The Assembly

The Assembly

A Learning Mobility Summit

The Assembly is being held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia | July 19 - 21, 2026

The Assembly is the cornerstone annual summit of the Learning Mobility Lab community and the next evolution of the longstanding AACRAO Technology and Transfer conferences. Born from extensive research and shaped by direct member feedback, The Assembly represents a renewed, ambitious vision for what these conferences can achieve.

Far more than a traditional event, The Assembly is the culmination of the Learning Mobility Lab’s ongoing work and serves as a space to spotlight national progress, advance new initiatives, and create shared action agendas. Here, community members showcase data, celebrate milestones, and co-design future interventions. The Assembly is where learning mobility becomes movement.

This dynamic summit asks you to be more than just an attendee; you are an active collaborator. The Assembly creates a living, evolving movement dedicated to driving year-round action on Learning Mobility. Each year, we’ll rally around a new, critical theme, giving you a chance to actively build, challenge, and shape the future of how learners move through their educational and career paths.

We launch this new chapter in 2025–2026 with the  AACRAO National Learning Mobility Challenge for Improving Transfer Time-To-Decision, an ambitious initiative to reimagine the systems and structures that shape learner progress.

Built on Four Principles

  • Learner-Centered: Prioritizing the unique needs and goals of today's and tomorrow's learners. Empowering individuals to shape their educational paths and ensuring systems enhance learner experiences.
  • Equitable Opportunity: Committed to removing barriers and creating fair opportunities for all learners by promoting pathways that foster educational, social, and economic mobility.
  • Interoperability & Open Standards: Advocating for seamless data flow across diverse systems, promoting open standards that drive innovation, collaboration, and support technological integration.
  • The Value of Higher Education: Championing higher education as a driver of personal growth and economic prosperity. Supporting continuous learning.

Who Is An Active Collaborator?

The Assembly brings together professionals dedicated to advancing learning mobility across the postsecondary landscape. If you work in admissions, the registrar’s office, enrollment management, financial aid, transfer centers, information technology, or other areas that shape student pathways, this is your community.

Participants attend not just to develop professionally, but to contribute to a national movement. At The Assembly, attendees share data and insights, celebrate progress, and collaborate on the next generation of interventions. Whether you're launching a new initiative or scaling an existing one, this is where your work connects to a broader effort, where learning mobility becomes a collective movement.

The Assembly Advisory Group

The Assembly Advisory Group provides valuable leadership and professional development experience. Committee members play an active role in shaping the content and participant experience of the Assembly; they collaborate with AACRAO staff to provide thematic guidance, ensuring the program addresses timely topics relevant to technology and transfer in higher education.

Meet the "TAAG" group and learn more about The Assembly

the 2024 Advisory Committee

Photograph of Wendolyn Davis

Dr. Wendolyn Davis (Co-Lead), Executive Director of Pathway Alignment at Chattanooga State Community College 

Dr. Wendolyn Davis is Executive Director of Pathway Alignment at Chattanooga State Community College. Prior to joining Chatt State in June 2023, she held the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Wendolyn's current engagement in AACRAO includes serving in multiple leadership roles, including chair-elect of the Nominations and Elections committee, chair-elect of the Black Caucus, and this Summit. She is also a past president of the Michigan ACRAO. Dr. Davis holds a Ph.D. in Organization and Management, an MBA in Human Resource Management, a BS in Applied Psychology, and an Associate Degree in General Studies. Her prior experience includes TRiO Programs, Child Welfare (International and Domestic), and Workforce Development.


headshot of Marc Booker

Dr. Marc Booker (Co-Lead), Vice Provost, Strategy, University of Phoenix

With nearly two decades of experience working with online and distance education students at the post-secondary level in admissions, registrar, and academic administration roles Marc Booker brings a unique perspective on the trends in higher education from a non-traditional student lens. As Vice Provost for Strategy at the University of Phoenix, Marc oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the student experience such as learning platform implementations, curricular enhancements, and developing empathetic solutions to drive improved student outcomes through data. Marc has also contributed to several publications as a co-author for AACRAO’s Guide to Best Practices: Articulation Agreements (2019); writing a chapter on international admissions for the AACRAO International Guide (2016), and was a consultant and named contributor to the Transferability of Postsecondary Credit Following Student Transfer or Co-Enrollment (2014) study published by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education. In 2020, Marc received a Hall of Fame recognition from Blackboard for his contributions in providing thought leadership and innovation in education.


Photograph of Chris Buonocore

Chris Buonocore, Director of Student Success Initiatives at CUNY Lehman College 

Chris has nearly 15 years of experience and holds an MSED in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York. He is currently the Director of Student Success Initiatives at Lehman College, CUNY. Chris is responsible for coordinating advising efforts across campus, including leading the implementation of EAB Navigate. He is an expert in Peoplesoft and Degree Works data and strategy, especially as it relates to working with transfer students. Chris also serves on the ACT grant project management team (via Ithaka S+R) and coordinates development and training as the business owner of Transfer Explorer.


Photograph of Portia LaMarr

Portia LaMarr, Product Manager, Office of Technology and Digital Innovation at The Ohio State University 

Portia has worked in higher education for over 10 years, holding roles in scheduling and degree audit. While learning and working in higher education, she has maintained the focus of student and regained a focus in technology and has become a Product Manager within the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation, assisting in enhancing the student experience through our web and mobile applications. In addition to student work, she also works in fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion and served as the Chair of her former department’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, co-host on AACRAO’s podcast H.E.A.R.D. (Higher Education and Real Diversity) and serves as the AACRAO Black Caucus Social Media Vice Chair.


