The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business’ iSmith program was recognized for the Outstanding New Program and Exceptional First-Year Experience awards at Suitable’s Pathways to Student Development conference in July.
The Outstanding New Program award from Suitable, the student engagement software firm, recognizes recent launches. “Despite only being with us for a short time, iSmith has quickly joined the ranks of our strongest champions for elevating the student experience,” says Angela Visco, vice president of University Success at Suitable.
The Exceptional First-Year Experience award recognizes programs that foster student learning and academic excellence from day one by integrating the First Year Experience as a cornerstone of their program on Suitable.
“Despite only being with us for a short time, iSmith has quickly joined the ranks of our strongest champions for elevating the student experience,” Visco says “We have enjoyed working alongside the entire team and look forward to tackling this new, and unusual, academic year with you.”
Launched with the 2019 freshman class, the iSmith program is a transformative experience that prepares students for the workplace environment. Students are equipped with skills to build their personal brand, craft a narrative of their professional strategies and meet their own development goals as they progress through their undergraduate years.
The “i” in the name, iSmith, stands for “innovative, international, informed and influential.” These values tie into the program’s goal of enabling students to identify their strengths, knowledge, skills and interests, with their experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.
The program also reinforces core competencies, which includes communication, ethics, leadership, teamwork, quantitative and digital analytics, innovative thinking, global mindset, critical thinking and problem solving, and professionalism.
The goal is for students to possess a deeper understanding of their capabilities and be able to articulate their passions, skills and knowledge to others, including employers. It is also a part of Maryland Smith’s efforts toward building a collaborative and inclusive culture where students can thrive.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.