Records & Academic Services

AACRAO Annual Meeting

The AACRAO Annual Meeting is an opportunity to learn, network, and advance higher education. Professionals from a variety of higher education disciplines gather together at AACRAO's Annual Meeting to engage and discuss the ever-changing landscape of higher ed.

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Online Courses


Guidance & Recommendations

Guidance on the Review of the Comprehensive Learner Records (CLR) Standard from IMS Global

Released in 2020 to provide guidance on the standardization of CLRs for transmission to employers or other higher education institutions or licensing agencies.

CAS Standards for Registrar Services

Released in 2020, The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) revised standards, delineated expectations for practitioners and educators in related functional areas, and updated to the standards published in the 2019 edition.

Student Identity

Released in 2019, to provide guidance for AACRAO members and their institutions on serving transgender students and students who wish to update their gender marker, change their legal name, use a chosen name, or designate a pronoun.

Transcript Disciplinary Notations: Guidance to AACRAO Members

Released in 2017 in response to growing interest from AACRAO members, new and proposed state legislation, and the increasing public accountability of colleges and universities.
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Your policy and industry news

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Your professional development news
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SEM Conference - Academic Affairs and the Financial Aid Office: Essential Collaboration

Nov 15, 2022

See how one institution utilized cross-campus collaboration to ensure success for its SEM planning and development.

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Alternative Credentials: Considerations, Guidance, and Best Practices

Jul 12, 2022

Download the latest report from the Alternative Credentials Workgroup featuring guidance, best practices, and considerations.

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Setting the Stage to Empower Learners through Blockchain

Jan 10, 2022

Learn how Scribbles Software enables institutions to utilize blockchain for electronic student records and transcripts.

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Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) Phase II Report Is Out Now

Jun 28, 2021

Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) Phase II Report is out now and available for download.

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Comprehensive Learner Record to the Rescue! Transforming Student Learning to Skills

Jun 1, 2021

The Comprehensive Learner Record doesn't just verify student learning - it can prepare them for the workforce too.

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To Badge or Not to Badge: A Micro-Credentialing Conversation

Mar 8, 2021

Benefits of Micro-credentialing for institutions, learners, and employers.

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AACRAO Podcast For the Record - Discusses PLA and CBE in Higher Learning Institutions

Mar 8, 2021

Understanding Prior Learning Assessment and Competency Based Education in Higher Learning Institutions.

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Revisiting AACRAO’s Academic Record and Transcript Guide

Jan 25, 2021

Recommendations for name changes, disciplinary action notations, and transcription of nontraditional work.

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AACRAO hosts final showcase on Comprehensive Learner Records

Jan 11, 2021

Join the free virtual event: January 26 and 27.

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MyCreds: Canadian registrar association launches national credential wallet

Dec 13, 2020

Helping universities deliver bilingual digitized and portable transcripts and credentials.

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Ask the FERPA Professor

Nov 29, 2020

Are faculty virtual open office hours a violation of FERPA?

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AACRAO & CollegeSource partner to create a searchable institutional policy database

Nov 13, 2020

A resource for referencing norms and benchmarks.

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Questions about compliance and distance learning?

Nov 13, 2020

Get clarification with webinars with the Department of Education and NC-SARA.

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Registrars: 2020 superheroes

Nov 13, 2020

6 important roles and recommendations to protect and defend higher ed.

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Report & webinar: Best practices for closing and merging schools

Nov 12, 2020

Over the past five years more than 1,200 higher education institutions have closed, displacing nearly half a million students.

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Registrars as storytellers

Aug 24, 2020

Building a narrative helps people understand and engage complex issues.

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The technification of the registrar's office

Aug 24, 2020

Addressing staffing and structural questions to meet changing demands.

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2020 Census & student privacy: What you need to know

Jul 13, 2020

Has your institution done its part to assist the U.S. Census Bureau in the collection and distribution of student information?

