Dear Readers,
"Structure," from the Latin "structura" meaning "a fitting together," names a significant function in higher education administration. We hold together complex academic ecosystems—maintaining physical and virtual spaces, building incoming classes, scheduling courses and rooms, counseling students and families, supporting faculty grading and learner degree progress to completion, and developing dedicated staff—within and around the confines of policies and rules. "Rule" derives from the Latin "regula," meaning a straight edge or ruler—to guide or straighten out.
Enrollment professionals create and reiterate processes that strive for growth, fairness, and order, even as external forces test their stability. The irony is bittersweet—we're tasked with constructing and advocating for protective boundaries for our communities while dismantling barriers to educational access—whether the rules and regulatory structures work for or against us. This work can feel like a constant uphill battle.
Still, our stories in this issue are unrelenting: voicing concerns on new regulations for distance education, deciding when to grant or refuse access to records, negotiating compliance deadlines, and serving neglected and seemingly invisible populations. We also find ways to care for ourselves and each other, gather for our professional development, and expand our knowledge base, while constantly balancing these competing demands. As guardians of academic records and educational infrastructure, we are charged with creating, reiterating, and advocating for rules that enable learning and preserve integrity. Our communities rely on our structured yet fluid practices for transformative educational experiences.
With appreciation,
Autumn Walden
Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
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