Jeff von Munkwitz-Smith retired from Boston University in 2015 where he was Assistant Vice President and University Registrar. He is a Past President of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), served as Editor-in-Chief of "College and University" from 2014-2020, and is currently a Senior…

Luisa Havens Gerardo is Vice President for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech. She has served the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) as president, vice president for access and equity, chair of the international admissions committee, and member of the nominations committee and the program committee…

Mary Callahan is the Registrar and Senior Associate Dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She was named Registrar in 1999 and Senior Associate Dean in 2015 and sets the strategic direction for a continuum of student and faculty support activities. Among her many responsibilities are oversight of registration, grades, degree…

Tina Falkner is the Director of the Office of Student Finance for Academic Support Resources (a large unit comprised of the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Student Finance, the Office of Classroom Management, One Stop Student Services, Continuity and Compliance, and an internal web development team) at the University of Minnesota. Prior to…

Transitioning to a new role can be challenging whether at one's current institution or at a new one. Often, the resources that are meant to help with the transition are written by those who have been in the field for many years and who are far removed from the excitement, trepidation, and, at times, uncertainty that may attend a new role. As a…

Lotus D. Coffman became the fifth president of the University of Minnesota in 1920 and served in that role until 1938. Two new colleges were established under his tenure: General College offering two-year degrees and University College, intended for students whose academic needs were not being met by other existing colleges. This article provides…

Jeffrey Von Munkwitz-Smith recently retired as Assistant Vice President and University Registrar at Boston University. This article provides a commentary by Von Munkwitz-Smith on an address given by Lotus Delta Coffman (then president of the University of Minnesota) in 1926 at the annual meeting of the American Association of Collegiate…

A healthy registrar's office will continue to evolve as it considers student, faculty, and institutional needs; staff talents and expectations; technological opportunities; economic realities; space issues; work environments; and where the strategic plan is taking the institution in support of the mission. Several recognized leaders in the field…

This is the third in a series of eight articles on project management (PM) in the academy. In this article, the authors describe the step-by-step implementation of a structural change to Indiana State University's (ISU's) Office of Registration and Records (ORR). The process described may vary as it is implemented elsewhere, but the authors…

There are many hundreds if not thousands of registrars--unsung leaders in U.S. higher education who often may be "unseen" but who are both quite present and surprisingly influential. Leadership styles among them vary somewhat, but many of them practice what the author calls "inconspicuous" leadership. "Inconspicuous"…

Fear is an interesting word. Especially, when contemplating the contemporary collegiate registrar. The registrar profession seemed to diverge over the last decade. There appears now to be two categories. One is a benevolent person who honors traditional registrar standards, yet does little to grow the profession. The second is an ambassador of…

Today's students--traditional and nontraditional--are more wired (or wireless) than ever before. With computers and wireless devices becoming more affordable and universal, they expect, and even demand, to securely manage their educational experience online--from registering and paying for courses to receiving advice--all the time, from anywhere.…

Although admittedly shy and more comfortable as an attentive listener, Tom Stewart is also friendly and accommodating. He graciously agreed to share his thoughts about some of the important experiences in his life. Tom is that rare bird, a native Floridian, from West Palm Beach, 68 miles north of his Miami home. He received a Bachelor of Chemical…

Middle-managers, including registrar and admissions personnel, must continue to call attention to the need for professional development. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the regional and state organizations are challenged to define the need and respond appropriately. (MSE)

This article from the "Journal of College Admission's" Special Diversity Issue (which in its entirety won the 1997 Muir Award), presents a compilation of three speeches, given at the 51st National Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The preface, by Mary Lee Hoganson, serves to bind the three speeches together under the cohesive question, "Are…