Co-Curricular Learning

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Competency Definitions and Must Statements
Co-Curricular Learning Assessment
Resources

Competency Definitions and Must Statements

Career and Self-Development

Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

Learn

Each program or activity must find a way to help students become aware of and understand the career skills they gain through participation in the group.

Grow

Participants must be prompted to analyze the skills, knowledge, and experiences relevant to their desired career goals, and to identify areas necessary for professional growth.
They should be prompted to take steps within the group to apply their skills so that they can further develop them in a way that assists the group in achieving its goals.

Empower

Leaders must evaluate what career skills the group needs to gain, and then provide and promote training opportunities for participants that develop and advance those skills.

Critical Thinking

Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

Learn

Each program or activity must have a clear mission statement or statement of purpose that is communicated to all members of the group so that everyone is aware of and understands the challenges the group is trying to address.

Grow

Participants must be encouraged to analyze issues faced by the group, to make decisions, and to prototype some possible solutions in collaboration with other members of the group.

Empower

Group leaders must be responsible for leading the group through creating at least 3 SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time based) goals for the year for the program.
These must be collaboratively established with the group and then assessed by the leader.

Technology

Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Learn

Students must have the opportunity to learn how the program uses technology to fulfill its purpose and achieve its goals.

Grow

There must be opportunities for training and analysis regarding how to use this technology in connection with the program, as well as the opportunity to apply skills learned from the training on projects which help the group to achieve its goals.

Empower

Leaders must be prompted to reflect on how they can evaluate the potential of technology and create new strategies (and in some cases, new technologies) for helping the group to fulfill its purpose and goals.

Inclusive Excellence

Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.

Learn

Each program or activity must create conditions that enable students to meet and interact with individuals with different identities from themselves.

Grow

There must be opportunities for students to learn about how they can engage in inclusive and equitable practices that influence individuals and systemic change.

Empower

Leaders must be prompted to reflect and engage with others regarding how to eliminate barriers for marginalized communities.

Leadership

Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

Learn

Each program or activity must help participants to develop awareness and understanding that leadership is more than just a position one holds, but rather, that it is a process where people work together toward shared goals.

Grow

Engaged members must have opportunities to analyze their leadership skills (possibly through some assessments: StrengthsFinder, MBTI, etc.), to learn to apply their skills with assistance from mentors, and be encouraged to take advantage of more opportunities to develop their leadership.

Empower

Leaders must receive training on how to use their skills to motivate the group to achieve and accomplish shared goals.

Communication

Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

Learn

Each program or activity must create a strategy which gives all members the opportunity to develop and refine their communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate the purpose of the group.

Grow

Engaged members must have opportunities to analyze what they learn and put communication skills into practice, including explaining their own contributions in helping to fulfill the purpose of the group with a variety of audiences.

Empower

Leaders must receive coaching which helps them increase both their comfort and proficiency as communicators, including the ability to motivate or persuade.

Professionalism

Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Learn

Each program or activity must create a brief statement of professional standards that is shared with members of the group.
It should outline the expectations that members are expected to follow - especially those related to ethics that might otherwise be invisible to the group.

Grow

Each program or activity must provide a mechanism for providing feedback to all members of the group about their performance in their roles.
This could take the form of performance review with advisors or as 360-degree feedback from members of the group

Empower

Leaders must hold themselves and others accountable with these standards.

Teamwork

Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

Learn

Each program or activity must provide a means for members of the group to become aware of their individual strengths, as well as the strengths of others in the group.

Grow

Participants must seek opportunities to apply their strengths to help the group to fulfill its purpose and achieve its goal

Empower

Group leaders must become aware of the strengths of individuals within their teams and apply this knowledge to promote effective collaboration, which helps the group to accomplish their shared goals.

The Career Readiness Competencies are developed courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.