UACRAO - Utah Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

A Message from the President

2011-09-23T12:39:00.002-06:00

I am always amazed at how quickly the summer passes and fall is upon us. I can remember as an undergraduate walking across campus recognizing a sense of anticipation in the air about the coming year. This year has been no different. Though my undergraduate days have long since passed, that feeling is still there. With the great weather of the last few weeks it is hard to believe it is nearly October. Soon the leaves will turn red, orange, and yellow indicating yet another change.

As a UACRAO board, we too look forward to the upcoming year and the opportunity to make a change...and we do have some exciting changes in store! In the coming months we will share with you what those changes are and how they will positively imact you. With conference planning already underway we also hope to offer another successful venue for networking, professional development, and of course some fun!

Nothing is as constant as change. I encourage each of us to take a few moments and reflect on the changes we have seen in our personal and professional lives over this past year. Change can be difficult but it can also open windows of opportunity that might have otherwise passed us by.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stated "Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes."

As we look forward to a new year may be be optimistic about changes that will inevitably come our way and the excitement they can bring.

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Introducing the newest UACRAO officers!

We would like to welcome Rob Garrett as our Vice President (BYU-I) and Maren Lythgoe as our Secretary (U of U). We look forward to the expertise they will add to the Executive Board!

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PACRAO is just around the corner...

If you have not decided whether or not to attend PACRAO there is still time! PACRAO will be held November 6 - 9 in Seattle WA. This year's theme is Unplug. Reconnect. It looks to be an excellent program. For additional information check out their website (http://www.pacrao.org/docs/conferences/2011/index.html). We hope to see you there!

2011 UACRAO Video

2011-06-14T12:24:00.000-06:00

Here is a glimpse of the talent that was demonstrated at the annual conference in Ephraim. I hope they all have day jobs (except for you Missy...I think this could be a new career!!)

Conference Reminders

2011-06-03T10:02:00.004-06:00

We hope you are planning on having a great time at UACRAO on June 6-8! Following are some tidbits of info that will be helpful.

*A map of Snow College can be found at the bottom of their web page (www.snow.edu) or click this link.

*Check in will be on Monday at 3:00 at the Service Project location (Home and Family Studies Building 100 East Center in Ephraim)

Check in will be on Tuesday morning beginning at 8:00 in the Greenwood Student Center (see map)

*Convenient parking is located on the corner of 300 East and Center Street in Ephraim or in the small parking lot located at 200 East Center or on the surrounding streets

*Remember two things: 1. Donations for the service project and 2. Door Prizes (Check the Facebook Like button above to be entered in a special drawing)

*If you want to join your UACRAO friends for dinner on Monday Night, please meet at the Greenwood Student Center at 6:45. The cost of this meal will be on your own and we will split into smaller groups.

*If you RSVP'd for a movie here are the times and locations.

Kung Fu Panda 2: 7:30 at the Towne Theater, 21 North Main Street

Pirates of the Carribbean : 8:45 at the Southtowne Theater 680 South Main Street

X-Men: 9:00 at the Southtowne Theater 680 South Main Street

Tickets will be reserved, but you may want to arrive at least 15-20 minutes early to choose your favorite seat

Message from the President

2011-04-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

Hello UACRAO Colleagues and Friends,

I always like to see a good movie. In fact, I haven't met too many people who don't like a good movie. We all seem to have our favorites–comedy, action, romance, science fiction, fantasy, animation, etc. Whatever the type, if it is a "Blockbuster," you will see crowds at the theaters.

I am personally inviting each of you to take an "intermission" from your day-to-day activities to join us in Ephraim for a "UACRAO Blockbuster" event. Our Conference Chair, Margie Anderson, has scouted out the perfect location for the conference, her very own Snow College campus! The ideal place to step away from your daily routine, enjoy the peacefulness of a small town, and open your mind to learning new ways to make your job better. All while sharing and networking with your friends and colleagues.

The UACRAO Board and Track Specialists have been working diligently to put this production together. You will be able to walk the red carpet and choose from an amazing list of movie titles (aka session topics). You will be surrounded by an outstanding cast of characters. And this year we are adding a new special feature, an extraordinary opportunity for UACRAO to "give back" through service projects. Plan to arrive early to participate in this new format. I hope you will join the other actors, directors, and producers for an uplifting and enlightening experience.

