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AACRAO Annual Meeting

Implementing Success

The AACRAO Annual Meeting is an opportunity to learn, network, and advance higher education. Professionals from a variety of higher education disciplines gather together at AACRAO's Annual Meeting to engage and discuss the ever-changing landscape of higher ed.

Collaborate with a worldwide, higher education network as it comes together to explore, engage, and learn. Each year higher education professionals face new and unique challenges in their work and AACRAO's Annual Meeting is the place to find solutions to those challenges.

Call for proposals

AACRAO invites content experts to submit workshop, session, or roundtable topics highlighting best practices, ideas, and solutions, helping shape higher education.

The Call for Proposals is closed.

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Schedule at a Glance

Updated as events and sessions are confirmed. | All sessions in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT/UTC-7).
  • Saturday, March 29

    Two-Day Workshop: Registrar 101/FERPA Workshop (Day 1 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Two-Day Workshop: Registrar 201 Workshop (Day 1 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    Two-Day Workshop: International Institute (Day 1 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    One-Day Workshop: Institutional Policy Capacity Workshop
    Pre-Registration Required - complimentary, with a cap of 40
    10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    Half-Day Workshop: Introducing FEM: Forensic Enrollment Management to Unlock Institutional Revenue
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Half-Day Workshop: Developing a Comprehensive Staffing Plan and Navigating from Interviewing to Onboarding
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Sunday, March 30

    Friends of Bill W.
    7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

    Registration Open
    7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

    Prayer Room Open & Lactation Room & Tranquility Rooms Open
    7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

    Speaker Ready Room Open
    10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    AACRAO Bookstore Open
    8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    Two-Day Workshop: Registrar 101/FERPA Workshop (Day 2 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    Two-Day Workshop: Registrar 201 Workshop (Day 2 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    Two-Day Workshop: International Institute (Day 2 of 2)
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    One-Day Workshop: Title IV Compliance in the Registrar's Office: The Basics of HEA, Enrollment Reporting, Audit, and Compliance Workshop
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    One-Day Workshop: Leading through SEM: Designing, Implementing, and Sustaining your SEM Plan
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    AACRAO/NASFAA Prison Education Work Group Orientation
    by invitation only
    8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

    Half-Day Workshop: State & Regional Officers
    Pre-Registration Required
    8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

    AACRAO SPEEDE Committee Meeting
    by invitation
    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    Program Committee Meeting
    For members of the 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Program Committee
    by invitation
    9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

    Luncheon for Professional Activities Committee Chairs
    For 2024-2025 PAC Chairs
    by invitation
    11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

    Half-Day Workshop: FERPA 2.0
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    Half-Day Workshop: You're Ready to Develop or Implement Innovative Digital Credentials, but Where to Begin?
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    PAC (Professional Activities Committees) Meeting
    For all members of PACs (2024-2025 & 2025-2026)
    1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    Experience AACRAO
    For all First-time Annual Meeting attendees
    3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    Opening Plenary Session
    Keynote Speaker: Lex Gillette - TEAM USA | Paralympic Track & Field Athlete
    5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

    Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
    (cash bar & hors d'oeuvres)
    6:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  • Monday, March 31

    Friends of Bill W.
    7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

    Registration Open
    7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Prayer Room Open & Lactation Room & Tranquility Rooms Open
    7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

    Speaker Ready Room Open
    7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Monday Morning Plenary Session: "Institutional Compliance Collaboration Needed for Federal Regulations for Institutional & Programmatic Quality & Accountability"
    Presenters: Cheryl Dowd, WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET); Kristi Wold-McCormick, University of Colorado Boulder & AACRAO President, Board of Directors; Erika Swain, University of Colorado System; Sarah Austin, National Association of Student Financial Aid (NAFSAA)
    7:45 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

    NNLSO Breakfast and Opening Session
    by invitation
    8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

    AACRAO Past Presidents' Breakfast
    by invitation
    8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

    AACRAO Bookstore Open
    8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Exhibit Hall Open
    9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

    AACRAO Women's Caucus Meeting
    9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

    Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
    9:50 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

    Corporate Showcase Presentations
    10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

    AACRAO Native American Caucus Meeting
    11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

    NEW! Networking Boxed Luncheon - open to all attendees
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

    Nominations & Elections 2023-2024 & 2024-2025 Committee Luncheon
    by invitation
    12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

    Graduate & Professional Schools Luncheon
    Pre-Registration Required - includes additional fee
    12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

    Understanding Intersectionality: A Discussion with AACRAO's Caucus Chairs
    1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

    Monday Afternoon Plenary Session: FERPA at a Crossroads: A Fireside Chat on the Future of Student Privacy Presenters: LeRoy Rooker, AACRAO and Dale King, AACRAO; moderated by Melanie Gottlieb, AACRAO
    2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

    Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
    3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    4:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

    AACRAO Latinx Caucus Meeting
    4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

    AACRAO LGBTQIA+ Caucus Meeting
    5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

    Board of Directors' Reception for Honorees
    by invitation
    6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, April 1

    Friends of Bill W.
    7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

    Registration Open
    7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Prayer Room Open & Lactation Tranquility Rooms Open
    7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

    Speaker Ready Room Open
    7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Tuesday Plenary Session: "Harnessing AI for Transfer Learner Success: Innovations in Advising and Mobility"
    Presenters: Dr. Zachary A. Pardos, University of California, Berkeley and Dr. Daniel Knox, SUNY System Administration
    7:45 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

    AACRAO Bookstore Open
    8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

    Exhibit Hall Open
    9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

    Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
    10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

    AACRAO Business Meeting
    10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Global Learning Mobility Luncheon (formerly International Luncheon)
    Pre-registration required - includes additional fee
    12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

    AACRAO Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus Meeting
    1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

    Tuesday Plenary Cultivating Community Session
    2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

    Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
    3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    4:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.

