Stranded credit is credit that students have earned at a postsecondary institution, but cannot use or transfer because they have unpaid debts at the institution. Institutions will usually not issue official transcripts to students with debt, which results in the student being unable to formally document the credits they have acquired. This can…

The academic credentialing landscape is rapidly evolving. Institutions of higher education must meet this critical moment in the evolution of how learning is delivered, assessed, and recognized. While some educational institutions have shifted to issuing Electronic Data Exchange (EDX), digitally signed PDFs or blockchain verifiable credentials,…

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…

The origins of the registrar's office are complex. According to common tradition, the registrar was, or evolved from, the office of the beadle (sometimes referred to as "bedel") in the medieval university. This tradition is incorrect; the story is more complex. The beadle sometimes performed functions similar to those performed by the…

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…

One of the most fervent debates at the University of Kansas (KU) during the Vietnam War played out in the University Registrar's Office. During this period, James K. Hitt held the dual role of university registrar and Selective Service Representative: he used his position as registrar to inform the military of students' grades and class standings…

The education sector is no stranger to fraud, unfortunately. This article provides best practice guidance in recognizing and dealing with fraud, with emphasis on domestic and international academic credential fraud. It includes practical approaches to academic document review and verification. Success in fighting fraud requires becoming informed,…

For nearly 40 years, AACRAO has published the Self-Assessment, and this 185-page update will provide a cost effective and simple way to evaluate your office operations by stimulating thought, encouraging self-reflection, and evaluating policies and procedures. The Assessment is arranged by topical area with chapters addressing most basic registrar…

Campus Canada promotes lifelong learning through the articulation of workplace and other experiential learning for academic credit. This paper describes the recent re-development of the Record of Learning (RoL) component of the Campus Canada's e-Portfolio System. In matching the academic members' desires for provision of secure e-transcripts with…

This article examines the qualifications, characteristics, and responsibilities of the American registrar.The College and University Personnel Association (CUPA) describes the registrar as the administrative official with principal responsibility for student registrations and records. Functions of the registrar typically include registration,…

Provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that affect the right of colleges to withhold transcripts as a means of collecting student debts are considered. Automatic stay provisions state that the filing of a petition for bankruptcy relief prohibits actions to collect obligations of the debtor. The discharge injunction provides that once a discharge…

Discussion of recordkeeping procedures and issues in college closing covers academic records, catalogs, update documents, original grade sheets, commencement programs and graduation lists, records of disclosures and requests, and class schedules. Recommendations are those of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions…

The role of the college registrar is neither universally understood nor professionally established, and the historical development of academic administration through five periods in the United States reflects an ambivalence and lack of consensus toward full-time administration. Each period characterizes a different approach to or set of registrar…

The Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' recent definition of an official transcript and the issues regarding fraudulent documents identified for further study are outlined. The association's suggested practices and policies for prevention of fraudulent transcripts are appended. (MSE)

A national survey of trends in college grading practices was conducted in 1992 by gathering data from college registrars. The survey instrument, which had been field-tested, was sent to registrars at 2,302 institutions and responses were gathered from 1,601 (70 percent response rate). Among the general findings were the following: (1) 97 percent…