SACRAO Summer/Fall 2020 Newsletter

Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

NEWSLETTER

Summer/Fall 2020

Inside this issue: »

Message from the President

»

Treasurer’s Report and Financial Update

»

Message from the President-Elect

»

Message from the Immediate Past President

»

N&E Update and Nominations

»

Call for Articles and Board Members to the SACRAO Journal

»

Call for Nominations

»

State Association Updates

»

SACRAO 2020 Annual Meeting Photo Album

It has been a long journey since Alexandria Dr. Steve McLeod, SACRAO President Can you believe that in February we were having a great conference in Alexandria , VA? Sitting together, talking together, eating together, and attending sessions together. No physical distancing. No masks. Just people enjoying each other. Was that really only six months ago? It seems like ages!

After the conference, the Executive Committee met to go over any conference items that we needed to discuss, and to begin preparations for the conference next year. It was a good, efficient meeting, and wrapped up in time for EC members to make the 3:00 PM airport shuttle. I knew then that we had a good group of people who would work well together.

Then came March. Coronavirus. COVID-19. Suddenly the whole world was changing. SACRAO could no longer attend the SROC conference in the United Kingdom in April, because the government canceled all international flights.

Continued...

A Long Journey

continued...

Each of our schools faced challenges that we had never faced before. Professors who had never logged into their online learning management platform had to learn how to teach online courses, with only a week or two to prepare. Administrators and staff accustomed to dealing with a student population that had been 70% residential or more had to adjust to a campus that was now less than 10% residential. Schools were giving refunds for room and board.

Summer school for many became 100% virtual. Some schools are still heavily virtual this fall, while others are trying to develop COVID-19 protocols so that students can return to campus safely. Some schools who are planning to have residential students this fall have announced that students will not return to class after Thanksgiving.

It is a different world right now for all of us, and SACRAO has to adjust. Based on the recommendation of the site selection committee chaired by Immediate Past President Cie Gee, and the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee, SACRAO is delaying the next in-person conference for a year. We have been able to adjust our contracts at no cost to SACRAO, so we will hold the Little Rock conference in Feb. 2022.

The Executive Committee has prepared a survey of our membership to determine the interest and viability of a Virtual conference in Feb. 2021. When we receive those results, we will begin appropriate preparations.

In the midst of all this uncertainty, as the world seems to be getting crazier each day, I think we could all use some good news. I am pleased to be able to share some wonderful news with you.

Due to the extraordinary efforts of Hope Reynolds, Alexandria LAC chair, and her Local Arrangements Committee with Sara Marchello, Treasurer, the 2020 Conference has rebuilt our financial reserves and completely recovered our losses from the previous year. By keeping costs down and increasing our corporate partner revenue, Hope and her team have returned over $76,000 to SACRAO. We are all able to breathe much easier because of her efforts. Kudos to Hope Reynolds and her team. SACRAO cannot thank you enough. You have my highest appreciation, and we hold you in great esteem.

On that high note, I will end this message. We look forward to hearing from you in the days to come about how SACRAO can serve you with a virtual conference. God bless you all.

Sincerely,

President of SACRAO

Take the SACRAO Conference Survey by September 15, 2020.

Treasurer’s Report

by Jonathan Reece, Treasurer

SACRAO Account Balances as of August 25, 2020 Checking: $15,808.23 Savings: $182,204.54 LAC 2021: $5,097.28 LAC 2022: $5,500.00 Total: $208,610.05 The SROC (UK) conference was postponed. We had three SACRAO representatives scheduled to attend this year. Airfare had already been purchased prior to the postponement. The total airfare was $4,037.16. Some of this is being provided by the airline as a credit towards future travel for the same individuals to attend when rescheduled.

Our auditing firm, Jennings & Cook, has concluded its 2018 and 2019 audit of our finances and our 2019 tax filings have been submitted. Only two findings were identified, stemming from the 2019 Annual Meeting.

These will be discussed in more detail at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Findings: » Significant loss of $60,910 from the 2019 annual meeting and the Association liquidating its certificates of deposits to cover the loss » Lack of control over cash receipts prior to deposit that can be rectified by noting nonpayment of dues and registration fees and thus track back to an incorrect individual or institution in receipt of the funds All financial transactions for the 2020 Annual Meeting are paid and the accounts closed. $76,045.24 ($71,045.24 + $5,000 seed money) was returned to SACRAO following the meeting. I offer another kudos to Hope and her team for management and production of the 2020 Annual Meeting.

It was mentioned at the annual meeting in February that we used to publish the budget in our newsletter. For whatever reason, that was discontinued. Rather than provide the budget in its entirety within this newsletter, the approved budget has been posted on our SACRAO website. You can view the 2020 budget by visiting: https://www.sacrao.org/assets/docs/Budget/2020%20Approved%20Budget.pdf Within the audit report, it was mentioned that we should identify the amount of funds needed to ensure SACRAO can survive any outstanding obligations and operational needs for one year. I am working on what that might look like and together with the Executive Committee, we can look at how to begin setting aside those funds. SACRAO has depleted all of its reserves, carrying only the balances listed above. As this develops, I’ll be sure to share in future newsletters or at the February Annual Meeting.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve this great organization for a second year. I hope your fall semester is progressing, you are adapting to our NEW normal, and you and your family remain healthy and well.

Message from the President-Elect

by Kim Taylor, President-Elect

Happy September!

I write to you today from my work from home office, overlooking my backyard. All I can say is Wow! SACRAO 2020 in Alexandria, VA seems long ago and far away, after the last several months. It brings a smile to my face to reflect on what an outstanding conference it was and the job that Hope Reynolds and her LAC did.

SACRAO is so fortunate to have individuals like Hope that step up each year to take on the daunting, and I do mean daunting, task of planning our annual meeting. Thanks hardly describes the level of gratitude we have for you, Hope!

I’m afraid that we may have taken for granted our ability to gather, network, laugh, learn, fellowship, renew friendships and all the things we each gain personally from the SACRAO experience each year. SACRAO has been a part of my professional life for many years, so how do we move forward with the new normal? I don’t have the answer, but I know that together with the SACRAO EC, we will figure it out.

This is my twenty-first week to WFH. Technology is amazing for all the challenges we currently face in the Admissions and Registrars world, but even being an introvert, I miss my staff and colleagues. Zoom and Teams have certainly made it possible to keep progressing -- not only us as professionals, but also our students. I can’t imagine being a student right now and having to wrap my head around everything that is CoVid-19 from online classes to social distancing to decisions about returning to school to finances to family to graduation…..it’s just endless! Working from a place of compassion is not always the MO on a college campus because of the policies and procedures that we adhere to affirm we remain on solid ground.

Remaining on solid ground is what is keeping many college administrators up at night these days and balancing this with compassion and thoughtful, but courageous leadership to ensure we support our students in every possible way is tough, to say the least. No matter the level of your position on your campus, you are helping students each day to navigate the most unsettling events they have ever experienced, so please remember the good you are doing and the contributions you are making to your organization.

My love for SACRAO runs very deep! I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that you have entrusted me to serve as President-Elect of SACRAO. I will work tirelessly with the Executive Committee to ensure that our finances are managed carefully, in order re-build the reserves that were built over many years of good fiscal oversight, to ensure that our program committees are attentive to timely topics in higher education and that our annual conference continues to be the best experience possible.

The strength of SACRAO has always been in its people! So, back away from the Zoom meetings, take a break from all the questions about fall, next year’s class, pass/fail grades and volunteer to be a part of SACRAO 2022 by completing the “I’m Available Form” at https://sacrao.memberclicks.net/. Click on the “Get Involved” tab and the “I’m Available form”. I’m certain our conference sessions will be filled with topics we never even thought of before, as we all face the most challenging times in our profession that we will ever go through.

None of us know what the future holds. My hope is that we can convene in person at Little Rock, AR for SACRAO 2022, with Chris Riggins leading the way to “Let the Good Times Roll”, AGAIN. My best to you and your families. Stay well!

