Every registrar’s office has a series of functions they perform as part of their regular business. Sometimes these functions are well thought out and run smoothly every time. Other times there are things we do that are cobbled together and have steps that accrue over time and no one is really sure why we’re doing what we’re doing. If you’ve ever wa…

Working with vendors is a fact of life for registrars and admissions officers. But a lot of us might feel reluctant to engage with vendors at a conference. If that’s you, this episode is a must listen! Vendors are there to support the organization (either AACRAO or your state and regional) as they provide important services to our industry, and the…

In a wide-ranging discussion about grades and grading, Dr. Joshua Eyler discusses how grades are harming our learners and what we can do to help minimize that harm. We talk about the history of grades and how the current interval letter grade system came to prominence, the stress that grades cause students and the way that stress is exacerbating th…

The work of the registrar is cyclical and complex. Dependencies abound between and among systems and offices. How do you keep track of all of the tasks required to make everything run smoothly in your office and on your campus? Use a production calendar. In this episode we’ll talk about what a production calendar is, how to use one, its relationshi…

Have you ever wondered if the things you’re focused on at work are the right things? Do your teams understand how the work they do fits into the office’s larger goals, or the institution’s? Engaging in strategic planning can help with both of those questions, but it’s always seemed a little daunting. In this episode we talk to Dani Ambrose and Dr. …

Change is a constant occurrence in a registrar’s world, but it does seem that the amount and rate of change has increased. Responding to change and managing through it are skills that we all employ, but could all improve. In this episode, we talk to members of the registrar’s office from Middle Tennessee State University about recent changes their …

Degree audits are somewhat of a technological marvel. In the first episode of season 7, we explore what a degree audit is, what it does, and ways that institutions can (and should) be using the data degree audits provide in order to make their students’ lives (and their own) easier. Along the way we talk about curriculum development, the Catalog an…

US higher education continues to experience challenges, and sometimes those challenges lead to institutions closing. In this episode we revisit the topic of institutional closure from the lens of the receiving institution. Guests Jackie DeMolee and Hannah Rounds talk about the University of Iowa’s role as the closed institutions’ records repository…

This is an episode of love and gratitude from University Registrar and For the Record Co-Host Sarah Reed, with love to the listeners. Sarah Reed is stepping away from co-hosting For the Record and is sharing her reflections about how she stumbled into podcasting, the journey of podcasting, her thoughts about and processing this change of stepping a…

Inspired by a session at the Convergence conference co-sponsored by AACRAO and UPCEA, this episode delves into questions of trust in the digital credentials higher education is moving quickly toward–and is in fact already awarding in droves. The Trusted Learner Network (TLN) is the focus of the conversation and ways that the TLN is designed to tack…

Another episode recorded at the Convergence conference co-hosted by UPCEA and AACRAO focusing on credential innovation. Microcredentials have popped up in many places, but what about at a research-intensive institution? This episode explores the ways that Rutgers University went about discerning the best path forward with microcredentials. Chris Re…

This episode explores the life path and journey of a registrar- beyond the individual career changes- to learn more about what has inspired these changes, and upon a lived life thus far. We take time today to reflect, pause, process, and learn. Scott has spent 47 years working in higher education, including positions in development, admissions, fin…

Recording live from the inaugural Convergence conference in Washington, DC, co-hosted by UPCEA and AACRAO! Convergence brings together higher education professionals to discuss credential innovation. #Credovation! In this episode, Bob Hansen, CEO of UPCEA, shares the impetus for the Convergence conference, reflects on the state of credentials in hi…

Academic Scheduling is an incredibly complicated part of the registrar’s responsibilities. There are multiple moving parts with competing interests often vying for a limited set of physical resources. Managing this process well is critical to successfully supporting your students through their academic journeys. Jessica Lansing and Ashley DeSantis,…

The 2023 conversation continues and concludes. UC Berkeley's University Registrar and For the Record Co-Host, Sarah Reed, interviews colleagues at the 2023 AACRAO Annual Meeting about what resonates personally and professionally for them in this multi-part series. Sarah was inspired by the 108th Annual Conference Opening Plenary Speaker, BD Wong, a…

The conversation continues. UC Berkeley's University Registrar and For the Record Co-Host, Sarah Reed, interviews colleagues at the 2023 AACRAO Annual Meeting about what resonates personally and professionally for them in this multi-part series. Sarah was inspired by the 108th Annual Conference Opening Plenary Speaker, BD Wong, and the vulnerabilit…