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Managing classroom space this fall

Jul 13, 2020

Start with a "living inventory" and establish clear utilization priorities.

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Enhancing degree audit: What the "new normal" should look like

Jul 11, 2020

Expect more from your system.

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New CLR Roundtable series kicks off

Jul 9, 2020

An open monthly forum for institutional leaders to discuss and get advice on implementing a comprehensive learner record.

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Ask the FERPA Professor

Jun 30, 2020

Video-recording students to prevent cheating: an education record?

In hindsight: Seasoned registrars reflect on 4 things they wish they'd learned earlier

Jun 26, 2020

Getting the fundamentals down.

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Rethinking the fall academic calendar

Jun 15, 2020

With fall in flux, learn how to handle academic and course calendar changes and communication challenges.

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What, exactly, does a registrar do?

Jun 1, 2020

A primer on the ten (million) roles of a registrar.

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Ensuring the Registrar's voice is heard

May 29, 2020

Collaboration, multiculturalism, and more. An interview with Mary Callahan.

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Returning to campus: When, whether, how?

May 18, 2020

4 institutions address decision-making around instructional delivery for fall.

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Providing simple, secure, and efficient transcript services during COVID-19

Apr 20, 2020

COVID-19 is accelerating shift to electronic transcripts. Learn more and join this Friday's webinar.

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Transcript practice resources: Name changes, disciplinary actions, and more

Apr 6, 2020

Guidance from the updated Academic Record and Transcript Guide.

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AACRAO Coffee Break: Academic Policy in Crisis Situations

Mar 30, 2020

AACRAO Coffee Breaks are webinars held weekly, Fridays at 2 PM (ET).

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Pivot!: Registrars’ tight maneuvers in the face of COVID-19

Mar 23, 2020

There will be no 'return to normal' after this. Could that be good for higher ed?

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What about commencement?

Mar 21, 2020

Survey results of college and university registrars in the face of COVID-19, and a request for more information.

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What our students can teach us about social justice

Feb 24, 2020

Generation Z is socially conscious. Higher ed has a responsibility to respond.

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Field Notes: The registrar's emerging role in data governance

Feb 24, 2020

Registrars are located at many intersections, positioning them to make a major contribution.

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Webinar: Help more students find the right classes

Feb 11, 2020

Increase student persistence with streamlined planning & registration.

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Become a better leader

Feb 10, 2020

5 pillars of excellent leadership, regardless of your status or style.

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Revised standards released for Registrar Services

Jan 14, 2020

This 2019 revision of the Registrar Services standards is the the first in over a decade.

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A portal for higher education institutional policy

Dec 17, 2019

AACRAO and CollegeSource partner on Campus Policy Repository.

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Bridging the technology gap in the Registrar’s Office

Dec 2, 2019

Keeping up with the technification of student services.

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Lessons learned: Two states’ electronic data exchange initiatives

Dec 2, 2019

Whether a state initiative or a grassroots initiative, EDX is coming.

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The other reason students want Comprehensive Learner Records

Nov 18, 2019

Webinar: Discover student-centric approaches to CLRs, like creating a clearer path to degree.

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Field Notes: 4 tips for prioritizing with limited resources

Oct 7, 2019

Valuable insight into resource allocation and communicating with leadership to make the most of a tight budget.

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Reimagining degree progression

Sep 22, 2019

Structural barriers can slow down or even halt degree progression. Registrars have a crucial role to play.

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Groningen Declaration Meeting 2020: Call for Proposals open

Aug 13, 2019

Welcoming proposals on credential evaluation and recognition, SIS development, and more.

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The possibilities of partnership

Aug 12, 2019

When the Registrar and Institutional Research cooperate, the sky’s the limit.

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Rethink data: Disrupt your analytics

Aug 12, 2019

If you could answer any question, what would you ask?

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Field Notes: Crisis communication on campus

Aug 12, 2019

Whether it’s a campus shooting or a natural disaster, effective communication can literally mean life or death.

