By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
Attendees who braved the early hour on Monday morning were rewarded with a deep and energizing dive into the evolving world of compliance, academic program integrity, and Title IV financial aid regulations. The plenary session featured four expert panelists representing financial aid, registrars, and academic compliance, each offering valuable insights on navigating federal regulations through collaboration, communication, and a proactive mindset.
The panel, moderated by Cheryl Dowd, Senior Director of the State Authorization Network and WCET Policy Innovations, included:
Sarah Austin, Policy Analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
Erika Swain, Assistant Director of Academic Compliance and Authorization, University of Colorado Boulder
Kristi Wold-McCormick, Assistant Vice Provost & University Registrar, University of Colorado Boulder, and President of AACRAO’s Board of Directors
Setting the Stage: Compliance in a New Political Era
The session began with context on recent political shifts, including the confirmation of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education and an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Dowd emphasized that while structural changes may be on the horizon, the current rules remain in effect. “The rule is the rule until it’s not the rule,” she reminded the audience—a mantra repeated throughout the session.
The regulatory landscape continues to be shaped by 15 years of rulemaking related to academic program integrity, institutional engagement, and distance education. Dowd stressed that even amid potential agency changes, institutions must remain vigilant and student-centered in their compliance efforts.
From Silos to Synergy: Building Collaborative Compliance Models
A central theme of the session was the need for cross-departmental collaboration to manage compliance holistically. Swain and Wold-McCormick shared how their teams at the University of Colorado, Boulder, developed integrated workflows involving financial aid, the registrar’s office, academic units, and distance education. Their curriculum management system includes checkpoints for compliance review, ensuring that distance education delivery and state authorization issues are addressed proactively.
Austin reinforced this message from the financial aid perspective, highlighting how communication breakdowns often occur when departments don’t realize how their decisions affect others.
She also advocated cross-training across offices to foster mutual understanding, suggesting shared staff meetings, retreats, and inviting colleagues to speak at department meetings.
Memorable Moments
While the session was rich in detail, it offered a few light-hearted but impactful takeaways. Wold-McCormick affectionately referred to institutional silos as “cylinders of excellence,” a phrase that resonated with attendees as a more optimistic take on traditionally disconnected departments.
Swain drew laughs—and nods of recognition—when she described herself as “the Oompa Loompa of higher education,” referencing the characters from Willy Wonka who pop up when something goes wrong. “I show up, sing a song, and say, ‘I told you not to do that.’”
Lessons from the Audience: Practitioner Problem Solving in Action
Audience members enriched the conversation by sharing grassroots strategies that are already making an impact on their campuses. Representatives from institutions like Stetson University and Michigan State University described cross-functional working groups that align calendars, policies, and compliance communication—one named “FAARB” (Financial Aid, Advising, Registrar, and Bursar).
These examples showcased how formalized, recurring departmental meetings can prevent missteps and build institutional memory.
Others offered advice for building a culture of compliance. One attendee described efforts to change the perception of compliance from a burdensome checklist to a student-centered responsibility that protects institutional integrity and educational quality.
Parting Advice: Don’t Go It Alone
Panelists urged attendees to seek out their compliance counterparts on campus. Swain encouraged everyone to open the Whova conference app and find their person or people. Collaboration and trust are the foundation of sustainable compliance.
In a time of uncertainty and change, the plenary delivered a clear message: regulatory compliance is a shared responsibility, and institutions are strongest when they work together—across all those “cylinders of excellence.”