2021 Conference Sessions

Conference sessions will be split into three  45 minute blocks and one 70 minute block. Zoom session access will be emailed to registered attendees closer to the conference.

      • Welcome 
      • Keynote Speaker: Tiffany Robinson, President, AACRAO Board of Directors; Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar at The University of Kansas (BIO)
Session Title Description Presenter(s)
ctcLink Tips & TricksThis session will be a chance for ctcLink colleges to get together to discuss tips & tricks of using ctcLink. Participants are encouraged to bring their tips to share with others.Amber Brock, Tacoma Community College
For Independent Colleges of Washington member campuses: The Changing Landscape in Higher Education PolicyA round table discussion on the changing landscape in higher education policy concerns as it pertains to private, not‐for‐profit institutions in Washington state.Shea Hamilton, Independent Colleges of Washington and Michael Pastore, University of Puget Sound
New Residency Laws for 20212021 saw two major changes in residency law. It is now easier for all Washingtonians, especially undocumented and other immigrant students, to meet residency requirements for tuition and state aid. It is also easier for veterans and their dependents to get resident tuition. This session is the first of two. Both sessions are designed for residency officers (and others) who want to learn more about these new laws and how to implement them. The first session will focus on the laws’ details, and the second will be a Q&A session with Washington’s residency experts.Gail Wootan, Washington Student Achievement Council
Residency: Post Update Q&AThis session is a follow up to the morning’s session about 2021’s new residency laws. Residency officers and others are invited to come to this interactive session with their questions about these laws for WA’s residency experts.Gail Wootan, Washington Student Achievement Council and Justin Kjolseth, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Everywhere I Turn, Something is Changing: A Tale of How COVID Required Major Changes to Our Admissions OfficeThe COVID-19 pandemic required institutions across the world to make extreme changes in a short amount of time to keep afloat. Institutions in the U.S. had already begun to project a decline in enrollment prior to the pandemic. I would like to share how the Office of Admissions at Governors State University in University Park, IL adjusted to the needs of our prospective students from new staff to a new CRM.Tiffani Robertson, Governors State University/AACRAO
PACRAO LDI: Building More Leaders and More BelongingCome hear from colleagues who are building more leaders and more belonging through the PACRAO LDI (Leadership Development Institute). Learn about this opportunity to increase the diversity, inclusion, and belonging awareness and the leadership skills across our profession. See yourself making contributions to this program in roles as a cohort member, a faculty member, and/or a colleague who encourages the involvement of others. This free, cohort-based, professional development opportunity will enter its fourth year this fall, and applications are welcome from any interested PACRAO member. From the co-presenters, you’ll learn more about the expectations and impact of the program–and the lessons that they have learned about leadership, diversity, inclusion and belonging.Julia Pomerenk, University of Oregon
Identity Issues Round Table

Let’s get together to talk about the various identity systems and processes we have or are going to implement on our campuses such as preferred names, pronouns, and gender markersHelen Garrett, University of Washington Seattle
No Degree Application? No problem! Data Driven Degree Conferral

