This study seeks to share student feedback about the design and creation of comprehensive learner records. Student input is not often solicited as institutions develop new credentials issued to students. Our workshops encouraged students to consider how they would develop new credentials and what artifacts and features they would include on these…

In this digital age, how do institutions know what documents to accept and from whom? This year's school closures, distance learning, online education, and other upheavals have made it even more critical for institutions to ensure that they are accepting official academic records from valid sources. Typically, receiving official documents…

In this commentary, the authors advocate support for the adoption of a universal credential registry. By connecting information about credentials and their value, Credential Engine's registry (CE) creates an ever-expanding atlas of educational possibilities for students. Many registrars, however, have yet to recognize the institutional value of…

Increasingly, colleges and universities are being compared and evaluated based on the outcomes that their students experience. While both self-evaluation and accountability are valuable, one should be careful that the right outcomes are measured. Using data from 21 community colleges, we find that traditional measures often ignore key positive…

To stand out in a crowded marketplace, every organization must find or create a competitive edge. Companies without a unique advantage get lost in a tide of rivals. In the context of higher education, the registrar's office rarely commands the resources to achieve dramatic overhauls. Rather, incremental innovation offers a far more efficient use…

Thanks to engaged members and research partners, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) was able to engage in research and produce reports on several topics again in 2021. AACRAO Research completed four 60-Second Surveys and six comprehensive reports. Other research-supported work included: facilitating…

This article is the second in a series of three articles about academic fraud. The first, "Diploma Mills and Counterfeit Operations, Part 1" by Allen Ezell College and University v94 n3 Sum 2019 described the history and growth of diploma mills and counterfeit operations. This article provides an in-depth look at the operations of the…

Learners of all types must be able to represent their achievements to prospective employers and education institutions to prove that they have the requisite knowledge and skills for success. The most recognized means by which students represent themselves is the credential. As in many other industries that engage with customers, partners, and…

This is the first of three articles on academic fraud. This article describes the history and growth of diploma mills and counterfeit operations. The second article will focus on Axact, the world's largest diploma mill (a true criminal enterprise). The third will detail how to identify diploma mills. This article describes degree mills…

The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRO) examined eight areas of research interest to our members in 2018. They had enough longitudinal data to make comparisons of 2018 data to years past. For example, they repeated the registrar's career profile report and learned there will be a large number of…

This study discusses innovations in digital credentialing, namely the Elon Visual EXP, and the broader implications of documenting student experiences in co-curricular, high-impact practices. Following a similar survey of employer observations of the new transcript, a survey was sent to all undergraduates of Elon University to assess their overall…

As postsecondary credentials become even more essential to bridge education programs and career pathways, it is critical to reevaluate expectations regarding the transition from high school to college. More specifically, it must be determined how best to support students in marginalized populations that historically have been less likely to attend…

The higher education landscape has changed significantly over the past decade as advances in technology and the proliferation of data have rapidly reshaped the work of the registrar. Despite these innovations, many registrars steadfastly resist changing the academic transcript, arguing that it must reflect the highly structured curriculum that…

Successful administration of remote programs and services requires that information technology (IT) professionals and university administrators address two critical identity management factors: (1) linking the institutional electronic record representing an individual with the "real" person; and (2) establishing a mechanism/protocol…

The global demand for higher education currently exceeds the world's existing university capacity. This shortfall is likely to persist for the foreseeable future, raising concerns that frustrated students might choose to purchase fraudulent credentials from counterfeiters or diploma mills. International efforts to encourage the development of…