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How the registrar is integral to institutional reporting

Jun 20, 2019

Online data reports (a.k.a. “fact books”) can provide insight and visualizations across campus/es for analysis and research.

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How a Registrar’s Office review can benefit your institution

Jun 11, 2019

The value of a different perspective.

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How technology tools helped increase collaboration in the Registrar’s office

Apr 26, 2019

Implementing a new SIS helped one university identify and break down silos.

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Athletic eligibility: Certification best practices

Apr 15, 2019

While the Office of the Registrar might have the responsibility of certifying Athletic Eligibility, it is a collaborative effort that campus partners share.

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FERPA and Digital Education

Apr 15, 2019

FERPA is "technology-neutral" so long as disclosures are FERPA-compliant. What are some best practices?

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2019 Groningen Declaration Network Annual Meeting to be held in Puebla, Mexico, in April

Mar 18, 2019

Registration is open for the conference, which is focused on "Constructing the Global Digital Credentialing Ecosystem."

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Join the national conversation: The Learner Record Index

Mar 18, 2019

A conversation on why a national LRI is critical for supporting higher education today and in the future.

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Registrar 201 revamped for AACRAO 2019

Mar 5, 2019

Registrar 201 now uses a case study and discussion method based on “Ted Talks."

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Registrars: Solving university crises (since at least 1910)

Feb 19, 2019

How the role evolved alongside the student record. Plus, what the Violent Femmes have to say about it.

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Ask the FERPA Professor

Feb 18, 2019

A question about date of birth as directory information.

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AACRAO members appointed to CAS Registrar Standards Committee

Feb 4, 2019

In addition to revising the standards and possibly aligning them more closely to AACRAO’s Core Competencies and Proficiencies, the Committee will be updating the Contextual Statement for Registrar Programs and Services.

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Blockchain: The perfect tool for registrars

Jan 7, 2019

The case for adoption that even non-technical staff can understand.

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AACRAO invited to join Data Privacy and Protection Task Force

Jan 7, 2019

The task force ​spans will serve as an information clearinghouse for the education community, focused on technical implementation of rules and regulations such as GDPR.

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Ask the FERPA Professor

Oct 29, 2018

4 common violations to watch out for.

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Tracking transfer trends

Oct 29, 2018

The National Student Clearinghouse 2018 report on transfer and mobility examines transfer pathways and enrollment patterns, including analysis by race and ethnicity.

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Field Notes: ‘If’ and ‘when’ to amend academic records

Oct 26, 2018

4 guidelines for registrars

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Ask the FERPA Professor

Oct 2, 2018

Can student ID be part of directory information?

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A moral imperative: Why and how universities can support vulnerable and displaced student populations

Oct 1, 2018

Academically defensible strategies for admitting students without normal documentation.

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How Georgia State has increased graduation rates and eliminated achievement gaps

Oct 1, 2018

Leveraging data and analytics, GSU now awards more bachelor’s degrees to African Americans than any other college in the nation.

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How to "registrar" right

Sep 2, 2018

AACRAO On The Road's rogue REG101 cohort makes up their own verbs.

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Do you like to teach? New faculty opportunities for AACRAO's REG101 and REG201 Training

Sep 2, 2018

Application deadline December 1st.

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How much does the switch to electronic transcripts cost?

Aug 20, 2018

Cost-benefit analysis of paper and electronic transcripts.

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An open concept for electronic credentials

Aug 3, 2018

Creating socially shareable artifacts that students can use to promote themselves, with an added benefit of raising the university profile on social platforms like LinkedIn.

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5 policy areas where the registrar’s voice should be heard

Jul 23, 2018

The registrar has a critical role in academic policy writing.

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4 questions about data integration on campus

Jul 20, 2018

Challenges and solutions to creating better records from multiple data sources.

