Students begin building their CCRs

If you already have a record - keep reading. If you don’t have a record – you should also keep reading.

Dalhousie’s co-curricular record (CCR) launched earlier this month and is already getting plenty of attention. Since February 1, more than 250 students have accessed the system and 152 positions have been listed, with another 30 under review to be added shortly.

Watch: Co-Curricular Record video

For CCR manager Chris Glover, this is a good sign.

“We started this campaign asking students if they had a record,” he says. “Now we want them to know they can login and start building their CCRs.”

While many universities have some form of a CCR—Acadia, Memorial, Saint Mary’s as examples from Atlantic Canada—Dal’s is unique because it recognizes more than just clubs and societies.

“For example, a student who collaborates with community partners in a university group project and produces a report for a local company could receive a CCR credit as well as an academic credit,” says Mr. Glover. “We want to promote community engagement and encourage students to get active in HRM through Dalhousie.”

For students unable to participate in university societies, the CCR will also credit various jobs on campus that involve ample training and responsibility, such as residence assistants, security officers, student mentors, or athletics and recreation roles.   

Learning beyond the classroom

“Whether you’re applying to a job or to grad school, more and more places are looking at what students are doing beyond the classroom,” Mr. Glover explains. “A CCR, much like a portfolio, won’t get you the job, but it’s the icing on the cake. There’s tremendous value to getting involved in student life and the CCR validates a student’s unique Dalhousie experience.”  

The funding for the CCR came from a large donation from the David and Leslie Bissett family who, in 2003, generously donated $2 million for the establishment of the David and Leslie Bissett Student Learning Centre located in the Killam Library.

Dylan Anderson, a second-year political science student at King’s, represents the college on the steering committee for the CCR. He says he would recommend students start taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase their work outside the classroom.

“I spend around 10-20 hours a week doing work for the King’s Student Union, sitting on committees or other extra-curricular activities and I feel that it is very beneficial to have that officially recognized from the university,” he says.

By the end of April, Mr. Glover hopes to see over 300 positions in the database. And given the amount of growth the site has seen so far, he thinks that will easily be accomplished.

Learn more about the CCR at its website. Also, the Career Services Centre has a photo album on its Facebook page of students sharing their "record." The students with the most likes will win prizes - check it out.