Boost Career Readiness with the Co-Curricular Record (CCR)
The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) is the official record of student engagement that demonstrates skills and competencies developed through co-curricular activities—projects that go beyond a student’s academic transcript. Co-curricular experiences that impact career readiness are divided into four primary categories:
- Community-Based / Global Learning
- Ex. external community engagement, international study abroad
- Professional / Career Development
- Ex. student employment/work-study, internships, workshop series
- Research / Academic Life
- Ex. undergrad research, academic publications, tutoring
- Student Engagement / Campus Life
- Ex. leadership, mentorship, athletics, clubs
But what is career readiness? How do students achieve it? The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) defines career readiness as “a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college-educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.”
At UC San Diego, we know learning transcends the classroom, and working in the Student Employment Program helps students develop critical career readiness skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and professionalism—key competencies that employers seek. The CCR adds value because it provides a verified record of professional growth that can be shared with future employers.
Whether you’re a student employee looking to enhance your career portfolio or a supervisor supporting your student’s professional development, the CCR is a powerful tool to help students translate their student employment work experiences into career success. Student Employee Supervisors can help students start building their Experience on Purpose by adding their work experiences to the CCR today!
Below are the definitions of the UC San Diego Competencies and examples of behaviors from student employment jobs that demonstrate competency and skills proficiency.
Career Development
Definition: Accesses information and opportunities for career exploration, and understands and articulates the importance of transferable skills in the job search process.
Job/Department: Coral and Seaweed Research Technician, Marine Biology
Behavior: Assist in molecular and husbandry-based projects in the Smith and Wegley-Kelly Lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Develop skills in molecular biology benchwork tasks, including DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing, sterile techniques, aquarium maintenance, and maintaining algal cultures.
Civic Engagement / Social Responsibility
Definition: Participates in service/volunteer activities characterized by reciprocity, engages in critical reflection, and appropriately challenges unfair and unjust behavior to make a positive difference in the community.
Job/Department: Cross-Cultural Center Intern, Cross-Cultural Center
Behavior: Create space for peers to think critically about social justice and invite people to bring their lived experiences and current social justice issues into the conversation. Research, plan, organize, facilitate, and evaluate educational workshops and programs on social justice topics for a variety of peer groups.Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
Definition: Identifies important problems and questions and gathers, analyzes, and evaluates information from a variety of sources before forming a strategy, decision, or opinion.
Job/Department: Electron Microscopy Facility Assistant, Cellular & Molecular Medicine
Behavior: Assist researchers with the use of electron microscopes, including sample preparation, loading and unloading samples, family management, and troubleshooting user issues.Digital Information Fluency
Definition: Demonstrates technological literacy and skills, and ethically and effectively uses technology to communicate, problem-solve, and complete tasks.
Job/Department: Video Production Assistant, Intercollegiate Athletics
Behavior: Assist the video production team with broadcasting UC San Diego sports on ESPN+. Tasks include audio engineering, camera operation, live event producing, motion graphics, technical and multicam directing, and set up and break down of sets and video-related equipment.Innovation / Entrepreneurial Thinking
Definition: Synthesizes existing ideas and concepts in innovative and creative ways to develop new ways of thinking or working, and engages in divergent thinking and risk taking.
Job/Department: Junior Designer, The Design Lab
Behavior: Gain experience working with Human-Centered Design (HCD) applications through collaboration with fellow students, faculty, and cross-disciplinary teams to tackle real-world problems, ideate innovative solutions, and develop impactful prototypes. Perform drafting and design tasks to support the development of design and technology concepts, technical problem solving, group brainstorming, and technical research.Leadership
Definition: Takes initiative, demonstrates effective decision making and informed risk taking, and motivates and encourages participation from others to work towards a shared purpose and vision.
Job/Department: Commuter & Visitor Information Shift Coordinator, Transportation Services
Behavior: Support operations and promote excellent customer service for the Gilman Service Center by managing internal communications, scheduling, training, and hiring efforts for student employees.Oral, Written, & Digital Communication
Definition: Conveys meaning and responds to the needs of diverse audiences through writing and speaking coherently and effectively, and develops the expression of ideas through written, oral, and digital mediums.
Job/Department: UC San Diego Magazine Publications Assistant, Creative & Digital Strategy
Behavior: Support university storytelling and the production of UC San Diego Magazine by generating story ideas, researching new items and events, interviewing people with well-prepared questions, and drafting and editing articles.
Professionalism / Integrity
Definition: Demonstrates integrity, honesty, dependability, and ethical responsibility, and accepts direction and personal accountability.
Job/Department: UC San Diego Student Foundation President, Alumni & Community Engagement
Behavior: Lead the Student Foundation Trustees in completing the mission and goals of the foundation, including the execution of quarterly programming and the allocation of scholarship funds. Serve as a resource to staff in Alumni Affairs and the campus community for student philanthropy opportunities and represent the Student Foundation at UC San Diego Foundation and UC San Diego Alumni Association Board meetings.Research Ability
Definition: Accesses and evaluates multiple sources of information, including text and images, and synthesizes information to solve problems and create new insights.
Job/Department: Research Assistant, The Center for Energy Research
Behavior: Assist development engineers and scientists with mechanical design, engineering, development, fabrication, procurement, and maintenance for various systems of a UC San Diego research group located at General Atomics National Fusion Facility.Self-Reflection
Definition: Assesses, articulates, and acknowledges personal skills and abilities, and learns from past experiences and feedback to gain new insights and understandings.
Job/Department: CAPS Outreach Program Graduate Assistant, Counseling & Psychiatric Services
Behavior: Assist the Triton Flourish initiative with the creation and delivery of strength-based programming to educate and assist students, staff, and faculty to increase resilience, build tools for emotional coping, and prevent mental illness. Reflect on and apply concepts personally to better communicate concepts and educate the campus community.Teamwork / Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Definition: Works with and seeks involvement from people and entities with diverse experiences towards a common goal, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills, respect, and dignity for others.
Job/Department: EcoNaut, Housing/Dining/Hospitality
Behavior: As part of the HDH Sustainability team, promotes sustainability efforts on campus, hosts activities and events, partners with other campus organizations on collaborative events, and collaborates with the HDH Sustainability Manager on sustainability projects. Works with Resident Assistants and other campus groups to design and host educational events that address campus sustainability issues.Understanding Global Context
Definition: Demonstrates an understanding of complex global issues and systems, and how issues and actions have local and global implications for the future.
Job/Department: Mi Universidad Student Translator, Extended Studies
Behavior: Accurately interpret written and audio pieces in Spanish and English while preserving their original meaning, format, and tone for a wide array of courses, workshops, and events in Spanish across the globe. Carefully read and comprehend the context of given material and translate it to deliver high-quality content that allows the department to engage a broader audience across the Spanish-speaking world.
Have Questions or Need Help?
- If you have questions about student employment, please reach out to your department HR Contact.
- For additional assistance, please email the Student Employment Office.