I am looking forward to seeing you June 7, 8, and 9 in Ephraim!

LuAnn Smith

UACRAO President 2010-11

Helicopter Parents

2011-03-02T13:03:00.004-07:00

We've all been subject to the recent phenomenon of over-parenting, in fact it was Higher Ed that coined the phrase "helicopter parents"- a term we're all familiar with! Educators have now created two new argots for the children of helicopter parents- "teacups"- students so fragile that the least bit of stress may break them, and "crispies"- students who are already burned out by the time they reach college! Nancy Gibb has written a funny and spot-on article titled The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting. It's well worth the read (and this is where you can be introduced to "teacups" and "crispies"). http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1940395,00.html

There's no doubt we're all happy that parents are involved in their children's lives and education, but over-parenting seems to be over-involvement on an extreme scale: Parents who do-it-all for the children , and parents who manage-it-all for their children. Parents who do-it-all shield them from failures, complete assignments for them ( re-do assignments they fear are substandard), speak for them, investigate for them, settle disputes for them, negotiate for them, intervene in perceived frightening situations, and even make phone calls for them. Parents who manage-it-all for their children believe educational success will only be achieved through strict management. They choose to micro-manage their children's study behaviors, friendships, extra-curricular activities, educational experiences, schedules, academic subjects, opportunities, and even college and career choices.

Ayelet Waldman, the author of Bad Mother, suggests that this extreme-parenting phenomenon is based on fear- fear that the child may fail, and a belief that the parent is solely responsible for the child's success or failure. She writes, "You know you're an extreme parent when you convince yourself that what your child achieves or fails is the result of what you've done or failed to do."

So what do we do now with our "helicopters"? We can attempt to alleviate their fear by giving them facts, guidelines, help links, and a plethora of information. At Dixie we have an article on our parent link suggesting parents give their students "roots and wings". But we might like Ithaca College's suggestion to parents the most. Ithaca invites parents to visit (but not too much); communicate (but not too often); expect change (but not too much) and to trust their children.

- Submitted by Julie Stender, Dixie State College

Don't Miss the Forest for the Trees

2011-01-18T08:38:00.002-07:00

Please watch the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

Have you ever found yourself wrapped up in something at work that has no relevance to your end goal as an employee or the goals of your institution? It is easy for us to miss the things we aren't looking for. I want you to imagine for a minute that everything you see is through a video camera. You can focus and zoom in or out. In life it is very easy to zoom in on a particular situation, complete the task at hand and move to the next project without zooming back out and refocusing. This leads us to miss items of crucial importance. As professionals when we switch tasks we need to be able pull out and look at the big picture before we zoom in too far and miss the forest for the trees. It is too easy to miss the things we aren't looking for. Here is a simple way to change your whole view for at least a little while. It only takes 30 seconds and is free. Close your eyes, right there at your desk. No really, go ahead and do this. Breathe in for a count of three and out for a count of six. Leave me a comment and let me know if you missed the bear or if the 30-second breathing exercise works for you!

-Shaun Kjar
Snow College

CEU Jan Young - Woman of the Year!

2010-11-02T14:43:00.000-06:00

Jan Young of CEU was named "Woman of the Year" by Sun Advocate. Congratulations Jan!

For the complete article click:
Woman of the year

UACRAO President's Message

2010-10-21T13:11:00.000-06:00

Hello UACRAO Colleagues and Friends,

It has been a few months since we were together in Park City for our Annual Conference. It was an amazing conference and I think we all left feeling renewed, ready to enjoy the rest of the Summer and gear up of for Fall Semester. One of the things our AACRAO guest, Bruce Cunningham said after attending our conference was, "I was...impressed with the camaraderie that is so evident in your organization." Comrade, colleague, associate, or friend however you want to say it, this has always been one of my favorite parts of UACRAO. It's good to know there are others who have similar jobs, at other institutions, who know exactly what we experience on a day-to-day basis. It's reassuring to know that we can pick up the phone, send a quick email, or attend a meeting and know we will always be greeted by a friend.

The recent news report stating, "Utah college enrollments up 5 percent" (Deseret News, October 14, 2010) indicates that we have all been VERY busy! The news article also reminded me that we are all doing more with less due to the budget cut to higher education this year. Yet through it all, it is exciting to be part of a profession which provides important services to students as they pursue their dreams and goals. This again, tells me that our UACRAO organization is filled with amazing people!