Back at it again, UC Berkeley's University Registrar and For the Record Co-Host, Sarah Reed, interviews colleagues at the 2023 AACRAO Annual Meeting about what resonates personally and professionally for them in this multi-part series. Sarah was inspired by the 108th Annual Conference Opening Plenary Speaker, BD Wong, and the vulnerability and stre…

AACRAO’s Hill Day is an opportunity for members to become advocates in the halls of power in the United States capitol complex. Hill Day is a way for members to increase their awareness of AACRAO’s legislative agenda, help communicate that agenda to members of congress, and develop the skills necessary to increase their advocacy efforts from local …

Making the jump from associate to registrar, especially if it involves moving from one institution to another, can be an exciting and challenging time. In this episode we hear from two registrars about their experience with that transition: what were the highs, the lows, the pain points, and how they navigated those situations. Lots of nuggets of w…

Increasingly, the work of the registrar relies on technology. Having a vibrant and positive working relationship with your Information Technology (IT) services division–whatever it’s called at your institution!--is vital to working efficiently and effectively. In this episode we talk to two IT leaders about the way their divisions run, what makes t…

Post-secondary institutions in the United States are many and varied. Medical schools, in particular, pose specific and unique challenges for administrators. In this episode, we talk to two medical school registrars about the ways their work differs from and aligns with the work of a non-medical school registrar. Learn about the different accrediti…

Portia LaMarr (HEARD co-host), Loida Utley (Transfer Tea), and Sarah Reed (For the Record co-host) took a moment at the AACRAO Annual Meeting to record this cross-podcast conversation. Hear them talk about opportunities for connection between professions (e.g., financial aid, registrar, and admissions); where they feel seen (and where they haven’t)…

Adrienne Bricker and Jennifer Love return to the podcast to discuss the work of the AACRAO Mentorship Working Group, to talk about their research and the process of being involved in a working group, along with some of their experiences with mentoring. Plus we talk about breakfast food. Key Takeaways: The AACRAO working group on mentoring examined …

The world is facing many challenging situations that require strong leadership. Even if you aren’t in a “leadership position,” you can be a leader. Transformational leaders are those who empower and enable those around them to achieve their highest potential. In doing so, their teams thrive. In this episode, we hear from Bianca Thompson-Owen as she…

What is it like to be the first person in your family to be the first of everything? The first to attend college, the first to earn multiple advanced degrees, the first to be elected president of a regional professional association? In this episode Dr. Soraira Urquiza talks about her higher education and career journeys, highlighting the specific c…

Law Registrars are registrars, it’s right there in their title! But how much do you really know about the differences between the range and scope of responsibilities of a Law Registrar as compared to a University Registrar. In this episode, we talk to three individuals about their experiences working in a Law Registrar’s Office, identify and discus…

Did you know that what we consider the “standard” letter grade system is a relatively recent phenomenon in US higher education? The history of grades and grading schemes is a long and circuitous tale that illustrates how higher education has evolved over time. From the first categorization of student learning in 1785 at Yale to the first letter gra…

We are seeing an increase in the frequency and strength of major weather events, or emergencies caused by weather events: Hurricanes, snow storms, wildfires, etc. In this episode, we use the backdrop of Hurricane Ian to discuss preparedness for weather emergencies on campus. Key Takeaways: A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is a critical docume…

Improving the transfer experience for students is a high priority for a lot of institutions, and nationally making transfer better is a huge conversation. In this episode, we hear from a faculty member from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Lauren Schudde, who has conducted research on the transfer process from a 2-year institution to a 4-year…

In this episode, three women share their experiences with supporting and being supported by other women and what that support has meant for their careers and themselves personally. In a lively conversation, we discuss ways that allies can and should provide support, as well. Sara Sullivan, Becky Keogh, and Beth Warner talk about dealing with slight…

The modern registrar’s office moves readily from one project to the next in our work to support student success and provide outstanding service to the university community. Employing best practices from a project management framework can go a long way to making those projects run more smoothly, efficiently, and more successfully. Rita Peaster and A…

The AACRAO community was shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our friend and colleague, Tina Falkner at the end of March, 2022. She was such an incredible presence within AACRAO and state and regional associations, who was incredibly generous with her time, energy, and expertise. Collected here are but a sampling of the testimonials…

Recording at the Portland Convention Center as part of the 107th AACRAO Annual Meeting afforded an opportunity for people to share some thoughts and reflections on their careers, what they find surprising about working in a registrar’s office, and how the AACRAO community has affected them. In this episode, participants of the Registrar 101 and FER…

