Solutions for Reducing Registrar Burnout

March 7, 2022
  • Electronic Records and Document Exchange
  • Webinars
  • corporate
Young student working on a laptop at home.

Sponsored by Parchment

Over the years, higher education institutions worldwide faced a series of complex challenges. From changing traditional practices to new organizational structures, the Registrar's role is anything but routine. Maneuvering these unknowns hasn’t been easy, but alongside the hurdles introduced by a global pandemic, the role of the Registrar evolved.  How stressful are your days? 

 

The Role of the Registrar

Registrars are often known to be the ‘heart’ of an institution and an integral part of the institutional ecosystem, interacting with students at every stage of their academic journey and orchestrating the course details of an institution.

This important role in the operation of institutions covers several areas such as academic and administrative life, the protection of student data (alongside making student data actionable), and supporting student-led pathways.

Registrars are crucial to the success of the school and the student. However, they are consistently confronted with an overload of job demands without corresponding increased resources. These prolonged job stressors over lengthy periods of time coupled with lacking support and time can lead to an increase in stress and burnout.

Registrar Impediments

One of the largest pain points consuming a Registrar’s time is the management of transcripts and diplomas. Printing is also expensive, chewing up a sizable amount of budget spend. According to estimates from The Gartner Group and The Recycler, organizations spend between 1% and 3% of their yearly sales on printing. And what about the percentage of time spent printing? If you had to estimate, would you say 5%, 10%, or more?

Why Digital Diplomas?

Digital diplomas offer many benefits for institutions and students alike. The ability to view and share diplomas online satisfies students’ expectations for digital access and makes awarding these credentials more streamlined for Registrars.

To the current student, digital diplomas are essential. 80% of students surveyed said that they want a digital diploma. The addition of the digital diploma became necessary after COVID when universities and colleges were pushed to expand their definition of the “normal.” However, only 7% of institutions have made the step to meet their student’s expectations.

Digital Outcomes

  • Digital diplomas are extensible, shareable, and easily accessible for Registrars and students alike. 

  • Digital diplomas create resource savings - digital diplomas actually made paper diplomas more efficient.

  • Digital diplomas can be shared over social networks, allowing your graduates to celebrate their achievements with their friends and professional network and highlighting your institution’s brand.

  • Having a diploma (print and diploma) service you can count on removes stressors and allow Registrars to focus on more meaningful work.

  • Digital diplomas are the future of credentialing and allow for expanding the credential beyond today - machine-readable data.

Remedy Registrar Burnout

Universities and colleges can systematically address some of the burnout the Registrar’s Office feels by meeting students’ expectations of a holistic, modern diploma experience. The academic credential earned by a learner plays an integral part in their life, heightening the importance of the role of the Registrar and the need to make diplomas match the work they have put into their degree, and by being easily accessible and shareable. Burnout is real, and Registrars aren’t exempt from being overworked, overwhelmed, or over-stressed.  

Parchment can help turn a cumbersome diploma process into a streamlined, paper + digital workflow for students, alumni, and third-party requests.  By combining printed diplomas with secure digital versions, institutions bridge the gap between the modern student and themselves. 

Are you ready to start the conversation? We’re ready to help. 

Register for our webinar to learn more about strategies for reducing registrar burnout, meeting your students’ expectations, and getting your resources such as time, budget and people back. Wednesday, March 16, 2022 | 2:00-3:00 PM ET

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