By Richard Levin, Retired University Registrar, University of Toronto and Assistant Consultant, AACRAO Consulting
We all have stories from our careers, some funny, some poignant, things that stand out from our daily work lives. As I prepared to retire this year, I thought about some of the stories that are not so clear in my memory now, with details that have faded over the years. I am sure there are some that I have forgotten completely and others that have been colored by current experiences and perceptions.
In my first weeks as a registrar, I was asked to organize a special convocation for a well-known figure who was receiving an honorary degree. This was a highly visible event and very important to our president. When I received the proof for the invitation, I saw that the name of the building in which the ceremony was to be held had not been updated to reflect a recent change. I reviewed the rest of the invitation and, proud of myself for finding that error, I sent the corrected proof back. The printer then sent a final proof; I made sure that my change had been incorporated and signed it off. However, I did not realize that the printer decided, between these two proofs, that we had made an error and, instead of reading “The President and Senate of the University invite you….,” they had unilaterally changed it to read “The President and Senator of the University invite you….” Because I failed to re-read the rest of the proof, the invitations went out with this error. I’m not sure how close I came to being an ex-registrar as a result, but I certainly had some trust to rebuild.
A bit later on, a student called me in a panic. She had had an argument with her boyfriend and in a moment of rage withdrew him from all of his courses; he had shared his password and student number with her. At almost the same time, the young man was in our financial aid office, trying to get his financial aid back and insisting, to skeptical staff, that he had not withdrawn from any courses. My caller was remorseful, so my reprimand was restrained. The young man was reinstated in his courses and got his funding. What was no doubt a terrible moment for them became a story I often thought of; funny with the passage of time, and for them too, I hope.
As I wrote this, I struggled to recall the range of stories that I wanted to share. I looked at a few old emails and found one from a student whom I had helped by fixing an issue with her application. She was very grateful and very happy to be beginning her degree and was kind enough to share her appreciation. It was a small effort on my part but had a large impact on her life. I know there have been many occurrences like this one, but they tend to blend over time, so I was glad I kept this particular email. One piece of advice I would have for younger, and even not so young, members of the profession, is to keep a journal. Not only will you have a collection of memorable moments for sharing or reminiscing, but you will also have a series of accounts that can help you reflect on your career and perhaps even help inform your decision-making. I wish I had done this myself! Something else to consider as you build your career is the value of support and advice from a seasoned leader in your field. Remember that AACRAO consulting offers professional coaching and mentoring for practitioners across the spectrum of registrarial and admissions functions.
To learn more about our professional coaching and mentoring, visit AACRAO Consulting online or contact us at consulting@aacrao.org