“What are my responsibilities as a registrar?” If you are new to the profession, this question has certainly crossed your mind. In broad terms, higher education administrators who work in the registrar’s office maintain student and course records. Although specific responsibilities vary between institutions, registrars typically do the following:
- Schedule and register students for classes
- Schedule space and times for classes
- Ensure that students meet graduation requirements
- Plan commencement ceremonies
- Process grades and prepare transcripts and diplomas for students
- Produce data about students and classes
- Maintain the academic records of the institution
- Ensure student data privacy requirements are met.
Nuts and Bolts of the Registrar’s Toolkit
New registrars must understand the skills needed to be successful, and to understand the mission of the registrar’s office and the larger role the office plays within the school’s academic community. AACRAO’s Registrar 101 & FERPA Workshop provides the framework for discussing/learning the fundamentals of the work of the registrar’s office, and presenters and participants discuss the “nuts and bolts” of the profession; the evolving role of the registrar’s office in management, customer service, and technology application; the registrar as a change agent; and how FERPA is applied to daily operations.
Registrar 101 & FERPA is intended for members of the profession who have been in registrar or registrar-related positions for less than three years. The workshop also provides upper-level administrators with a better understanding of their supervisory role.
Note: The Registrar 101/FERPA workshop is a two-day event [November 2 & 3 at The Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida]. Although the dates overlap and the workshop is held at the same hotel, this is a separate event from AACRAO's Strategic Enrollment Management Conference. Separate registration and fees apply.