Office of International Education

Student Groups and Leadership Resources

Student Groups at Carnegie Mellon

There are many internationally focused student groups affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University. OIE maintains a list of student groups with contact information. Please note that group contact information is subject to change. This list is updated annually. If the contact information for the group you are interested in has changed, you may want to search the Carnegie Mellon home page for additional information about this group. Additional information about the recognized student organizations on campus can be obtained from the Office of Student Activities, 412-268-8704.

There are also many cultural and nationality groups affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh. If you cannot find the right group for you at Carnegie Mellon, you may want to explore the groups listed at Pitt's Student Organization Resource Center.

Beyond the University community, there is also great diversity in the Pittsburgh community. You may want to explore the greater community by searching information available from Global Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors.

Student Leadership

International students make vital contributions to the diversity of leadership and leadership styles on Carnegie Mellon's campus. In addition to serving as officers in student groups which are regionally, culturally, or country based, international  students take on important leadership roles.  International students serve on Advisory boards throughout the University community, provide leadership during orientation, work as resident assistants in the residence halls and act as leaders within their academic units and departments.

Current international student leaders and students who are interested in leadership opportunities and skills are encouraged to actively participate in the leadership development workshops, sessions, and forums which are organized through the Division of Student Affairs including:

OIE Resources

OIE supports international student groups and/or internationally-focused student groups at Carnegie Mellon in several significant ways.

OIE grants for international programs (application here)

The Office of International Education makes small grants available ranging from $100-$300 to university recognized or affiliated student organizations from the International Initiative Fund. Money for the International Initiative Fund is generated through processing late fees and will vary throughout the year.

Funded proposals foster international education and awareness on campus preferably through the collaboration of two or more student organizations or by one organization that is targeting a campus wide, multi-cultural audience.

The proposals are reviewed collectively by OIE staff members based on the above mentioned criteria during weekly staff meetings. OIE asks these proposals to be outlined in a certain way to ensure fair review for all proposals. The OIE grant program can be obtained from OIE. OIE strongly recommends student groups to take advantage of our advertising resources for funded events (see below)

OIE advertising of campus activities.

OIE can help to publicize your student group event through our regular “Friday Email.” OIE's Friday Email is sent each week during the academic year to Carnegie Mellon international students and scholars who have indicated an interest in receiving OIE updates regarding cultural events of interest both on and off campus.

To request inclusion of your group's events in OIE's Friday email send email to with the subject line “Friday Email request.” Your request should be received at least 2 weeks in advance of the event date. Be sure to include the following details:

  • Event Name and Explanation
  • Date and time
  • Location
  • Entry costs or fees (if any)
  • Contact name and email for more information

OIE must be able to easily cut and paste the content of your email into the Friday Email. OIE reserves the right to edit the information, request clarification, or deny entry.

Questions about this service or policy may be directed to the OIE Director or sent to .

Outreach to specific groups of students and scholars

In some cases and at the discretion of the OIE staff, OIE will facilitate direct outreach to specific groups of students and/or scholars based upon citizenship or other criteria. Examples of this type of facilitated outreach include:

  • A new student from Country X would like to contact other students from his/her same country. OIE may refer the student to an active student group on campus or OIE may send an email to a specified group upon request.
  • A student association from Country ABC would like to plan a welcome reception for the new incoming students from Country ABC. OIE will send an email on behalf of the student association to all new incoming international students.
  • A well-respected job placement company from Country G would like to advertise an upcoming job fair. OIE will send an email to all students and scholars from Country G notifying them of the job fair opportunity.
  • A Carnegie Mellon faculty member is seeking the input of students who speak a certain language for a class project. OIE will send an email on behalf of the faculty member to all students and/or scholars from specified countries where that language is spoken to aid in the project goals and completion.

Questions about this service of policy may be directed to the OIE Director, or sent to .

OIE staff as student group advisors

OIE staff members have historically served as student group advisors to the International Student Union (ISU) and to Budaya. We value these opportunities to support international students as needed and to build strong relationships with our student body. This informal, but supportive, relationship between OIE staff and student group leaders allows for consistency from year to year and ongoing support by and for the student group by a professional staff person.

Student groups are encouraged to reach out to faculty and staff to serve as advisors. Additional information on the advisor relationship can be obtained from the Office of Student Activities, 412-268-2107.

If you are interested in having an OIE staff person serve as an advisor to your student organization, please contact the OIE Director or email .

Last Updated On: December 13th, 2007