, a fraternity painted the wooden fence at Carnegie Mellon as a prank, starting the tradition of painting the Fence. The tradition continues to this day, with students guarding the fence 24/7 and only allowing specific groups to paint it between midnight and 6 am.

1919

First Doctorate Awarded at Carnegie Mellon University

In 1919, Mao Yisheng, a student from China, received the first doctorate (in civil engineering) from Carnegie Mellon University, highlighting the institution's commitment to academic excellence and global diversity.

1938

Initiation of the Carnegie Plan

In 1938, Carnegie Tech initiated the 'Carnegie Plan', a new curriculum requiring science and engineering students to take humanities and social sciences courses to understand society's needs better.

1943

Alan Perlis receives the first Turing Award

Alan Perlis, a 1943 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, was a pioneer in programming languages and was honored with the first Turing Award.

1945

Panhellenic Sorority Community Founded at Carnegie Mellon

The Panhellenic sorority community at Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1945 by several sororities including Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. This marked the beginning of a strong sorority presence on campus.

1948

John Forbes Nash wins Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics

John Forbes Nash, a 1948 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 1994. His life story was depicted in the book and subsequent film A Beautiful Mind.

1956

Arrival of the First IBM Computer to Carnegie Tech

In 1956, the first IBM computer arrived at Carnegie Tech, marking a revolutionary moment that led to the integration of information technology across various academic disciplines.

1961

Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Established

The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, dedicated as the Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt Botanical Library in 1961, has been a research division of Carnegie Mellon University since its founding. It serves as an international bibliographical research and service center in the fields of botany, horticulture, and the history of plant sciences.

1967

Transition to Carnegie Mellon University

In 1967, Carnegie Institute of Technology became known as Carnegie Mellon University. This transition reflected the evolving nature of the institution.

1968

School of Urban and Public Affairs established

Established in 1968, the School of Urban and Public Affairs later renamed the H. John Heinz III College, provided graduate training for individuals seeking to work in the public sector.

1973

Integration of Women at Carnegie Tech

In 1973, Margaret Morrison closed, and women joined their male counterparts in classrooms and dormitories at Carnegie Tech, marking a significant shift in university culture.

1982

Filming of Creepshow at Carnegie Mellon

Alumnus George A. Romero filmed the movie Creepshow in and around Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall at Carnegie Mellon University in 1982.

1985-04-24

Introduction of cmu.edu Domain

On April 24, 1985, cmu.edu, Carnegie Mellon's Internet domain, became one of the first six .edu domain names, establishing the university as a technology leader in education and research.

1986

School of Computer Science established

Established in 1986, the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University pioneered computing and artificial intelligence, with the leadership of Allen Newell and Herbert Simon through interdisciplinary efforts.

1994

Demolition of Skibo Hall

The original Skibo Hall, the university's student union, was demolished in the summer of 1994 due to inadequacy in handling technological advancements.

1996

Establishment of Language Technologies Institute

The Language Technologies Institute at Carnegie Mellon University was established in 1996, focusing on research areas such as machine translation, speech recognition, and information retrieval. It was previously known as the Center for Machine Translation.

1997-04-15

Jared L. Cohon elected as President of Carnegie Mellon University

Jared L. Cohon, former dean of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, was elected president of Carnegie Mellon University. During his presidency, the university focused on innovation and growth in various fields.

2001

Million Book Project Initiated

The Million Book Project initiated by the Libraries of Carnegie Mellon in 2001 sparked the development of the Universal Digital Library. This project aimed to provide access to a vast collection of books digitally.

2003-07-01

Launch of 'Insp!re Innovation' fundraising campaign

Carnegie Mellon launched a $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign aimed at supporting faculty, students, and breakthrough innovations.

2006

Opening of Heinz College campus in Adelaide, Australia

CMU opened a campus of the Heinz College in Adelaide, Australia, following negotiations between President Cohon and South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

2007

Expansion of Information Networking Institute

In the fall of 2007, the cities of Aveiro and Lisbon, Portugal were added to the Information Networking Institute's remote locations, expanding its reach internationally.

2008

Holly's Involvement in CMU Community

Holly has been actively participating in the Carnegie Mellon University community for thirteen years in various capacities.

2009-08-07

Opening of Gates Hillman Complex

The Gates Hillman Complex opened for occupancy on August 7, 2009, featuring offices, labs, computer clusters, lecture halls, classrooms, and an auditorium, made possible by significant donations.

2010

Carnegie Mellon Ranking in The Wall Street Journal

In 2010, The Wall Street Journal ranked Carnegie Mellon 1st in computer science, 4th in finance, 10th overall, and 21st in engineering according to job recruiters.

2011-09-07

William S. Dietrich II's $265 million gift

William S. Dietrich II pledged a gift of $265 million to Carnegie Mellon, leading to the renaming of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to the Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

2012-04-23

Creation of Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP)

An agreement between New York City, New York's MTA, and academic institutions led to the creation of the Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) in New York, involving Carnegie Mellon University.

2013-11

David Tepper's $67 million gift

David Tepper donated $67 million to Carnegie Mellon for the development of the Tepper Quadrangle on the north campus, including a new Tepper School of Business facility.

2014

Carnegie Mellon's Partnership with Tony Awards

The 68th Tony Awards in 2014 announced Carnegie Mellon as its first educational partner in jointly awarding the 'Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre Education', recognizing K-12 theatre educators.

2015-04

Planning of second office space structure and hotel development

Carnegie Mellon, in collaboration with Jones Lang LaSalle, announced the planning of a new office space structure, hotel, and retail development to create an innovation corridor on the university campus.

2016-10-18

Historical Overview of Carnegie Mellon University by Holly Hippensteel

On October 18, 2016, Holly Hippensteel provided a historical overview of Carnegie Mellon University.

2017

50th Anniversary of Carnegie Tech-Mellon Institute Merger

In 2017, Carnegie Mellon celebrated the 50th anniversary of the merger, reflecting on its founders' vision and the impact on higher education and research.

2018

Tepper School of Business Ranking by Bloomberg Businessweek

In 2018, Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business placed 12th in an annual ranking of U.S. business schools by Bloomberg Businessweek.

2019-10-30

Launch of 'Make Possible: The Campaign for Carnegie Mellon University'

Carnegie Mellon publicly announced a $2 billion fundraising campaign to advance the university's priorities, including campus development.

2020

Ranking of Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences by Times Higher Education

In 2020, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon was ranked 55th for social sciences and 60th for humanities in the world by Times Higher Education.

2021

Commencement 2021

The commencement ceremony of 2021 took place, marking an important milestone for the graduating students of that year.

2022-09-08

Partnership with Mastercard Foundation for Carnegie Mellon University Africa

Carnegie Mellon announced a $275.7 million partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to support Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, offering graduate-level study in engineering and artificial intelligence.

2023

Transformation of History Education at Carnegie Mellon University

Over the past few years, Carnegie Mellon University has been evolving its history education to encompass a wider range of topics and themes with a global perspective, impacting both graduate and undergraduate programs.

2024

Carnegie Mellon University Copyright

In 2024, Carnegie Mellon University obtained a copyright for its intellectual property, ensuring protection of its work.

2025

Strategic Plan 2025

A plan outlined by Carnegie Mellon University focusing on advancing the individual student experience, the broader university community experience, and the social impact of the institution worldwide.

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Carnegie Mellon University