    AACRAO Black Caucus Meeting
    4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

    AACRAO Young Professionals Caucus Meeting
    5:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.

    State & Regional Receptions
    6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday, April 10

    Friends of Bill W.
    7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

    Prayer & Lactation Room & Tranquility Rooms Open
    7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Speaker Ready Room Open
    7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

    Registration Open
    8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Educational Sessions & Roundtable Discussions
    9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

    Closing Plenary Session
    Presenter: Simon Anderson
    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Program Committee Group Coordinators' Meeting
    For members of the 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Program Committee
    1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

    AACRAO Board of Directors Meeting
    1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

2025 AACRAO Annual Meeting Featured Speakers and Guests


Sunday - Opening Plenary Speaker


Lex Gillette is a celebrated Paralympic athlete from Team USA, specializing in the long jump. He has won five Paralympic medals, four world championships, and holds the world record for blind athletes, having surpassed the 22-foot mark.

Despite losing his sight in childhood,  Lex, with his mother's support, overcame challenges and became an inspiring figure. His achievements have been recognized by major media outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated, and he was inducted into the ADN Hall of Fame in 2015.

As a motivational speaker, Lex encourages audiences to look beyond their immediate circumstances, advocating that true success comes from vision rather than sight. His engaging presentations aim to inspire and empower others to achieve their potential, encapsulated in his motto: "There is no need for sight when you have a vision."

Monday Morning Plenary Session

Institutional Compliance Collaboration Needed for Federal Regulations for Institutional & Programmatic Quality & Accountability

Photograph of Sarah Autin

Sarah Austin
Policy Analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)

Photograph of Cheryl Dowd

Cheryl Dowd
Senior Director, State Authorization Network and WCET Policy Innovations

Photograph of Erika Swain

Erika Swain
Assistant Director of Academic Compliance and Authorization for the University of Colorado Boulder

Kristi Wold-McCormick
Assistant Vice Provost & University Registrar, University of Colorado Boulder

Monday Afternoon Plenary Session

FERPA at a Crossroads: A Fireside Chat on the Future of Student Privacy

Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with two of the foremost experts on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)—LeRoy Rooker and Dale King—moderated by AACRAO Executive Director Melanie Gottlieb. This session marks a pivotal transition in FERPA expertise as LeRoy, a longtime authority on student privacy, passes the torch to Dale.

Photograph of Dale King

Dale King
AACRAO Senior Fellow

LeRoy Rooker
AACRAO Senior Fellow

Tuesday Morning Plenary Session

Harnessing AI for Transfer Learner Success: Innovations in Advising and Mobility

This session will explore cutting-edge applications of AI in transfer advising and course articulation, highlighting how institutions can leverage these technologies to create more seamless and equitable pathways for transfer learners.

Photograph of Dr. Daniel Knox

Dr. Daniel Knox
Director of the Institute for Systems Innovation and Improvement

Dr. Zachary Pardos
Associate Professor of Education at UC Berkeley

Tuesday Afternoon Cultivating Community Plenary Session

In an era of constant change, the strength of a professional community lies in its ability to foster meaningful connections, welcome different perspectives, and create an environment where individuals feel valued and empowered. This session will explore the principles that help build a thriving and collaborative professional network—where respect, shared purpose, and innovation drive progress.

Join the AACRAO H.E.A.R.D. podcasters as they deliver AACRAO's first-ever live podcast from the main stage.

Cultivating Community Plenary Session Sponsor:

 

Podcast Hosts: Ingrid Nuttall, Portia LaMarr.  Special Guest: Hasan Kwame Jeffries

Ingrid Nuttall Portrait

Ingrid Nuttall
Deputy Registrar, Northeastern University

Portia LaMarr portrait circular

Portia LaMarr
Product Manager, The Ohio State University

Hasan Kwame Jeffries portrait

Hasan Kwame Jeffries
Author and Associate Professor in the Department of History, The Ohio State University

Wednesday Morning Public Policy Session

Join the AACRAO Government Relations team for an update on what is transpiring in Washington DC with a new Administration and Congress. Some of the topics that will be discussed include an update on the renewal of the Higher Education Act (HEA), important legislation for the association, the Department of Education budget and some of the regulatory changes the Administration is seeking to implement.

William Gil
Senior Director, Government Relations

Michael Bilfinger
Assistant Director, Public Policy

Wednesday Closing Plenary Speaker

Co-author of the award-winning book Foresight 2020: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow, which identified emerging opportunities in twelve industries.

Simon has dedicated his career to helping executives and other leaders around the world be future-ready. He brings a global perspective developed from speaking on four continents and having traveled to more than 35 countries.

As a thought leader in emerging technology, his insights have been featured on platforms worldwide, including Crain’s Business News, Commercial Factor Magazine, and Executive Connections, a publication of the International Executive MBA Council.