University of Wisconsin students will soon have the chance to add even more credentials to their transcripts.

A new Leadership and Involvement transcript record will be offered to students in the upcoming spring semester, giving students the opportunity to keep an online record, accessible through My UW, of all campus activities they have been involved with since freshman year.

The Leadership and Involvement records will help students in decorating their transcripts to prospective employers after graduation, according to Renee Alfano, assistant director for the Student Organization Office.

Students can add information to their record as they progress through college, and the Student Organization Office will access the software to verify students' involvement.

"The job market for students is becoming more and more competitive," Alfano said. "We hope it will give UW students more of an edge over other applicants."

Students can print their information or obtain an official copy signed by the Dean of Students from the Student Organizations Office. They can then offer it to prospective employers along with their academic transcripts.

"This program is something other schools may not be offering, so it gives UW students a tremendous benefit in today's job market," said UW spokesman John Lucas.

The leadership transcripts will give students the opportunity to showcase out-of-classroom leadership and involvement, instead of only offering past grades to employers.

Leadership and Involvement records can serve other purposes besides verification for potential employers.

"The records can also be used for graduate school applications, a history of involvement for the student, and as an aid to student group advisors who are writing letters of recommendations because it gives the advisor a broader knowledge of the student," Alfano said.

Students will be asked to list their leadership roles in UW organizations, which could include fraternity or sorority president, newspaper editor or captain of an intramural sport, which will be verified by the Student Organization Office, Alfano added.

The second part of the document includes activities students participated in but did not necessarily serve in leadership positions.

This could include volunteer work or membership in an honor society, which will not be verified by the SOO, according to Alfano.

In addition to the leadership transcript, the SOO offers a Leadership certificate program, which was started last year to encourage students to take leadership positions in their communities.

In the certificate program, students must complete 100 hours in five different categories including volunteer work, work experience and time devoted to developing themselves.

Both leadership opportunities will give UW students the edge that could help them obtain a job, Alfano said.

The verification of the leadership transcript makes the document official and is something "employers will definitely consider because it sets that prospective employee apart from the rest of the job seekers," Alfano added.

UW sophomore Claire Bartell, who is involved in Alpha Chi Omega sorority and coaches a local high school dance team, said she is eager to use the new student involvement transcript when applying to jobs.

"I am looking forward to using the new transcripts because it will give employers a better understanding of everything I accomplished during college besides my classes," Bartell said.