Purpose of the Civic Engagement Transcript
In offering the Civic Engagement Transcript, Fort Lewis College joins a growing number of colleges and universities that offer the opportunity for students to receive an academic transcript and a transcript record of their civic accomplishments and contributions. The Civic Engagement Transcript records ways in which students extend and enhance classroom learning primarily through community-based learning and research initiatives, co-curricular engagement, and leadership centered around serving the common good. The transcript provides the opportunity for the College to recognize and validate distinctive and integrative opportunities in which Fort Lewis students connect academic careers with informed civic engagement. Providing students the opportunity to receive this transcript affords Fort Lewis College an avenue for fostering the development of leadership skills, an inquisitive and analytical mind, a respect for human diversity and individuality, and an ability to explore and exercise a sense of civic and global responsibility. This transcript provides an opportunity for a student to receive formal recognition of both the students’ and the College’s commitment to the “development of the responsible citizen, grounded in honesty, courage and compassion.”
Document Details
The Civic Engagement Transcript is available for students to obtain in addition to an academic transcript. Recognized activities and experiences that are recorded on the transcript are not designed to replicate or replace a student’s academic record. The transcript is designed to be a formal method for capturing and recording students’ civic accomplishments, contributions, research initiatives, co-curricular engagement and or leadership fostered by the active participation of students in democratic society while engaged in their academic careers. Five categories of activities are recorded on the document:
- Community-Based Learning and Research: The experience is linked to a teaching methodology incorporating academic learning with relevant personal and direct engagement, problem solving projects, and/or research.
- Civic Service: The contribution of a student to a local, national or inter-national experience that is in addition or complimentary to the student’s academic experience. This can include participation in formalized and non-formalized civically based voluntary service opportunities and programs.
- Internships: The opportunity to apply personal and direct engagement, problem solving and professional skills in a contextual and experiential nature. Service can be field work, part-time, full-time, paid or unpaid, on-campus or off-campus. These internships are designed to critically engage the intern to bring their knowledge to bear upon issues that benefit the greater community.
- Award/ Recognition: The formal recognition by the institution provided through an affiliated organization at FLC, and/or activities recognized for civic contributions made to the campus and/ or regional community.
- Scholarly / Creative: Scholarly or creative endeavors existing beyond the traditional classroom and designed for benefit of the common good that incorporate community civic, global and democratic ideals.
Sample Civic Engagement Transcript
Transcript Legend (back of Civic Engagement Transcript)
Benefits of the Civic Engagement Transcript for students
- The Civic Engagement Transcript will assist students in telling a fuller story of their academic careers at FLC by gathering information about not only their academic achievements, but also their participatory civic work onto one cumulative record.
- In contrast to a resume, the Civic Engagement Transcript carries the validity and credibility of being endorsed by the institution. All recorded activities placed on the transcript are verified within the parameters of specific criteria and standards designed to demonstrate a contribution to the common good. Students are able to demonstrate the value of their experiences not only on a personal level but within the context of the larger mission of their College.
- Many aspects of the Fort Lewis College Civic Engagement Transcript are unique as compared to documents of similar intent offered by institutions around the country. The Fort Lewis Civic Engagement Transcript includes both curricular and co-curricular civically centered experiences. The transcript is designed in this manner in order to provide a more authentic picture of a student’s commitment to democratic participation and ideals. Students’ co-curricular experiences may inform projects within the classroom while classroom learning often leads to an ongoing passion for and commitment to community participation, action or change. Capturing this learning experience provides for a distinctive student record which not only aids the student in standing out among other undergraduates, but also affords the opportunity for Fort Lewis to offer something unique to their students among other four year institutions.
- Another unique aspect of the Civic Engagement Transcript is the inclusion of a short narrative description for each activity included on the document. These narrative descriptions personalize the document for the student and add richness and depth to the academic career recorded there.