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MyPlan@Iowa

Jul 20, 2018

The self-initiated academic planning and advising tool includes a schedule builder, sample plans, an off-track alert system and "what if" scenarios.

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Registrars: Refereeing the Demigods & reaching campus goals through data viz

Jul 10, 2018

How registrars reduced their workload and increased transparency and compliance using free tech tools.

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Is this the end of the Registrar as we know it?

Jul 9, 2018

"Technology can turn the registrar into an invisible entity on campus Will the registrar disappear?”

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Keeping between the Lines: Exploring the Good Governance of Data Integration

Jul 9, 2018

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A hitchhiker’s guide to Web 3.0 for higher ed

Jul 2, 2018

These fancy technologies (semantic web, AI, and blockchain) will solve some of your institution’s problems, but bring problems of their own.

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Field Notes: Visions, missions, and strategic plans 101

Jun 18, 2018

Making a Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Strategic Plan that the whole office can rally behind.

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Field Notes: Clues to assessment: Solving the crime of just a check box activity

May 21, 2018

Program and service assessment is part of our world. Here are 11 ways to do it better.

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5 findings on colleges & universities' readiness for the GDPR

May 7, 2018

Top issues ahead of the May 25th implementation of Europe's new privacy regulation.

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Does your data have a purpose?

May 7, 2018

Negotiating the what, how, and why of one of your institution’s most valuable assets.

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Registrar 201 revamped

Apr 24, 2018

The new format used case studies and discussion to analyze actual situations in which records and registration professionals find themselves.

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Field Notes: Are your staff professionally competent?

Apr 19, 2018

A guide to assessing and building proficiency through mentorship, training, and promotion.

Using data analytics to track non-traditional students

Mar 27, 2018

Identifying at-risk students in online courses.

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Registrar 201 revamped to help experienced registrars build their skills

Feb 26, 2018

The popular workshop now uses case analysis and TED Talks-style presentations.

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Is it armageddon?

Jan 30, 2018

How major technological and social shifts are fundamentally changing the registrar profession.

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Influencing policy making

Jan 29, 2018

How registrars can advocate for equitable policy for all students.

Field Notes: Reflections from an (almost) mid-career Registrar

Jan 16, 2018

Don't burn out: unplug, connect with colleagues, and work in your strength.

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4 "soft" New Year's resolutions for higher education professionals

Jan 15, 2018

Realize your potential in 2018.

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Field Notes: "It's all about the student": Reconsidering an axiom

Dec 12, 2017

10 tips to move from posturing to praxis

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Maintaining student records

Jun 13, 2017

Who does what? The importance of policy documentation

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It isn't easy being a Registrar

Jun 13, 2017

Defining the indefinable role.

Indiana University's collaborative effort to pre-register new and transfer students

Nov 15, 2016

A pilot project to

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AACRAO explores gender identity issues

Nov 1, 2016

Call for volunteers for the Student Identity Work Group.

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Preferred name: a reflection of campus culture at the University of Minnesota, Morris

Oct 31, 2016

Missteps, action and progress.

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The world of certified electronic diplomas

Jul 12, 2016

Stanford explores the benefits of digital credentials.

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Can students search for courses like they shop online?

Jun 27, 2016

There's an app for that.

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10 questions to consider to help prevent breaches in student record security

Feb 9, 2016

Employee security is crucial to protecting student records.

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Supporting Syrian refugee access to U.S. higher education

Jan 27, 2016

Context, best practices and resources.

So, what does a registrar do?

Sep 23, 2014

If only there was an easy answer.

Are you making the most of your document management system?

Oct 29, 2013

A document management system can improve your business process--if you use it right.

MOOCs and traditional higher ed: Enemies or allies?

Aug 27, 2013

UK Student Record Innovations: US-Style GPA and Electronic Documentation

Aug 27, 2013

Live from the Annual Meeting: Registrar 201; IPEDS; The new role of the registrar

Aug 26, 2013