The UACRAO Executive Board, Conference Chair and Co-Chair, along with Track Specialists have been meeting and making substantial plans for our 2011 Annual Conference at Snow College. Mark your calendars now for June 6, 7, and 8. You won't want to miss this "Block Buster" event!

My sincere appreciation and best regards go out to each of you as we move our way toward the end of Fall semester and prepare for Winter/Spring semester. Remember, we are all in this together and there is always a UACRAO friend who is only a phone call or email away.

LuAnn Smith

UACRAO President 2010-11

Membership Renewal Due by November 15, 2010!

2010-10-13T10:20:00.000-06:00

It's time to renew your UACRAO membership! A renewal invoice for 2010-2011 was sent to your institutional representative electronically on October 12, 2010. As is noted on your invoice, payments are due November 15, 2010. Please contact the UACRAO Treasurer if you should have any questions about membership renewal.

LaDawn Miera, UACRAO Treasurer
Transfer Credit Coordinator
Salt Lake Community College
P.O. Box 30808
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0808
Phone: (801) 957-4738
Fax: (801) 957-4961
Email: LaDawn.Miera@slcc.edu

UACRAO Member Receives AACRAO Award!

2010-06-14T15:09:00.000-06:00

At the recent AACRAO Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Margaret Bellon, from Utah Valley University, was awarded the APEX Award. The APEX Award, sponsored by SunGard Higher Education and AACRAO, recognizes individuals for enhancing the administration and delivery of higher education through the effective management and use of information resources, namely information, technology, and services. SunGard Higher Education will donate $5,000 in Margaret's name to the UVU scholarship fund.

Margaret began working for Utah Valley University in 1986 as a student in the Academic Advising Office. Twenty-three years later, she is as the Director of Graduation, Transfer Services, and Veterans Affairs. She has been involved in managing student information and creating student-friendly technology interfacing. When the University decided to move to Banner in 2003, Margaret was asked to build the Degree Audit Program (CAPP). She was able to launch CAPP the same day that UVU went live with Banner! Building CAPP quickly solidified her place as a great leader at UVU.

In 2008, Margaret recommended the move from CAPP to the Degree Works system due to the latter's student-friendly design. Again, she took the lead in building and implementing this new system. When face with road blocks, she persistently looked for solutions and always found them. In the fall of 2009, Degree Works-known at UVU as Wolverine Tracks- went live, and it has been a great success. Students, advisors, and instructors find the new system intuitive and easy to use. Margaret's leadership was crucial to making this happen.

Margaret is a natural leader, and is able to see both the big picture and tackle the details at hand. She has the respect of her colleagues on campus and across the state, and has established a network of Banner users across the country. UVU and UACRAO are very fortunate to have Margaret Bellon as a team member. Congratulations Margaret!!

2010-03-30T10:42:00.000-06:00

UACRAO Annual Conference Update

Finding Zen in 2010
Monday June 7—Wednesday June 9, 2010

We are excited to have you join us in Park City this summer! If you have not taken a moment to register for this year’s conference, please do so. Session topics and descriptions will be available soon. Register!

Did you know that you can nominate one or more of your colleagues for a Presidential or Service award? Please consider nominating an individual from your institution, a colleague from another school, or yourself. There will be a prize for the person who nominates the Presidential Award recipient, so nominate someone before Wednesday April 15th. Nominate!

Hotel rooms for the conference are filling quickly. Tomorrow, Wednesday March 31st, is the last day we can guarantee you can book at the conference rate. We hope you will consider staying and playing at the Park City Marriott to enjoy all that Park City has to offer. If you are planning on staying overnight and have not reserved your room, then book one now! Reserve!

UACRAO is looking for a few good men and women to serve on the Executive Board and Conference Committee. Are you interested in volunteering your time, having a ball, and strengthening working relationships with other institutions? Recommend yourself or a colleague to give back to Higher Education in our great state and have fun while serving. Open positions include the following: President-Elect (3 year commitment), Vice President (1 year), Treasurer (2 years), Conference Co-Chair (2 years), and four Track Specialists (1 year). Positions will be voted on during the Business Meeting at the Annual Conference. Recommend!

