Advice requested: how should we record non-academic activity credits?

Brian Gray

I'm looking for advice on how best to record a student's completion of non-academic activity credits. Our Athletics/Physical Education department is revising their graduation requirements. A student who enters the Upper School in 9th grade must participate in an approved activity during 6 of the 12 terms before graduation. (3 terms in each of 4 years). A student might earn a credit by participating in a team sport for a season, or by participating in various other groups.


We want a record of the completed activity on the report card and on the transcript. There will be no assignments. It's a credit/no-credit proposition. If a student chooses to not participate in an activity one term, we want nothing on the report card or transcript. If the student completes the requirement for the activity, the report card and transcript will have some notation ("CR", etc). The credit will not have any effect on GPA or honor roll. Attendance is not a consideration, because each activity will have different schedules and expectations from day to day and week to week.


What are your thoughts? What are the advantages of using a course in Academics vs. an Activity? (For that matter...can we do this with an Activity in the first place?)

Kate Warner

Hi Brian,

We have the same requirement for our students, and my understanding is that athletics need to be created as an academic class in order for the credits to appear on transcripts. https://kb.blackbaud.com/knowledgebase/articles/Article/24004

I hope that the ability to display athletic grades/credits will be added in the future. I currently have to create all teams in both athletics and academics. I'd love for someone to tell me I don't need to do this!

Jean Oliwa

We also have this situation. We create team participation classes. I agree It sure would be nice if the athletic rosters pulled over for transcripts/report cards. ?

Brian Gray

Kate - Thanks for the link to the KB article. That's what I was looking for (although not what I was hoping to find).

Susan Kurlinski

@Kate Warner
Hi Kate, we only create our sports classes in Athletics, but are able to display these classes on our transcripts with credit. Perhaps this is a new enhancement? We just started using Blackbaud this year. When you create the transcript template, make sure to select Athletics as one of the options to appear on the transcript and also select the seasons to show up: