The mission of the American Association of
Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is to serve and
advance higher education by providing leadership in academic and
enrollment services. In the practice of their professions, AACRAO
members carry responsibilities for conduct that balance societal,
institutional, individual, and professional interests. To guide its
members, AACRAO has adopted the following principles of professional
ethics and practice in academic and enrollment services.
AACRAO members shall:
- Conduct themselves with integrity, fairness, honesty, and respect for others;
- Avoid conflicts between personal interests and
professional responsibilities, and resolve perceived conflicts through
full disclosure and independent review;
- Dispense complete, accurate, understandable, and truthful information and advice at all times.
In light of these ethical principles, AACRAO has adopted the following standards of professional practice.
AACRAO members shall:
- Serve and advance higher education by safeguarding the academic integrity of their institutions;
- Protect the legitimate privacy interests of
all individuals and maintain appropriate confidentiality of
institutional and student education records;
- Advance institutional interests through the competent practice of the profession;
- Act as stewards and objective enforcers of institutional policies and practices;
- Promote institutional policies and practices
that conform with this statement, especially when existing policies or
practices are in conflict with it;
- Promote broad and equal access to higher education for qualified students;
- Adhere to principles of nondiscrimination and equality within the framework of institutional mission and prevailing law ;
- Assist students to develop their talents and interests and become responsible citizens;
- Provide to prospective students and their
families accurate interpretations of institutional admissions criteria,
transfer credit policies, costs, financial aid availability, and
educational offerings;
- Recruit distinct student populations
(international students, students with learning disabilities, etc.) only
when appropriate institutional resources and commitment to serve those
populations are in place;
- Avoid practices in the recruitment and
enrollment of international students that would not be ethical in the
recruitment or enrollment of domestic students;
- Ensure that information management systems
protect and maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and security of
institutional records;
- Provide accurate interpretations of institutional records;
- Exercise sound management principles, using institutional resources effectively and efficiently;
- Remain knowledgeable of current principles and practices of the profession;
- Contribute to the continuing advancement of the professions;
- Encourage the professional development of individuals at all levels of academic and enrollment services;
- Ensure that contractors and other third-parties
involved in the delivery of academic and enrollment services adhere to
the principles articulated in this statement;
- Adhere to the principles articulated in this statement.
Adopted by the AACRAO Board of Directors – December 3, 2009
Amended by the AACRAO Board of Directors – March 31, 2010
Ratified by AACRAO Members – April 23, 2010