An experienced higher education administrator, Juana Reina has worked with post-secondary students for close to three decades. Currently pursuing an EdD from Northeastern University, Juana Reina is completing a dissertation on how students craft their professional identities through co-curricular programs.
The term co-curricular refers to the activities and programs complementing the formal academic curriculum, and represent an extension of the students’ classroom learning experiences. Co-curricular activities include musical performances, art shows, science fairs, debate competitions, mock trials, and engineering competitions. They provide an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned.
Co-curricular programs in schools are promoted alongside academics to further the development of students intellectually, physically, psychologically, socially, and even morally. The traditional model of academic-focused education is paving the way for more holistic learning geared toward developing students’ academic abilities together with their personal and interpersonal skill sets. Augmenting coursework with experiential learning programs help students grow their overall personalities, become self-confident, develop specialized skills, become responsible, and achieve improved academic performance.
