DegreePlus is a unique extracurricular program offered only at WCU.
Students tend to think their skills for success are only attached to their academic
experiences; however, research has shown that students can enhance their skills when
they get involved in extracurricular experiences outside the classroom. DegreePlus
is designed to give you opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities
that can provide the transferable skills you need to reach your goals for employment,
graduate school, professional school, and other post-graduate plans. Even more, Degree
Plus focuses on skills which can enhance your self-awareness and interpersonal relationships
for a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DOES DEGREEPLUS WORK?
DegreePlus is a voluntary three-level experiential program which uses extracurricular experiences to help you build one or more transferable
skills. (A transferable skill is a skill that can be used in any career, no matter
what you choose to do.) What's cool about DegreePlus is you can go at your own pace
and complete as many levels and skills as you want. And there are rewards at every
level!
DegreePlus Skills
- Cultural Responsiveness
- Professionalism
- Leadership
- Teamwork
DegreePlus Levels
- DP1 - Experience and Exposure
Attend 5 in-person or online DegreePlus-designated events of your choice in one skill.
Reward: a great gift!
- DP2 - Integration & Application
Attend DegreePlus Day or a makeup session in the Spring or Fall Semester. At DegreePlus
Day, you meet other DegreePlus participants, listen to students in DP3 present, and
join a small group discussion led by a DegreePlus staff or faculty mentor. In the
discussion you reflect on the events you attended, think about how the skill applies
to your academic, personal, and professional journey, and start planning your DP3 Experience (formerly the DegreePlus capstone). Following DegreePlus Day, you submit your DP3 Experience Plan of Action to your DegreePlus Mentor for review and suggestions for improvement. You complete
DP2 when your plan is approved.
Rewards: certificate, business cards, eligible for a paid DP Ambassador position,
alumni mentor, job shadowing, and more!
- DP3 - Reflection & Articulation
Apply the learning outcomes of your skill in an experience of your choice. A DP3 Experience
can be something you already plan to do or an experience you create just for DegreePlus.
Examples include an internship, academic capstone assignment, research, study abroad,
senior showcase, volunteer or paid work project, leadership role, or anything that
helps you further explore the skill you selected. Following the completion of your
DP3 Experience, you review how you applied the five learning outcomes, what you learned
from the process, and use your experience to create a poster presentation for DegreePlus
Day or other approved venue. The posters are evaluated as Pass or Redo. You complete
DP3 when you receive a Pass.
Rewards: Notation on your transcript, engraved plaque, wearable badge, career support,
and more.
Once you've completed Level 3, you can complete another skill at any time. It's up to you!
Why is DEGREEPLUS worth my time?
OK. We know you already have a lot to do at WCU. But, consider this --
- Getting involved in the DegreePlus program can make you feel good about yourself because
you are learning skills that will help you now and in the future.
- DegreePlus adds to the value of your degree. You can put your DegreePlus participation
on your resume or talk about it in interviews. When you let future employers or graduate/professional
schools know what you've learned from DegreePlus, you set yourself apart and signal
to them that you're motivated to do well.
- You get a "co-curricular transcript." This is like your academic transcript, except
it includes your experiences in DegreePlus as well as other valuable extracurricular
and co-curricular experiences at WCU, such as internships, service, athletic, club,
and Greek leadership, etc. This is a useful document to have as a reference to showcase
all you have accomplished at WCU!
Why do employers care about my extracurricular activities?
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top attributes
employers look for on a candidate's resume are leadership, ability to work in a team,
communication skills (verbal and written), problem-solving skills, strong work ethic,
cultural awareness, initiative, and analytic skills. While some of these skills can
be developed in the classroom, they can be strengthened through extracurricular experiences.
When you speak to employers, you want to be able to tell them the experiences you
have had that make you a good candidate for the position in addition to your degree.
Participating in DegreePlus can help you do just that!
when and how do I start?
DegreePlus is available at any point throughout your time at WCU! We encourage you to get involved early to have time to move through the program,
develop your skill set and learn how to use it for your personal and professional
development. You can do more than one skill at a time!
DegreePlus uses WCU ENGAGE to post a calendar of DegreePlus in-person and online events, track your DegreePlus
Path Progress, and manage your co-curricular transcript. Just go to engage.wcu.edu and search for DegreePlus. If you join, you receive a weekly calendar of events and alerts,
and can view your DegreePlus Path Progress. It's that easy!
Is there any additional cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in DegreePlus, just your dedication. However, some events that are designated as DegreePlus opportunities
may have an associated charge (for example, the Etiquette Reception and Alternative
Spring Break).
