Co-curricular record

September 15, 2008

Co-curricular record highlights student involvement

Record recognizes student involvement beyond the classroom

Student involvement beyond the classroom will be recognized as part of a new initiative called the co-curricular record. The record, which will officially launch January 2009, is a first for Western Canadian universities.

“University students today are very civic-minded,” says Ann Tierney, vice-provost (students). “Our students look for opportunities to get involved outside of class and the co-curricular record is the university’s recognition that we value their contributions and want to play a role in developing opportunities for our students to be engaged academically as well as in their campus community.”

Funded through Quality Money, a unique partnership between the university and Students’ Union that puts money directly into the hands of students to invest in areas they deem priority, the co-curricular record will be maintained by the student. Students input their extra-curricular activities online and the information is then verified by the university. The same system will allow students to search for available opportunities on campus—much like searching for an academic course. The record will also include off-campus volunteer work organized through a university faculty or organization. Students are able to print their record at any time, free of charge, and upon graduation, will receive a sanctioned copy from the university.

“I believe having a formal record of campus and community involvement and an individual’s success in this speaks for itself,” says Dalmy Baez, president, Students’ Union, University of Calgary. “It demonstrates a student’s dedication and sense of community responsibility.”

“The initiative will assist in increasing student engagement and will also boost the quality of student experience at the University of Calgary by promoting extra-curricular involvement and volunteerism,” adds Tierney. “When coupled with an academic transcript at graduation, the package gives a credible, holistic view of a student’s overall experience—something employers are increasingly looking for.”

Last week marked the start of classes and the university welcomed more than 6,000 new students, an increase of 425 from 2007. At the end of August, the Province of Alberta announced 227 new seats for the U of C in high-demand fields such as commerce, medicine, science and nine new doctor of philosophy seats in biomedical engineering.

For information about the co-curricular record, students can contact Gareth McVicar, student leadership programs coordinator, Office of the Student Experience at gmcvicar@ucalgary.ca or 403-210-9611.