In this article, the author talks about his career that has included positions in government and higher education, with the last 25 years having been spent working at four postsecondary institutions in the United States and Canada. In all cases, he has been blessed by having a caring and supportive mentor (sometimes more than one). Looking back…

Two "philosophers" on leadership have had great influence on the author: Warren Bennis and John W. Gardner. She cannot speak or write about leadership without referring to one or both of them. She regards their perspectives as timeless. In this article, the author discusses her interpretation of Bennis's (1996) "guiding vision, passion, and…

This is the second installment of the AACRAO management series focusing on project management in the academy. In this article, the authors focus on white papers (often called charters, briefs, or fact sheets) and their partner, the work plan. The work plan is a detailed document that defines each aspect of a project. It is often preceded by a…

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" is not the same as "silent" or…

"Fresh start" or amnesty policies have made their way across American universities and colleges. As the Director of Student Enrollment Services/Registrar at Polk State College, in Winter Haven, Florida, the author, who was not a proponent of amnesty, set aside time for several weeks to research amnesty policies and related best practices. Her…

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…

This is the first in a series of forum articles on applying project management (PM) techniques and tools to the nonprofit sector with a focus on higher education. The authors will begin with a traditional look at project management because they believe that the integration of the tools and the processes associated with PM into many campus offices…

In recent years, colleges and universities in the United States have had an on-again, off-again relationship with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units on their campuses. This article discusses the history of how these units came into being and the benefits of having ROTC to the students, the institution, and the nation. While there is…

Students--and their best interests--are the focal point of curriculum reform in basic education in Hong Kong. Since 2001, Hong Kong has sought to reform basic education so as to enable every student to become "all-rounded." At a practical level, this has meant the cultivation of students' ethics and values, intellect, physical fitness, social…

The author never planned to work at a college, but she finds she is vice president of student development at a community college; she served previously as assistant to the dean of academic services, as registrar, and as dean of enrollment management. She started her career in health care administration, and her master's was in public…

When it comes to giving advice, the author agrees with colleagues who have stated that although they might give advice to aspiring professionals, it would be better yet if they would write or apply it to themselves! So within that context, the author, like his colleagues, does not claim to possess superior wisdom in student services. Rather, he…

After finishing her undergraduate degree in English, the author's first employment was in an academic department at her alma mater. At a large public state institution, the salary scale for non-academic appointees was--and remains--woefully low. Knowing that monetary compensation wasn't the source of staff satisfaction, her chairman made a…

Online course delivery makes possible one innovation which can provide each student with greater program flexibility as well as some personal ownership of the direction and pace of his degree progress. This concept can be called the "container course." A container course is the offering of more than one course simultaneously under a single course…

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…

The stone age of college and university admissions was characterized by paper, snail mail, large file rooms, and cumbersome admission processes. Even more frightening to recall is that only fourteen short years ago, approximately 36,000 applications for admission to Michigan State University arrived hand printed on paper in sealed envelopes. Mere…