They say that 80 per cent of academic breakthroughs occur outside the classroom, and it appears the University of Manitoba has been listening. Starting this fall, students who participate in co-curricular activities will have the opportunity to receive formal recognition from the university.
The co-curricular record (CCR) offers an official transcript of university-approved programs that support student development in activities that are not for academic credit.
The new project, initiated by U of M’s Office for Student Life, is intended to promote learning outside of the classroom.
Student contributions in the areas of governance, leadership, service learning, awards and volunteering will be recognized alongside their academic record.
For a program to be approved it must adhere to guidelines set out by the Senate policy governing the CCR. Programs must be for and by the university, including faculty, administration, UMSU and the GSA.
But programs will not be automatically included in the record.
Program directors will have to apply to have their program recognized in the CCR and the application will undergo review. The co-curricular record review committee will approve applications for admission and assess all programs on the CCR annually.
According to a university press release, Meghan Laube, assistant director for the Office of Student Life, said “this record is an invaluable resource to provide to prospective employers or selection committees for graduate studies and professional programs.”
But not everyone agrees.
Matt Trendota, a master of architecture student at the U of M, said he feels the concept of a formal document outlining your extracurricular achievements sounds familiar, if not redundant.
“Isn’t that what my resume is for?” said Trendota.
But embellishers beware: beefing up your CCR won’t be as easy at fudging your CV. Program validators will ensure students participate in the event as stated on the application form. This includes stated hours, attendance at meetings, and all other criteria relevant to the given program.
According to Dylan Hoemsen, program coordinator for the Office of Student Life, the CCR provides a platform for students to pursue interests outside of their departments.
“We have a vibrant campus with many great programs, many of which are interdisciplinary and do not fall under one specific department,” said Hoemsen.
“The CCR project will enable students to discover programs available on campus that they may not have been aware existed,” he added.
For now, the CCR will function through Student Life’s website with plans to integrate with Aurora Online by next year, said Hoemsen.
The deadline for online program submissions for the CCR is
August 15.