Message from Immediate Past President Cié Gee What interesting times we find ourselves in. I hope you and your families are safe. The Executive Committee of SACRAO is hyper aware of how this pandemic has impacted higher education and the traditional practice of conferencing. We are looking into a virtual option for this upcoming year as social distancing and stay at home orders continue.

We are excited to offer the membership two possible new positions on the Executive Committee; TreasurerElect and Corporate Partner Liaison. These are two roles within the EC that many other regional or state organizations have implemented.

The Treasurer-Elect will work under the direction of the Treasurer and thus be better prepared to assume the role of Treasurer. The model is similar to the President-Elect, President roles. The transition of Treasurers at the moment is not a fluid process and SACRAO feels that this new process will create a warmer handoff and thus a greater benefit to SACRAO. The Corporate Partner Liaison is the relationship manager between SACRAO and the corporate partners.

A relationship built on reciprocity is the goal and having an individual on the EC to assist Local Arrangement Committees’ Corporate Liaison with this process will be helpful.

A more detailed description of each position will be posted on the SACRAO website soon and the membership will vote to add or not to add these positions.

Nominations and Elections Committee Announced Thank you for voting in the N&E elections this year. We have a wonderful committee that will select a slate of officers for our positions that are turning over this year.

Please welcome this committee: CHAIR - Patrick Frazier, Western Carolina University CHAIR-ELECT – Brenda Schumann, University of Texas at Austin MEMBER - Ryan Garrity, Tulane University MEMBER - Lou Jimenez, Texas State University MEMBER - Melissa Johnson, Aiken Technical College

NOMINATE - SACRAO EC As a SACRAO Member, we need you to nominate colleagues for the following SACRAO Executive Committee positions: » » » » » »

President-Elect Program Vice President for Professional and Personal Development Program Vice President for Records and Academic Services Vice President for Communication and Recognition Treasurer Nominations and Elections Committee

Check list for nominating someone: 1. Are they available to fulfill the term requirement? Most E.C. roles require a 2-year commitment; President-Elect is three.

2. Do they have the knowledge background to fulfill the role? Specialized roles such as Treasurer and V.P. I.T. are easier to accomplish if the individual has had experience in the past.

3. Nominate yourself!

Call for Articles for The SACRAO Journal Submissions are now being accepted for The SACRAO Journal.

The Editorial Board welcomes manuscripts for publication in SACRAO’s academic, refereed publication, The SACRAO Journal.

Members of SACRAO are encouraged to submit articles which pertain to their professional and research experiences regarding issues and innovative practices in the profession.

Preference is given to articles authored by SACRAO members, but articles from outside the membership will be considered based on revelatory findings that advance the work of SACRAO members.

Active Journal Editorial Board members may not submit articles for publication; book reviews and commentaries by Board members may be published at the discretion of the Editor.

Manuscripts should be submitted with the stylistic rules and guidelines delineated in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed., 2010). All manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that The SACRAO Journal Editorial Board reserves the right to edit for clarity, syntax, and style. At the discretion of the Editorial Board, authors may be asked to shorten or lengthen articles.

Manuscripts submitted for publication must be original material, which has not be simultaneously submitted for publication elsewhere. Length of manuscripts, including references and tables, should range from about eight to 20 double-spaced, 8.5x11-inch pages. Abstracts are limited to 125 words. Authors should retain a copy of the manuscript to guard against loss.

We are also accepting book reviews, best practice articles, reflections related to the profession and much more. If you are interested in submitting please email your manuscript or article to Dr. Scott Gordon at scott.gordon@wku.edu

Call for Journal Board Editors If interested please fill out the “I’m Available” form online or email Dr. Scott Gordon at scott.gordon@wku.edu

Call for Nominations for

Distinguished Service Award, Honorary Membership and Certificate of Appreciation

Call for Nominations for Multicultural/Emerging Leader Annual Meeting Scholarship Recipients

Please complete applications and nomination forms online by October 15, 2020 at:

https://sacrao.memberclicks.net/forms-docs

ALACRAO »

»

82nd Annual Conference October 28-30, 2020 VIRTUAL 83rd Annual Conference June 23-25, 2021 Mobile, AL

FACRAO »

Annual Higher Education Summit June 6-10, 2021 Florida Hotel and Conference Center Orlando, FL

»

Annual Higher Education Summit June 5-9, 2022 Plaza Hotel and Resort Daytona Beach, FL

State Association Updates FACRAO FACRAO held its virtual Annual Business Meeting on June 23, 2020, and notably, the Association added a permanent new position to their Executive Committee, the Vice President for Information Technology.

