by: Ingrid Nuttall, Director of Academic Records, University of Minnesota
AACRAO’s Group VI committee’s focus is on emerging information technology (IT) issues, which is like saying we try and provide program offerings on what everyone uses every single day. IT has evolved from a suite of tools and underlying systems understood by a few in the know, to an ever-present reality (and sometimes bugaboo) for all of us. No matter your position or area of interest, every AACRAO presentation you attend will somehow feature information technology, even if it didn’t originate in Group VI.
So, how does one group focus on an area of interest that crosses so many topics and boundaries?
This year, Group VI took a hard look at this question. One of the keys to providing a meaningful annual meeting experience for AACRAO members is to focus on how information technology can help solve problems with creative solutions. At AACRAO’s 2015 Annual Meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to attend a variety of presentations that demystify data and share how you can aggregate information from a variety of systems to provide a powerful decision-making resource. You’ll hear how staff can more effectively serve your community by using the tools they already have around them. And, you’ll learn about the importance of having a “seat at the IT governance table” at your institution.
Also new at AACRAO this year will be increased visibility of poster presentations (a few were featured at last year’s conference). You’ll have a chance to spend some time looking, thinking, and discussing case studies and innovative strategies featured in a different format than our in-person sessions. These won’t all be focused on information technology, but a few will be.
This year, we have tried to turn the lense of information technology towards what is new and innovative, despite our ever-increasing reliance on IT. Between now and the conference, stay tuned to Connect and other AACRAO publications for trends in this and other areas of interest. And as always, make sure to give us feedback on what you’d expect to see at the Annual Meeting.
And, please -- join us at next year's AACRAO Annual Meeting in Baltimore -- April 12-15, 2015.