What if students earned official recognition for volunteering with a favourite UFV club, activity, or having paid on-campus employment while at university? Thanks to a new initiative at UFV, they can!

Providing multiple benefits to students, the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) — an official transcript of students’ out-of-class involvement on campus — will open doors to increased engagement and improved employability. And it’s already in place. Students just need to register for it.

More than just official recognition for contributions to campus culture and on-campus employment, CCR ties directly with UFV’s innovative Institutional Learning Outcomes. UFV’s ILOs are a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities the UFV community collectively decided every graduate should be able to demonstrate that they possess, ranging from engaging in collaborative leadership to respectful and professional practices.

“What struck me was the unique opportunity to tie these ILOs to activities outside the classroom,” explained Jody Gordon, UFV’s vice president of student services, and a driving force behind CCR implementation.

“For example, the opportunity for a global experience may come at the hands of your co-curricular activity.”

To begin building CCR credits, students participate in campus activities or employment opportunities registered on the CCR website. Students can also request to have new positions included (volunteer or paid), pending validation by UFV staff or faculty. Validated examples range from student union positions to residence assistance jobs and registered club volunteer activities.

Not only will CCRs bulk up resumés for graduates, they can assist current students in acquiring grants, scholarships, and internships.

CCRs have proven popular in other post-secondary institutions, ranging from the University of Victoria to Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Calgary, which saw a 10 per cent increase in co-curricular activity after implementing their CCR program.  And encouraging extracurricular activity by recognizing it via the CCR will have a spinoff effect on in-classroom activity, Gordon predicts.

“The more students are engaged outside the classroom, the more likely they will be engaged in the classroom,” Gordon said.

“We’re hoping to see more involvement at orientation, student Union Society events, athletic events, and more.”

That wave will be especially appreciated at UFV, traditionally a commuter campus, where 75 per cent of students spend no hours on co-curricular activities — well below the national average.

Interested? Start accumulating credit by visiting CCR’s website: ufv.ca/studentlife/ccr.