Engage & Excel
Emphasizing inclusivity, support, and community engagement in the undergraduate Information Systems Program
In the undergraduate Information Systems Program, we strive to foster a community that promotes inclusiveness and a positive sense of belonging among all students within the program. Together, we value and celebrate the unique identities of our students and aim to create a culture where they feel empowered to share their experiences and ideas, and engage in meaningful academic, leadership, and social opportunities.
We are committed to responsible engagement with communities beyond our program. Through experiential learning and course projects, we empower our students with the skills and knowledge to create meaningful, positive change for community partners worldwide—enhancing both their education and their preparedness for an interconnected world.
We are proud to support our departmental Student & Community Engagement (SCE) Committee, which is composed of faculty and staff and we invite student participation as well.
Our Initiatives
Women in IS Mentoring Program
With a group of enthusiastic student leaders, we founded the Women in IS program in the spring of 2020. We designed the program to provide mentorship and foster connections among all underrepresented genders in the Undergraduate Information Systems Program. Every student who enters the IS program as either a first-year or transfer student is given the opporunity to be assigned to a mentor in the program. A group of Lead Mentors plans events for student engagement and community building every semester.
IS Ambassadors Program
The IS Ambassadors Program aims to create a sense of community among students in the IS Program through events that enrich their academic and social experiences. Ambassadors are sophomore, junior, and senior IS students who host events each semester, such as the annual "IS Day" celebration, welcome and farewell events, and professional development opportunities. IS students are invited to apply to be Ambassadors each spring for the following academic year. All IS students are invited to events hosted by the group.
Conference Support
Each year, we commit to financially support students who are interested in attending conferences including the , the , and . Students also have the opportunity to to support the cost of attending or presenting at any conference or other professional development opportunity they would like. Information about specific opportunities will always be available on the IS and in the IS newsletter for current students. Students should also reach out to their academic advisor if they have questions!
Community Partnerships
Since 2015, the Information Systems Program has worked with community partners to create sustainable and applicable information systems solutions that seek to bridge the digital divide.
Organizations can benefit from technical help and automation, yet this assistance is often expensive and time-consuming. Specific Information Systems courses aim to assist by partnering them with innovative student teams to create custom technology solutions.
Two courses that currently partner with community organizations are 67-373: Information Systems Consulting Project Course and 67-240: Mobile Web Design & Development. include solutions such as:
- Selecting and implementing an off-the-shelf CRM solution,
- Creating an API or automatic link between two existing systems,
- Creating a database to track and analyze donations or volunteers,
- Designing an app to notify clients of upcoming events,
- Providing multiple design prototypes for what a web presence might be, and more.
67-206: Technology Outreach and Engagement in the Pittsburgh Community is a course designed to provide an experiential learning opportunity to our students in which they develop material to conduct outreach with children in grades K-12. Students engage with the community, have conversations with community partners and educators, and demonstrate knowledge of civic engagement, cultural identity and diversity and inclusion.
Alumni Mentor Program
The Information Systems Alumni Mentor Program launched in 2024, and is designed to provide mentorship and foster connection between sophomore, junior, and senior students and IS alumni. Students are invited to apply for the program and then matched with a mentor based on interests.
The goal of the program is to connect current IS students with IS alumni to foster a sense of community, expand their networks, navigate the job and internship market, define and shape their sense of professionalism, and plan for the future with guidance.