In this session, we will describe the transformational experience of our shift from a student-driven degree application process to a student-centered degree awarding process. Oregon State University now awards undergraduate degrees when a student completes their requirements instead of when the student applies for the degree. We will cover four areas of the organizational change process we experienced including policy, cultural, operational, and technical and also speak to our lessons learned.Rebecca Mathern and Kristin Benson, Oregon State University
Admissions: How will fall look like?!
There are still many unknowns for the upcoming fall recruitment season. How will high school and community college visits look like? Will there be any policies around recruitment travel, fairs, and events? Let’s connect to share thoughts, strategies, best practices, and possibilities.Jana Jaraysi, Eastern Washington University
FERPA: Tales from the RoadWhat new with FERPA; especially as we have navigated online course delivery and the pandemic? This session will highlight the most applicable aspects of FERPA for your work and provide you with what you most need to know as we go into the fall.Helen Garrett, University of Washington Seattle
Working Through a PandemicLet’s gather and share topics about remote work, particularly in student services settings. What lessons did you learn (about yourself and about work!) and what processes improved out of necessity? What will you carry with you into post-pandemic work? This session will be a time to share experiences and ideas as we think about how to build the “new normal.”Kristen Labrecque, UW Bothell
Teamwork and Tech – Living Through the PandemicWant to know how UW Tacoma kept students enrolled in a pandemic? Through collaboration and excellent customer service, we maintained stable enrollment and helped students stay on track during these difficult times. Attend a dynamic presentation to hear how Registration and Financial Aid at UW Tacoma have coordinated their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic to continue offering amazing uninterrupted service to our students. Topics that will be shared include customer service framework, technology/tools implemented, policy updates, emergency student needs. Learn how UW Tacoma’s approach to supporting students demonstrates how the Offices of Financial Aid and Registrar worked together to overcome the limitations ​of these challenging times.Victoria Hill and Andrea Coker-Anderson, UW Tacoma
Room Scheduling during the COVID-19 PandemicDuring the pandemic, a group of employees at the University of Washington Tacoma saw a unique opportunity to provide students with access to safe, quiet study spaces. My story will describe how this small team, comprised of staff from Facilities, the Chancellor’s Office and the Registrar’s Office, collaborated and swiftly put the idea into action.Ana Marie Alameda, UW Tacoma
The Tech-Age of Higher Ed: Communicating with the Campus CommunityDo you feel like your office is answering the same questions every day? COVID-19 has changed how we communicate with our students and campus communities. Over the last 18 months, Eastern Washington University has leveraged technology and implemented processes to troubleshoot communicating in a remote environment. As many institutions are experiencing reduced university staff, restructuring of departments, and returning to campus, we need to efficiently communicate with our campus communities now more than ever. Join us as we give you an inside look into how we identified our communication problems, found creative solutions, and overcame a roadblock or two. We’ll even give you an inside look at what we have planned for the future.Alex Mikkelborg and Amanda Stilwell, Eastern Washington University
Quit Being So Sensitive: Talking About Race Is Not All About RaceHurting someone’s feelings is not what race issues and oppression is about. We are all human and we are going to hurt people, it’s the process of learning about it that gives us ample opportunity to act on it differently the next time. Conversations about race often times can get awkward, and are distinctly different when affinity groups come together. While BIPOC individuals encounter race every day, white people often can ignore it and may grow up blind or oblivious to the political, social, biological, and economic impact it has on everyone. Race is about allowing relationships to grow organically, thinking critically about education and its outcomes across race, and various ethnic cultures. It’s about having an honest conversation with oneself about your experiences with race and how they shape your perspectives. It’s also about reflection on your own perspective and others observed reactions with people of different backgrounds and about having experiences with race, listening to people’s stories about racism. Finally, it’s about praxis, which means to learn about race, take into action what you learn, and reflect on your experiences. Because every experience is a learned one, the more we talk about race the more we understand what race is really about. In this session we want to instill Unity and Solidarity across differences by acknowledging that differences are the most valuable social concern. We all should feel safe to express our unique contributions.Christina Santos and Gabriel Chavez Garcia, Eastern Washington University
Kuali Student: Elevate ImpactJoin us to learn more about Kuali Student: Curriculum & Catalog Management and how institutions are elevating impact with Kuali Build.Dani O’Rourke, Kuali
CollegeSource: Using Transferology to Support Transfer, Dual Enrollment, and Retention Strategies
Institutions can utilize Transferology to showcase how courses transfer, including Standardized Exams (AP, IB, CLEP, etc.) and Military Credit. Schools can also display their programs and pathway agreements – all within a single website that is easy for students to use. Transferology aids prospective high and college school students, parents, advisors, and current students explore how courses transfer back to their home institution, boosting retention and reducing the staff workload. The staff-facing Transferology Lab helps institutions grow their equivalencies intelligently with robust reports based on student searches. The Lab also includes several integration points to TES, making it simple to route courses for evaluation. Watch this short demo of Transferology and Transferology Lab, and contact us to learn how this could work for your institution.Shelly Jackson, CollegeSource
Paradigm: Credentialing at its best. The easiest, quickest, most advanced solutions for both paper and electronic credentials in the industry!

In this fast-paced, constantly evolving, global job market, your graduates need to prove their achievements quicker than ever before. From the immediacy of a desired social post to Graduate School Applications, or the necessities of online job hunting, the expectations have changed. The need to be there first and in a differentiated manner is paramount to their success.Canceled
How a Single Credential Management Platform Can Make a DifferenceWhat efficiencies could you create in the Registrar’s office if there was one platform to manage all credentials including transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and badges? A comprehensive credential system is becoming essential to creating a simple, consistent learner experience across digital and print requests, all while freeing up time for more strategic projects. Hear how a local institution has saved time and money moving to a comprehensive platform and how they are better serving their students with a modern credential experience.Kristy Bonanno, Parchment
How to Transform the Transfer Process with Next-Gen Degree ManagementMany institutions struggle with an inefficient transfer process. Most systems require maintenance for course equivalencies, few offer an effective workflow for the faculty review process and let’s not even talk about ingesting paper transcripts unless you already have an imaging system. All of these are issues administratively, but even more important is the student’s experience. How long does it take for a student to receive accurate transfer information once they submit their transcripts? Better yet, can your current system allow prospective students to input their own information and review it against their desired program requirements so they can make wise decisions about when to apply to your institution and to what program? In this presentation, learn about a new tool that helps institutions streamline their transfer articulation process, improves transfer student experience and shortens their time to completion.Reid Kisling, Director of Systems Integration, Stellic/Senior Consultant, AACRAO Consulting & Sabih Bin Wasi, CEO & Co-Founder

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