Additionally, a new slate of officers was elected/apponted to serve for the 2020-21 membership year: » President: Diana Hull » President-Elect: Edward Trombley Immediate Past President: Mimi Roberson » Vice President of Professional Development: Jessica Cheatwood-Alvarez » Vice President for Emerging and Specialized Programs: Valerie Kisseloff » Vice President for Communications and Member Relations: Aimee Leturmy » Treasurer: Amanda Douglas » Secretary: Andrew Konapelsky » Corporate Sponsor Liasion: Novella Franklin » Vice President for Information Technology: Helen Gonzalez » FCRAO Chair: Nevaler Tanesha Davis » Budget Committee Chair: Amber McCown

On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, FACRAO held its initial online event for member institutions in the 2020-21 membership year, a “Virtual Roundtable” discussion, that featured conversation on a variety of topics including: fall term and return to campus for students, return to campus for staff - tips for a compliant work place, remote work - technology platforms, use of teams, collaboration, federal ICE requirements for Fall, and the COVID-19 impact on admissions and recruitment.

The FACRAO Executive Committee asks members to SAVE THE DATE for their Annual Florida Higher Education Summits on 2021 and 2022: » Sunday, June 6 - Thursday, June 10, 2021 - the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida. » Sunday, June 5 - Thursday, June 9, 2022 - the Plaza Hotel and Resort in Daytona Beach, Florida.

SACRAO 2020 It seems like ages ago we met as a group for the SACRAO 2020 Annual Meeting in Alexandria, VA. While 2020 has been full of ups and downs, relive the annual meeting through photos and memories which are now online.

View and download photos online

2020-2021 SACRAO Executive Committee »

Steve McLeod - President Associate Dean Harding School of Theology

»

Kimberly Taylor - President-Elect University Registrar University of Kentucky

»

»

»

»

Cié Gee - Immediate Past President Associate Vice Provost in Career Engaged Learning University of Texas at San Antonio Melissa Hyatt - Vice President Information Technology Associate University Registrar Texas State University Karen Beckett - Vice President States/Regionals and Membership University Registrar University of Miami Wayne Banks - Vice President Program and Evaluation Registrar Southern Arkansas University Tech

»

Angela Brockelsby - Vice President Communication and Recognition Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Services NC State University

»

Ed Trombley - Program VP Topics in Higher Education Registrar Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

»

Julie Taylor - Secretary Director of Admissions University of North Alabama

»

»

Tennyson Smith - Program VP Distinct Populations and Programs Director of Recruiting Shelton State Community College

Jonathan Reece - Treasurer University Registrar UNC Charlotte

»

Megan Mitchell - Program VP Professional and Personal Development Director of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Austin Peay State University

»

Cynthia Terry - Program VP Records and Academic Services University Registrar University of Alabama at Birmingham

»

»

Chris Riggins - Local Arrangements Chair Assistant Director of Transfer Recruitment University of Central Arkansas Blake Bedsole - Program VP Recruitment, Admissions and Enrollment Management VP Enrollment Management Arkansas Tech University

Call for Nominations Distinguished Service Award, Honorary Membership and Certificate of Appreciation Deadline - October 15, 2020 Multicultural/Emerging Leader Annual Meeting Scholarship Deadline - October 15, 2020

Call for SACRAO Journal Articles and Board Members If you are interested in submitting an article for the SACRAO Journal, contact Dr. Scott Gordon at scott.gordon@wku.edu for more information.