Background
How it started
In response to a broad series of focus groups conducted in 2010, the Council on Student Experience established a number of working groups to address the main themes that emerged from the qualitative survey. One of these groups addressed school spirit and engagement and put forward a strong recommendation that the University explore in depth the feasibility of an official co-curricular record (see U of T's Response to In Their Own Words: Understanding the Undergraduate Student Experience at the University of Toronto, July, 2010). In late 2011, a group of eighteen faculty, staff and students from across the three campuses were invited by the Assistant Vice President, Student Life to participate in a two day planning session to discuss the development of a co-curricular record. In advance of this meeting, research was undertaken to document practices and processes at universities across Canada regarding their implementation of a co-curricular record. This information, along with other briefing documents, was shared with the Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee recommended establishing four working groups to focus on:
- Developing criteria for eligible activities
- Developing competencies to attach to activities
- Establishing validation processes and work flow processes
- Determining systems and technology needs
Throughout the summer 2012, four working groups have been focusing on developing the CCR. The working groups have been representative, including staff, faculty, and students from across the institution.
Consultation
Throughout the 2012-2013 year, there was an extensive consultation that engaged students, staff, and faculty across the three campuses, faculties, colleges, and units. With over 175 meetings and counting, the CCR process has been consultative and collaborative. For the fall 2013 launch, there will be 32 units that will be collecting activities and participating in the CCR process.
Decentralized Process
These "local units" include the campuses, colleges, independent residences, faculties, and other units:
| University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) | Faculty of Medicine |
| University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) | Faculty of Music |
| Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering | New College |
| John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design | Faculty of Nursing |
| Faculty of Arts & Science | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education |
| Central Administration | Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy |
| Chestnut Residence | Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work |
| Faculty of Dentistry | Rotman Commerce |
| Family Housing | School of Graduate Studies |
| Graduate House | St. Michaels College |
| Hart House | Student Life (St. George) |
| Faculty of Information | Trinity College |
| Innis College | University Advancement |
| Interprofessional Education | University College |
| Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education | Victoria University |
| Faculty of Law | Woodsworth College |
| Libraries |
Each of these local units will have "Local Evaluation Committee," which is responsible for the local operations of the Co-Curricular Record. The Local Evaluation Committee will evaluate activity submissions and determine if an activity is approved, denied, or returned for further review, and may defer submissions to the Institutional Evaluation Committee if needed. They will confirm and recommend validators.