Photograph of Rhonda Shields

Rhonda Shields, Associate Registrar for Operations, Compliance, and Degree Services at Morgan State University 

With over two decades of experience in higher education, Rhonda has developed expertise in instructional design, organizational management, strategic planning, and project management. Her passion for lifelong learning and creating successful student environments drives her to utilize technology to support transfer students. Throughout her career, Rhonda has held various roles, including policy administrator, adjunct instructor, academic advisor, and trainer. She is an advocate for the use of technology in higher education and has made significant contributions to the advancement of technology for transfer students. Currently, Rhonda serves on the Maryland Higher Education Commission's Student Transfer Advisory Committee, which addresses transfer-related issues and modifies policies.


Loida Gonzalez Utley small portrait

Loida González Utley, M.A., Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services, Texas A&M University- Central Texas

Loida currently serves as the Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services at A&M-Central Texas. Her career began 9 years ago as a graduate admissions coordinator where she gained expertise in foreign credential evaluations. Loida’s passion for serving non-traditional populations continued through her work in transfer recruitment, by leading transfer initiatives and partnerships across Texas. In her current role, Loida continues the efforts to provide equitable opportunities and educational access to all transfer students. Her advocacy for change has led her to become an active member of TACRAO and AACRAO by serving as a committee member, presenter, researcher, and as the host for Transfer Tea, an AACRAO podcast.


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Who Attends?

The Assembly brings together professionals dedicated to advancing learning mobility across the postsecondary landscape. If you work in admissions, the registrar’s office, enrollment management, financial aid, transfer centers, information technology, or other areas that shape student pathways, this is your community.

Participants attend not just to develop professionally, but to contribute to a national movement. At The Assembly, attendees share data and insights, celebrate progress, and collaborate on the next generation of interventions. Whether you're launching a new initiative or scaling an existing one, this is where your work connects to a broader effort, where learning mobility becomes a collective movement.


Meeting Fees

*Early Bird Registration ends May 29, 2026
  • To qualify for the member rate: the registrant must be a named roster member of a member institution, an organizational member, or an individual member. Registrants affiliated with a non-institutional organization will be reclassified as a "Corporate Attendee" and will be required to pay the appropriate fees.
  • Registrants affiliated with a company or organization that sells products or services to AACRAO membership will be classified as Corporate.
  • Member Fees
    Member Registration Fees

     

    On or Before 05/29/2026

    On 05/30/2026 - 7/18/2026

    On Site

    Institutional Member

    $978

    $1,163

    $1,313

    AACRAO National Learning Mobility Challenge Participant Member

    $782

    $930

    $1,050

    One-Day Pass (Sunday or Monday or Tuesday) Member

    $489

    $589

    $689


  • Non-Member Fees
    Non-Member Registration Fees

     

    On or Before 05/29/2026

    On 05/30/2026 - 7/18/2026

    On Site

    Institutional Non-Member

    $1,378

    $1,563

    $1,713

    AACRAO National Learning Mobility Challenge Participant Non-Member

    $1,102

    $1,250

    $1,370

    One-Day Pass (Sunday or Monday or Tuesday) Non-Member

    $689

    $789

    $889


  • Corporate Fees
    Corporate Fees
    *Price is Per Company Allotment of Tickets

    Corporate Presenting - Member Company

    $3,500

    Corporate Presenting - Non-Member Company

    $5,500

    Corporate Exhibitor - Member Company

    $4,500

    Corporate Exhibitor - Non-Member Company

    $6,500

    Corporate Additional Attendee - Member Company
    individual registrant fee after allotted complimentary tickets have been claimed

    $1,163

    Corporate Additional Attendee - Non-Member Company
    individual registrant fee after allotted complimentary tickets have been claimed

    $1,563

    Corporate Attendee (not exhibiting, presenting or sponsoring) - Member Company

    $ 4,500

    Corporate Attendee (not exhibiting, presenting or sponsoring) - Non-Member Company

    $ 6,500


    For more information about attending The Assembly as a corporate registrant, contact corporates@aacrao.org

Learning Mobility Research

Balancing Access and Accountability: Assessing the Implications of the New Federal Transcript-Hold Regulation for Higher Education - Part 1

Jun 3, 2024, 09:10 AM
Title : Balancing Access and Accountability: Assessing the Implications of the New Federal Transcript-Hold Regulation for Higher Education - Part 1
By Line :
Pardot Form : https://go.aacrao.org/l/407842/2024-06-26/cn9wgy

Authored by Dr. Wendy Kilgore and Dr. James Dean Ward, this report delves into the impacts and institutional responses to federal regulations limiting transcript holds for students with unpaid balances. This comprehensive analysis is essential reading for anyone involved in higher education administration.

Based on a survey of 326 institutions, the report reveals significant findings:

  • 77% of institutions do not plan to use partial-transcript holds, but many are actively preparing for the new regulations by eliminating transcript holds (69%)
  • Some institutions are changing procedures (62%) and policies (49%), and implementing alternative methods to address unpaid balances (50%)

These proactive steps underscore the importance of adapting to regulatory changes to maintain institutional stability and support student success.

The report highlights the need for strategies that promote learner success, equity, and access within a sustainable operational model. Download the full report below to explore these crucial insights and stay ahead of the evolving regulatory landscape.

Sponsored By:

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Categories :
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  • Research
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Tags :
  • Learning Mobility
  • Transcript Withholding
  • Transcripts