Co-curricular transcripts and student success

The academic transcript has traditionally been the blueprint of a student’s accomplishments. However, it does not completely reflect the learning experience of college life. More importantly, it is not the best indicator of student success or career readiness.

As I reflect on my own university experience, it is the social connections outside the classroom that made the biggest imprint on my personal and professional life. The co- and extra-curricular activities helped me feel like I belonged, taught me resilience, and ultimately gave me the life skills I needed to thrive in the workforce.

Colleges and employers are increasingly taking a more holistic view of the college experience. Co-curricular activities are being valued for the so-called “soft skills” (I prefer the term “life skills”) that they help develop. Therefore, co-curricular transcripts are becoming commonplace and the technology around them is evolving.

Co-curricular activities

Co-curriculars are activities that are separate from the academic curriculum but intrinsic to student life. Endorsed by the educational establishment for their role in student learning, they are generally ungraded and do not enable students to earn academic credit.

Examples of co-curricular activities include:

Student Government
Athletics
College Newspapers
Music or Arts programing
Debate teams
Volunteering
Social Work
Tutoring & Mentoring
Language Programs
Academic and Professional Organizations
Multicultural Organizations

Nexus between Student Involvement, Retention, & Success

Student affairs professionals are particularly well attuned to the nexus between student involvement, retention, and success. Participating in co-curricular events helps students build that sense of belonging that is critical to their well-being. The higher the level of social engagement, the higher the level of student satisfaction.

Further, the more engaged a student the less likely they are to drop out. Students that are involved in different co-curricular activities are also more likely to have a higher cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). The rule of thumb is simple: students that have a positive college experience are more likely to graduate and excel academically.

The reasons for this are clear. Connections made with peers, professors, tutors, and mentors constitute the support network students need to succeed. Personally, having my college roommate Krista to pull all-nighters with, while listening to the “Les Misérables” soundtrack, undoubtedly made things easier.

Correlation between Student Engagement, Resilience, & Career Readiness

Student affairs and career services professionals also directly see the correlation between student engagement, resilience, and career readiness. Engaging in a variety of co-curricular activities is a great way to explore new things. Thanks to Amr, my Arabic tutor, my interest in the middle east blossomed, later translating into internships, study abroad programs and career choices.

Co-curriculars also provide the framework that helps students develop resilience- a critical life skill. Resilience is the ability to overcome adversity and come back stronger. According to Richard Sagor, founder of the Institute for the Study of Inquiry in Education, “students who leave school with certain kinds of positive social and emotional experiences are likely to be more resilient than others, with a positive outlook about their futures.”

Further, co-curricular activities promote the development of attributes that the best leaders and colleagues possess. Examples of these ‘soft’ or ‘life’ skills include:

Teamwork
Communication
Time management
Problem Solving
Stress management

These core competencies are also central to developing career readiness. For recent college graduates, career readiness ensures a smooth transition into the workforce. It is the foundation on which a successful career is based.

Career readiness programs provide the map college students use to define and measure career related goals. For employers it provides a framework for identifying key skills and sourcing talent through internship and experiential learning programs.

Co-curricular transcripts (CCTs) are a great tool for developing of career readiness. They help develop clear pathways for students based on career goals and are a great way for prospective employers to measure a candidate’s core competencies.

Importance of Co-Curricular Transcripts

Colleges and employers have traditionally put the onus on academic transcripts. However, with the link between co-curricular engagement and academic achievement now clear, co-curricular programs have grown in importance. Based on this more holistic view of student learning, CCTs and learning pathways are fast developing.

The CCT is a comprehensive record of a student’s involvement in experiential learning experiences that take place outside the classroom. Like the academic transcript, a CCT is certified by the college or university. It can also augment the marketability of that individual to graduate schools or potential employers.

CCT programs are built around core learning competencies. They usually also provide learning pathways for students to achieve these competencies and are designed to encourage and track student involvement through a certification process.

From our experience and client feedback, the most effective CCT programs include the following features:

A CCT dashboard

Available to both students and administrators the central dashboard is key to tracking achievements. It is a great tool for students to chart their personal journey and measure progress in achieving specific goals. For administrators the dashboard is critical for tracking engagement. As an indicator of student involvement, it can inform student retention action plans. It is also a great way for administrators to identify potential skill development gaps on campus.

CCT pathways

CCT pathways provide students with the framework they need to obtain certification in a specific competency. This may include multiple tracks and checklists that clearly show what actions students need to take to achieve certification, and within what timeframe if any. These pathways also enable students to track their progress and are key to promoting student success. Some establishments provide specific pathways for students to achieve different levels of core competencies certification.

Gamification component

Gamification is a great way to incentivize students to achieve their goals. Leaderboards and badge or point systems are fun ways to measure and reward progress. Some establishments have even implemented a way for students to use points to redeem prizes or automatically enter individuals into a raffle on completion of certain goals. The concept of leveling up upon achieving a certain number of badges is also a great motivator for students.

Co-curricular transcripts are testament to how the mindset around student learning and core skills has evolved. Having a centralized way of tracking co-curricular engagement enables colleges to effectively measure student involvement. It also empowers students to map out their own learning goals.

Given the link between student engagement and retention, success, resilience, and career readiness this is an important development in higher education. Its benefits also translate into the workforce. Students are also better able to articulate the core competencies developed through co-curricular activities in the workplace.

Would you like to learn more about creating guided pathways and tracking co-curricular involvements for students? Please reach out to explore how CampusGroups can help measure and organize learning experiences to promote student success in your campus community!

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