PATHWAYS TO DISTINCTION

Finding a way to celebrate and recognize the entire range and scope of a student’s accomplishments during their time on campus is the drive behind the Pathways to Distinction program that was launched in 2020 by our Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholars.

Pathways to Distinction allow students to work toward obtaining recognition in alignment with our Institutional Learning Goals, as well as the honors program.

The program is designed to allow multiple ways for students to demonstrate achievement, not entirely based on grade-point average or coursework. It recognizes the important development and accomplishments of students across a variety of academic, community based, personal, leadership, global engagement, service and other experiences, helping students build and articulate important skills on their resume and adding an exciting signature program unique to CSB and SJU. “This is going to give our students an opportunity to be able to articulate clearly the skills they have learned here in their liberal arts education, inside and outside the classroom,” Ice says. “And when they go on to get jobs or apply to graduate or professional schools, they will be able to articulate those skills to employers and to graduate programs so that they understand their capabilities.

“This can be a point of distinction to show that this truly is a holistic education, and that we are really transforming students.”

Graduating with distinction in one of our five Institutional Learning Goals will show that you’ve learned and served graciously and courageously, inside and outside the classroom.

“We’re changing. What we used to have for a long time was graduating with distinction honors in a major. It’s now graduating with distinction in one of those five learning goals,” Ice says. “You have to show that you’ve been engaged in and out of the classroom.”

We talked more about Pathways to Distinction on page 8 of our Fall 2022 issue.