At the end of February, I had the opportunity to travel for the annual meeting of the AAU registrars. This group of University Registrars meets to discuss industry trends, major projects, and solutions to common issues in the profession. Many in that group have portfolios beyond a registrar's office so it's a way to connect on a wide range of topics. I find it professionally motivating, and frankly sometimes intimidating, since there are folks in the room that just started in their role, and folks that have led their offices for 20+ years.
I want to share a few common themes we discussed because they impact our office and our institution broadly:
- Most institutions of this size are experiencing rapid change regarding leadership positions and regular business expectations and processes as a result of the pandemic. We are still developing our post-pandemic "normal."
- Regarding technology, SIS solutions are not modernizing fast enough, and institutions don't have the resources to upgrade or change systems easily. Vendors require SIS data, and we all need to modernize how we store data and manage integrations.
Many times when the group was discussing an operational problem or the need for a new technology, it was something we took care of years ago, such as implementing a ticketing system or increasing electronic transcript orders. Other institutions also tend to have much stricter policies regarding remote work than we do, and they are envious of the retention benefits of flexible work. We have a wealth of resources and flexibility at the University of Minnesota, and it's good to be reminded of these things. Take care everyone, and thank you.
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