Questions? ● Contact Emily Johnson ● General Conference Chair
Emily.Johnson@sa.utah.edu

Registration for the conference is now available online!

2010-03-16T08:57:00.000-06:00

UACRAO Annual Conference

Finding Zen in 2010
Monday June 7 to Wednesday June 9, 2010

This year promises to be an event you will remember! We have amazing speakers lined up including a few of our own UACRAO colleagues. Some of our topics will include: Finding Zen, Campus Safety, Residency, Streamlining Processes, and Effective Campus Visits.

New this year...look for Monday afternoon activities in addition to the ever popular golf tournament.

Location Details

Park City Marriott
1895 Sidewinder Drive
Park City, UT 84068

We are excited that the Park City Marriott has been selected as the conference hotel for 2010. The Park City Marriott, nestled among the majestic Wasatch Mountains, offers 191 deluxe guest rooms, an atrium-style swimming room & hot tub, a complimentary town shuttle to Utah Olympic Park, Factory Stores at Park City, or Old Town Main Street, and more!

Reserve a hotel room

Hotel rooms have been filling quickly. We are working closely with the hotel to ensure enough rooms are available at the conference rate. Your patience is appreciated!

Come spend some time recharging your batteries in beautiful Park City UT while Finding Zen in 2010!

Questions?
Contact Emily Johnson, General Conference Chair
Emily.Johnson@sa.utah.edu

Message from the President

2010-02-23T15:58:00.001-07:00

Dear Colleagues,

As the new academic year progresses we are forced to do more with reduced funding and creative best practices. I applaud each of you for your endeavors to continue to provide a quality education for our students, with less resources. We, as the UACRAO Executive Board, are aware that you are committed to maintain the highest level of service while dealing with the issues on your campuses.

I would like to invite and encourage you to attend the 2010 UACRAO Annual Meeting, "Zen in 2010" scheduled for June 7-9, 2010. There will be informative sessions that address budgetary issues, enrollment and retention processes, admissions and registrations practices and recruitment strategies. You will also have a wonderful opportunity for sharing information and networking with your colleagues in our organization.

Check the information listed on our website. We are excited to join with you in finding "Zen in 2010" and look forward to a very successful, informative and productive experience. We hope to see each of you in June in Park City!

Desi Nielsen
UACRAO President

AACRAO Conference!

2010-02-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder that the AACRAO Annual Meeting is just around the corner!

"Leading the Profession into the Next Century"
April 21-24, 2010
New Orleans, Louisiana

PACRAO Review

2009-12-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: LuAnn Smith

Several of our UACRAO members were able to attend the annual PACRAO conference in November. This year PACRAO was held in Newport Beach, California. Not only did we enjoy the warm California temperatures, we also enjoyed a wonderful conference. The conference theme was Sailing Toward Success, Welcome Aboard! There was a broad selection of sessions for everyone to attend, everything from professional development to FERPA. Everyone had their favorites. Several session presenters were our own amazing UACRAO members. PACRAO is always good for renewing our energy by networking with old friends and making new ones. And in our business, it’s always good to have friends. If you are able to attend, mark your calendar for November 7-10, 2010...PACRAO in Calgary, Alberta, Canada!

The Winning Mindset

2009-11-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Dan Freigang, PhD (from Local Healthcare Today Magazine)
submitted by: Crystal Giordano

Have you ever met anyone who "has it all?" These people seem to have an amazing quality of life, raising successful children, maintaining strong marriages, contributing to their communities and looking forward to work every day. On the other hand, some people who seem to have it all-beautiful family, wealth and a good job-are hindered by procrastination and high anxiety. What separates these two types of people?

The answer may surprise you. The difference is their ability to cope and deal with difficult situations in a positive way. We call this set of skills resiliency. We aren't born resilient-resiliency is learned. Successful people in sports, business and other areas achieve because they are resilient. Let's look at the components that create winning mindsets for individuals and groups:

(see complete aritcle by clicking http://www.localhealthcaretoday.com/article.aspx?aid=118&mid=50)

Seeing Beyond That Pierced Tongue

2009-11-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

By Karen Birchard (from The Chronicle of Higher Education)
Submitted by: Crystal Giordano

It took a Canadian college to say it: Students are slobs, but that's OK.

