Administrators are essential to the development and sustainability of Interdisciplinary Distinctions. From managing the day-to-day processes to supporting students and faculty, administrators ensure these credentials run smoothly and remain impactful. Below are some resources to guide program operations and outline how academic units can propose new Distinctions, helping to expand opportunities that enhance the student experience at Pitt.
Distinctions Connection to Other Experiential Learning
Interdisciplinary Distinctions use the Suitable platform to track and document the experiential learning components that are central to each credential. Suitable is also widely used across campus to capture student engagement in other initiatives, including the Outside-the-Classroom Curriculum (OCC) and the Catalog of Opportunities (COO). Together, these programs create a connected system that highlights student involvement both inside and outside the classroom. To learn more about how Distinctions fit into this broader framework and how the Suitable platform supports these efforts, watch the video below.
Interdisciplinary Distinction Oversight
Each Interdisciplinary Distinction is owned and managed by the academic unit(s) responsible for the curricular components of the credential. These units play a central role in shaping the content, requirements, and academic integrity of the Distinction. At the same time, successful delivery of these programs relies on collaboration across the University. The Office of the Provost provides strategic direction and oversight, the Office of the Registrar ensures accurate tracking and recording, and Student Affairs supports co-curricular and experiential learning elements. Together, these offices work in partnership with academic units to maintain the quality, consistency, and accessibility of Distinctions for students. For a more detailed overview of the specific roles and responsibilities involved in the administration of Distinctions, please see the Distinctions oversight document.
Proposing a New Distinction
The Office of the Provost invites academic units to propose new Interdisciplinary Distinctions that will enrich the student experience. Distinctions are designed to help students engage with complex, real-world challenges in ways that go beyond what is possible through a traditional major, minor, or certificate. Because they are interdisciplinary by nature, these credentials require students to explore a variety of disciplines, courses, and experiences outside of a single academic unit.
All Interdisciplinary Distinctions should be accessible to every undergraduate student on the Pittsburgh campus. This means that curricular, co-curricular, and experiential components—including high-impact practices and capstone experiences—must be available to all students regardless of their home school or department, and without additional financial barriers (or with scholarships available when needed).
Proposing a new Distinction is a collaborative and iterative process that includes extensive review and revision, similar to the development of any new academic credential at the University. Academic units should anticipate spending a minimum of 2–3 terms working closely with the Office of the Provost before the credential can be finalized and implemented.
If your unit is interested in proposing a new Distinction, please complete the Distinction Proposal Form in full and submit it via email to Brett Soltysiak, Curricular Innovation Manager at brs202@pitt.edu.