The Outstanding New Program is awarded to programs that launched after Pathways 2021. This award recognizes those that hit the ground running and built a strong foundation in a short period of time. Many have new and exciting plans to re-introduce the program through an in-person or hybrid experience this academic year. Please allow us to introduce this year’s Outstanding New Program winners.

We all know how much of an impact branding can have on a program and its success. Creating a brand is essential for many reasons, some of which include increasing recognition of the program, improving its advertising and creating a bond with its targeted audience. These programs have created a thoughtful and consistent brand for their students and campus partners.

Some students are intrinsically motivated to get involved but a little bit of extrinsic motivation, whether through prizes or competitions, can go a long way. These programs implemented engaging incentives, from school and program-branded swag to experiential incentives including features on social media and special access to exclusive events and alumni.

A program website is highly encouraged as it allows students to easily find program details and contact information. These programs created web pages that are neatly and consistently branded, creative, and informative. Each link will be posted in the chat for you to check out!

Rounding out the subcategories within Best Promotion is Best Program Video. Each video was personalized to reflect its program, whether it was more serious or funny, all were informative and exciting – it also looked like there was some behind-the-scenes fun! Each program video is displayed on the program’s websites and will be linked in the chat so we encourage you to check them out when you have a chance.

Social media is a form of communication and entertainment that, as we know, is heavily utilized by college students. Best Social Media Presence is awarded to programs that actively and effectively use one or more social media platforms to promote their program, whether that be through LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.

Which Suitable partner racked up more completed activities than any other? Completed activities show that students are excited to progress through the programs you've created and that your program clearly demonstrates value to them as they go. We are excited to recognize these Suitable leaders.

Suitable allows colleges and universities the ability to empower student organization leaders to build activities, orientation materials and more, and hold their student orgs accountable for completing them. This award recognizes schools and these student org leaders for encouraging progress that will serve students through their college career and beyond.

Student engagement rates denote your program's success in capturing the attention of your students and helping them move towards their goals. With some of the highest student engagement rates this year, we are excited to honor these schools and the engaging, enticing programs they created on the Suitable platform.

The Most Active Suitable Partner is another new award category to acknowledge those who have shown exceptional dedication towards furthering their program and relationship with Suitable. These partners have served as champions in their programs and have provided support to their peers, whether they were veterans or rookies.

The Suitable Champion is someone who promotes Suitable whenever they have a chance--from conference stages to campus meetings. We couldn't do what we do without our champions--they show students and faculty the way and we are excited to honor them with this award.

Suitable Innovators push student success forward with clever ideas and program configurations, ways of examining data and more that allow us all to learn from them and create better programs ourselves. We are excited to honor them with this award.

Suitable spirit award recognizes a few programs we felt embody many of our Suitable values which consist of Teamwork, Creativity, Excellence, Diversity, Integrity, Persistence and Grit. Whether it’s through their enthusiasm and dedication to student success, their creativity in delivering a program that every student can participate in, or the determination to do whatever it takes to break down silos and work across campus, these programs go the extra mile and, much like Gritty, have fun along the way.

This award honors our most long-standing partnership. Dr. Audrey Murrell embodies all the awards outlined above--spirit, innovation and grit--while becoming a Suitable Champion at the University of Pittsburgh and beyond as the host of our Suitable Innovator Series show Re-Envisioning Student Engagement. We are excited to honor her with this award.

Our final category is the Distinguished Program. This award recognizes programs for their expertise in using Suitable to best serve their student population while supporting their mission and vision.. We would argue that all of our programs are distinguished but want to highlight three partners who have gone above and beyond this past year. Please join us in congratulating this year’s Distinguished Program Award winners.