The Importance of a CCR: Society Edition
Written by Natasha Fernandes
Thumbnail by Saint Mary’s University
Campus societies are an integral part of university life; they provide a space for students to thrive and explore their skills, and capabilities. However, while SMU societies allow students to take a break from daily academic stress, not much is said about how SMU can educate societies on getting the full benefits of their labor. Here is where the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) at SMU plays a role for students involved in societies to register their volunteer hours and maintain a record of their work. I have heard from many students that they find the process of adding to their CCR long and complicated. Thus, I met up with Manav Khera, the current Co-Curricular Record Engagement Facilitator, and we spoke about the importance of the CCR and how we can simplify the process. So let’s begin!
Manav Khera, Co-Curricular Record Engagement Facilitator. Photo by Manav Khera.
Why CCR?
The CCR can be accessed through Career360. The Career360 website is a place where students can access several activities, co-op programs, job opportunites, etc. Students can record their volunteer hours by getting involved in any SMU society or by participating in any events organized by SMU. For example, suppose you happen to be in a leadership position or part of a campus society’s executive team. In that case, you can record your achievements along with the skills and competencies you have achieved with the many hours you have spent being involved on campus. So, it is a perfect avenue to be acknowledged for your multitasking abilities and your involvement on campus aside from general academics. Additionally, the CCR is a university certified record which can be used as a validated source of reference when applying for jobs. As Manav mentioned,
“Technically speaking, I got this job as a CCR facilitator because I had my CCR updated. It was required to have a CCR even to be considered an applicant. Not just that, when I applied to RBC for my co-op term, I had submitted my CCR as a supplementary document, and I believe it helped enhance and attract the employers to my job application. A CCR may not be as important as a resume or a cover letter, but I would insist that it is still important, especially if you want to show off your skills and if you think your academic transcript is not strong enough.”
Is the CCR complicated?
Let’s go through the process step-by-step. First, you need to access Career360 through your SMU student account with your S number and password. Once you’re in, scroll down to the “Co-Curricular Record” tab and click on the drop-down function. From there, choose the “CCR Dashboard” tab. If you have used the CCR before, you will see a list of your previously approved experiences on your dashboard. Next, click the “Add a position to my record” tab to add a new position to your record. Once you click on it, you can search for the activity by typing in the name (for instance a SMU workshop or a volunteering position) on the search bar and selecting the one you want. You can also navigate through the selection boxes below the search bar to narrow down your results. Once you have chosen the engagement you wish to record, you can choose from three options: “View Posting,” “Add to Record,” or, “Add to Shortlist”. You must select “Add to Record” to add the position to your dashboard. The status of your record will be shown as pending until approved by the validator.
There are three main things you need to do once you have posted your CCR for it be to verified by the validator:
Add your reflection by answering a few simple questions about your skills and experiences from the event or position.
Log in the number of hours you spent during or for the engagement.
Select your competencies and skills (maximum five).
You can always edit or update your record irrespective of the record's status. If you are a member of a campus society, the President or the Vice President of the society will approve it when they get notified. According to Manav, the process is simple and easy, and once you get the hang of it, the process will become a routine. When I asked Manav what advice would he give to students who are filling up their CCR, he responded:
“One thing I would like to say is when you are adding in your competencies is to make sure that the competencies are related to your career prospects. So for me it would be communication and data analytics.”
CCR for SMU Societies?
CCR is an integral component of ensuring that your work with a campus society is duly acknowledged. SMU societies are responsible for updating the information about the duties, hours entailed, and contact information for each executive position. Yet, many societies on campus fail to maintain or update their details. The executive team should upload their positions on Career360° so that students in leadership positions can use the CCR as a credible source attesting to their abilities. As Manav said,
“Many societies are neglecting the importance of a CCR position. If I wish to add my position as a society member on CCR, I can not add it if the executive team of that society does not create the position. For example, when I was a part of the Commerce Society, we had 7 or 8 positions listed, but the number has now increased to 12, so we have to add more positions on the CCR so that the executives can use it when they upload their CCR.”
Suppose you are an executive member of a society at SMU. In that case, you can add your position details on CCR and include the position description, how many hours of commitment, and any social media link for contact. According to Manav, very few societies have all the necessary information, but some have absolutely nothing, which is a huge issue. When societies fail to add their CCR, they deprive their members of achieving the full benefits of being a part of campus societies. The CCR office will be organizing workshops for SMU societies to educate them on the importance of the CCR and its process. As Manav mentioned,
“The CCR office is planning to reach out to societies on campus and ask them their availability and if we could join their society meetings to give a short presentation for 5 to 10 minutes about CCR. In this way, CCR is effectively promoted and by learning about CCR, societies can show aspiring members why they should volunteer their hours for their society.”
The CCR Office has recently released its new newsletter where you can learn about volunteering opportunities, society articles, professional development, and what’s new on Career360°. The newsletter is personally edited by Manav Khera and is easy to access: all you have to do is click the link here to subscribe to the newsletter for bi-weekly updates. If you want to be featured in the CCR newsletter, email ccr@smu.ca, where you can contact Manav and build your society’s presence.
Christy Starkey, Co-Curricular Record & Career360° Lead. Photo by Manav Khera.
How to reach the CCR Office?
I had the opportunity to speak with Christy Starkey, the Co-Curricular Record & Career360° Lead. We conversed about the CCR’s importance for SMU societies and where students can seek assistance concerning their CCRs. Students can reach out directly to Christy at ccr@smu.ca or book an appointment through the Co-Curricular Record tab on Career360°. Students can also check out the Career360° Events and Workshops tab or SMU Student Life Instagram and Facebook page for CCR-related updates. According to Christy, executives of each society should update their CCR each term and encourage their society members to do so as well. As she said,
“The CCR is a great way for societies to record and verify their experiences, which can be showcased when applying for jobs, scholarships, bursaries, graduate school, and more!”
SMU societies that wish to connect immediately with the CCR office can connect through email and schedule an appointment with Christy Starkey. In addition, If you are an old society member and after reading this you wish to update your CCR, you can still do so as there is no deadline for it. You can search up positions from several years ago and record your involvement with that position. If you cannot find a particular record, contact the CCR office and mention your request. After my conversation with Christy and Manav, I realized how important a CCR is for a society’s continuous growth and development. So, SMU societies, don’t forget to reach out and get started with ensuring your society members receive the fruit of their labour. The time is NOW!
P.S. If you are a member or an executive of a campus society at Saint Mary’s and would like to feature in the SMU Journal, you can email me at fernnash15@gmail.com. I want to know more about your experience with societies here at SMU, so please reach out!