While recruitment brochures and billboards typically depict well-groomed, preppy students, Toronto's Centennial College has gone for a decidedly casual look-tongue studs, sloppy duds, and messy hair-to appeal to local high-school students.

"We felt there was a disconnect with those traditional clean-cut images," says Malcolm Roberts, of the ad agency Smith Roberts Creative Communications. "These ads say: We get you. We understand who you are. We know you can change the world."

Surprisingly, most parents find the ads "reassuring," says Mr. Roberts. "Parents have such high hopes for their child when they are young and then fear their teen's look is the end of the dream," he says. "There's a huge sense of relief when they see these ads saying that we recognize the potential in every kid."

The image ads have been placed in transit shelters, at subway stations, and in buses, trams, and subway cars.

President Ann Buller says the college's campaign has caused a buzz among her peers at other institutions. But whether they'll flatter Centennial by copying it remains to be seen.

10 Things Students Most Dread About College Search

2009-11-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

From fear of rejection to finding scholarships, a new Cappex.com survey of more than 600 college-bound high school seniors has the 10 top things that keep them up at night.

College-bound students weave a frightening tale about the search for the perfect college.

Check out this list - enough to spook any prospective college student:

Getting rejected (77%)
Writing the application essay (50%)
Keeping up with deadlines (31%)
Finding scholarships (31%)
Applying for financial aid (29%)
Meeting a college's GPA and test score requirements (26%)
Filling out applications (22%)
Narrowing down my list of college picks (18%)
Reading all the mail from colleges (12%)
Starting my list of college picks to explore (9%)

(submitted by Crystal Giordano)

SLCC Names New Registrar!

2009-08-06T14:36:00.000-06:00

Please join us in congratulating Maryetta Chase as the new Registrar for Salt Lake Community College. Maryetta was previously the Assistant Registrar and replaced Loren Evans who retired earlier this year. Congratulations Maryetta!

Back by popular demand!

2009-07-21T10:26:00.000-06:00

Hey everone, following such a successful conference with such wonderful presentations in all of the tracks, there have been many requests for copies of what you saw back in June.

Well, here it is. We have begun posting highlights and Powerpoint presentations from the 2009 Conference (http://uacrao.org/conference/conference_agenda.php).

This is one way of taking home the valuable information and tools that were taught during our time together. Our thanks goes out to all of our presenters and for the time and effort they put into helping make the 2009 conference beneficial for us all!

Fran Hopkin
Conference Chair

UACRAO Conference Coming Soon

2009-04-02T09:52:00.000-06:00

UACRAO 2009 Conference

"Reaching for the Stars"

Join us June 2 - 3, 2009 at Weber State University's Davis Campus in Layton, UT

Great Speakers including Will Keim, Author and Speaker to more than 2 million students, faculty, and staff from 2,000 campuses in all 50 states in the United States and William A. Sederburg, the Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Utah.

Registration is now available online at http://www.uacrao.org/. To avoid late fees register online before May 1, 2009!

For additional information related to the conference including session topics, hotel reservations, detailed schedule, etc. please visit our updated website at http://www.uacrao.org/.

Please feel free to inform any interested parties at your Institution of this year's conference. We look forward to seeing you in Layton!

Blog as new means of Communication

2009-03-17T20:21:00.000-06:00

Hello UACRAO Members,

The UACRAO Board has been working to update the website and our means of communicating with the members of UACRAO. After a great deal of discussion, it has been decided to discontinue the newsletters that were going out about once each quarter. The blog, which will be incorporated into our new web design, will be our means of communicating important information to the membership. This will allow each of us as members to submit comments on relevant topics.

We hope this will provide a means for everyone to stay connected and informed. Please let us know how you feel about both the new web design and the UACRAO blog. - Jared Wilcken

ETX August 25, 2008

2008-08-25T16:24:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all that participated in the conference call on Electronic Transcript Exchange. We had great participation and some excellent information was shared.

The next step is to be sharing transcripts electronically by September 15, 2008. If there are institutions that need technical help to get this done, please contact one of the technical staff that provided information during the conference call or email roland.squire@usu.edu and I will help you get the help you need. - Roland Squire

Welcome to the new UACRAO Blog

2008-08-06T08:41:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the new UACRAO Blog. Keep watching for information on legislative issues, Association updates and much more! - Jared Wilcken