Carleton is adopting a system to give students documented credit for extracurricular activities.
In theory, this sounds great; but in reality it will be impractical.
The potential to abuse the system would be enormous. There are many clubs and societies on campus that are run by hardworking students. However, there are also defunct student organizations that students claim to lead without actually doing anything. Students sometimes hold executive positions in clubs and societies just because their friends are on the board; their peers would have no problem validating their positions even if they carry out little to no work.
Students could even invent new organizations, make themselves president, get club certification from Carleton University Students’ Association and then sit back and do nothing while enjoying the title. This would amount to a slap in the face to those who really do serve the community well.
Students who want to show off their extracurricular achievements when applying for jobs or academic programs usually have the opportunity to flaunt this experience through reference letters or essays. These options also give students a better chance to demonstrate their personality and strength of character. Also, since essays and reference letters are more in-depth, details about the specific contributions the student has made to the extracurricular activity can be included.
In light of these more sensible alternatives, a co-curricular report would be redundant. It’s simply not worth the complications to try and make this idea a reality.