Recording at the Portland Convention Center as part of the 107th AACRAO Annual Meeting afforded an opportunity for people to share some thoughts and reflections on their careers, what brought them to this particular place, and how the AACRAO community has affected them. Sarah Reed, Registrar at UC Hastings College of the Law serves as guest host fo…

Recording at the Portland Convention Center as part of the 107th AACRAO Annual Meeting afforded an opportunity for people to share some thoughts and reflections on their careers, what brought them to this particular place, and how the AACRAO community has affected them. Sarah Reed, Registrar at UC Hastings College of the Law serves as guest host fo…

There is a growing movement in higher education to identify ways to offer more accessible learning for our students and for members of our communities. Microcredentials have the potential to fill that need. Whether for credit or not, course-based or not, transcripted or not, a microcredential can be used to represent a specific learning objective o…

Imposter Phenomenon was first identified and written about by two female clinical psychologists in 1978. Sometimes referred to as “imposter syndrome,” it describes feelings of inadequacy or fear of being “found out” and is estimated to affect upwards of 70% of professionals, both women and men. In this episode, we talk to a friend and former collea…

The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is not just the sponsor of this podcast. It’s also a vibrant professional association with full-time staff dedicated to advancing the work of records and admissions offices in higher education. In this episode, we hear from Interim Executive Director Melanie Gottlieb…

There are many different types of institutions of higher education in the United States, and making a shift from a small institution to a large institution can feel daunting or even overwhelming. Four registrars who have made that shift at least once (or more) in their career share their insights on that experience along with what they learned at t…

At the AACRAO SEM Conference in Miami, Florida, I had the opportunity to present the Registrar 101 and FERPA workshop with Heather Abbott from Yale Law School and LeRoy Rooker from AACRAO. The two-day workshop covers a broad range of registrar functions, responsibilities, and roles. And of course, so much FERPA info. I was able to convince some of …

Increased stressors on institutions of higher education in the United States have resulted in the closing or merging of some those institutions. Even prior to the pandemic, institutions were facing reduced state funding, a challenging recruiting environment, and renewed scrutiny about the value of a post-secondary education. AACRAO has recently pub…

The delta variant of COVID-19 has spurred changes to the fall 2021 return-to-campus plans for many institutions. In this special call-in episode, AACRAO members share the approach their institution is taking, answering the following questions: Who are you, where are you from, and how many students are enrolled at your institution? Is your instituti…

Community colleges play a vital role in the higher education ecosystem. With more than 6.8 million students enrolled in for-credit classes, four-year institutions can and should be partnering with community colleges to help students succeed in achieving their educational goals. In this episode we talk to Barbara Hopkins and Jen Nelson, both of Nort…

Description: Most people don’t give the academic calendar a second thought...those people are not registrars. The way the academic year has been structured has changed over time, and will likely continue to change. Registrars will remain front and center in the management of the academic calendar. In this episode we dive into the history of the var…

With a significant number of registrars eligible to retire within the next ten years, mentoring the next generation of higher education registrars and admissions officers is critical. Adrienne Bricker and Jennifer Love join us to discuss the work of the AACRAO Mentorship Working Group, and to talk about their research and experiences with mentoring…

What is a learning organization and how do I know if I’m in one? In this episode of For the Record we talk with Erin Mason of UConn (and soon to be Ball State) about the characteristics of learning organizations and how you can implement them in your own institution. Is your office devoted to transparency, the creation of shared meaning-making, the…

For the Record – Season 3 Episode 13- Connect, Educate, and Advocate with the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus Episode Notes Description: With the recent significant rise in racist rhetoric and violence against Asian Americans, members of our community are experiencing fear, anger, and anxiety. In this episode of For the Record, we talk t…

Registrars regularly oversee the practice of how credits are recorded in the academic record and how these credits apply towards educational credentials. Registrars are also often at the forefront of helping to shape the institutional policies related to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Listen as Becky Klein-Collins of the Council for Adult and Exp…

Financial Aid is a critical student service office that relies heavily on the student data stewarded by the Registrar’s Office. Many of the things we do in the registrar’s office affect the work of financial aid counselors. Understanding what the flow of the financial aid cycle is, and how the work of the registrar fits into it, can make a big diff…

In a conversation with two members of the AACRAO Black Caucus, this episode focuses on the practical applications and implications of equity and inclusion work. Along the way we talk about the work of the Black Caucus (and caucuses in general), ways the pandemic has challenged registrar’s offices and students alike, and ways that you can begin to e…