Standard Name: Scholarship Program Exchange Activity CodesList
Standard ID: NSPA-SPE-ACA-1.0-1
Issued By: NSPA
Version: 1.00d-1 (Initial Release Version)
Obsoletes: --
Obsoleted By: --

Overview

The purpose of the NSPA-SPE-AC code A list is to define and standardize values we can use used to refer unambiguously to activities in the context of scholarship eligibility and applications.

This list contains an “Other” value.

Usage

In the Scholarship NSPA Exchange, an activity is a sport, hobby, a vocation, or similar active pursuit. Contrast with the Interest criteriaList, which indicates an enjoyment of, or passive, spectator role.

This list is hierarchical, which allows scholarship filtering and matching systems to “know” that a student who reports participation in the marching band is also eligible for scholarships that require activity in music, generally. The list also notes common synonyms, which clarifies and expands the definition of each activity.

References

Multiple sources can be consulted to ensure the completeness of this list. While there is not a published standard for what constitutes an activity, the following category lists can be considered logically complete through the careful referencing of other resources. In general, external lists such as Wikipedia’s list of Student Activities are not comprehensive listings and often overlap with other categories that the Exchange seeks to capture differently. Other published extracurricular activities lists seek to highlight how activities should be listed on college applications.

Academic Activities

There is currently not a complete external list of an academic activities. However,

Academic Activities

The NSPA Exchange list of Academic Activities is defined as school-based or education-based pursuits that focus on knowledge and/or skill building. The definition approximates Wikipedia’s definition that an academic activity is “designed to educate students in any scholarly subject matter” can be helpful in constructing and maintaining the NSPA code list. In order to create a logically complete list, the Exchange’s academic activities can be defined as school-based or education-based pursuits that focus on knowledge and/or skill building.

Art

This list of visual and literary arts can be made logically complete by adopting matter,” and Wikipedia’s entries were helpful in suggesting additions beyond those already seen in NSPA member programs.

Art

Art activities include visual and literary creative disciplines. The list is detailed by Wikipedia’s categories of the “major constituents of the arts” subcategories. These categories are still broad enough to have their own associated scholarship programs and to help optimize the function of the hierarchical list. For example, a student who selects “Drawing” as an activity can see scholarships with a drawing activity requirement as well as scholarships related to Art/Visual Arts.

Community Service

This category encompasses a wide variety of activities. Scholarships that include community service requirements often include all types of community service (or include specific Affiliation Entities that can be reflected in that list). It This list is currently best to maintain this maintained as a general category without specific listings unless programs are found that require participation in certain community service activities.

Games

Extensive lists exist This list includes generally non-athletic play and competition such as card games, tabletop/board games, and video games. While there are extensive lists that detail the many games available today. However, only a small number of these games have specific scholarships associated with them. To avoid including many entries that do not have programs associated with them, this list is best maintained on a more categorical or program-by-program basis. For example, broader categories such as Board Games or Video Games will help capture the smaller amount of programs associated with these types of activities.

Hobbies

Due to the very As such, the code list is defined based on program requirements.

Hobbies

A hobby is defined as a leisure activity done for enjoyment. Due to the broad nature of what can be considered a hobby and the likelihood that one’s hobby may be another type of activity or an interest, it is currently best to construct this list is constructed based on programs’ requirements. The small exception to this is the subcategory of collection hobbies. These can primarily be listed exclusively as hobbies and do have some very specific programs associated with them.

Performing Arts

The NSPA Code list can be Performing arts are defined as creative endeavors that are typically put on for an audience. The code list is made logically complete by including the general Performing Arts categories published by Wikipedia. Many of these categories have programs associated with them, and others can help students find other Performing Arts scholarships for which they may be eligible.

Religious Activities

This list is best expanded as programs with specific religious activity requirements are sourced. Many religious scholarships are associated with particular Affiliation Entities instead of activities.

Sports

The current NSPA code list is comprehensive without being overwhelmingly specific. To maintain this level of completeness This list aligns with the dictionary definition that sports are “athletic activit[ies] requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature”. Wikipedia’s very detailed list of sports can be is used a reference. This will help ensure that the NSPA list includes all major sport categories for which scholarships are available.

Work

This could be as broad as the Profession list, so it is currently best captured on a program by program basis and/or on another list (ex. Situation | Employment Detail or Affiliation Entities).

References

The core list of Activities was based on programs offered by NSPA members. External lists were consulted for standardization and to fill in logical gaps. No existing external list was exclusively or completely used. Primary references used include:

Wikipedia, general lists for:
Brown University, list of varsity sports
Prep Scholar, list of high school sports

List of Activity Codes

Activities (Any)Art (Any)

Activity Hierarchy

Category

Subcategory

Activity

Synonym List

Alternate Categorization List

Alternate Display Value

Activity | Academic Activities