On September 10, the University of Toronto launched the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), a project designed to facilitate tracking and recognition for extra-curricular involvement. The CCR is an initiative that recognizes the extra-curricular involvement of undergraduate and graduate students by recording that involvement in an official document, similar to an academic transcript, that lists the students’ position and skills gained. It also lets students search for potential activities on an online database, applying filters to their search such as time of day and area of interest.

The CCR emerged in response to a recommendation by the University of Toronto’s Council on Student Experience, a forum established by the vice-provost, students, in 2006 to improve student experience at the university. In the report, the council addressed student concerns over engagement and overall satisfaction with student life: ultimately recommending the implementation of a Co-Curricular Record.

Organizers of the CCR believe it will allow students to present skills gained through extra-curricular involvement to graduate schools, scholarship committees, and employers. According to Kimberly Elias, program coordinator of the CCR: “The purpose of the CCR is acknowledging that there is significant learning and development that can occur through engagement in co-curricular activities. With this, through research, we know that co-curricular engagement can positively impact a student’s experience and success.”

At the moment, Elias continued, there are 37 universities or colleges across Canada with similar programs already in place, including the University of Calgary, Carleton University, and Seneca College. In practice, these programs are very similar to the CCR. However, none of the other programs have been implemented on such a large scale. In response to this unique challenge, the CCR is decentralized, with each individual unit hosting a “Local Evaluation Committee” that is responsible for assessing submissions in that unit.

Walied Khogali, executive director of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, feels that, overall, the CCR is a step in the right direction. However, Khogali expressed concern over who will recognize and validate student activities. Shawn Tian, president of the Arts and Science Students’ Union, agrees, saying the CCR “takes the burden off for students since it reflects verified and legitimate activities outside of the classroom.” However, like Khogali, Tian expressed concern over the process for verifying involvement. At this point, it is unclear how, and to whom, students will present verification of their involvement.

All agree that the CCR’s success, or lack thereof, will be reliant on student participation. “We know that there are so many great opportunities across our three campuses and a great number of local units,” said Elias, “Student input on what activities are out there will really help in identifying those opportunities so that we can build up the database.”