The July 2022 60-Second Survey invited all AACRAO members to provide their perspectives on
what the role of the registrar should be at their institution. Particular attention was paid to
what the role of the registrar should be for student engagement and enrollment management.
These data will be used to shape a roundtable discussion this summer, a white paper, and
professional development opportunities by AACRAO.
If you are interested in a look at the current role of the registrar as reported by registrars, the
career profile report linked here is focused on the current role and career path.
The survey was open to all AACRAO members. There are 922 responses representing 731
institutions or systems of higher education in eight countries (Appendix A). Eighty-five percent
of respondents held positions in the registrar’s office or institutional equivalent. Among the 783
from the registrar’s office, 603 held the position of registrar or institutional equivalent.
Academic affairs, enrollment management, student affairs, and enrollment services had the
highest representation (48%, 24%, 12%, and 9% respectively). Seventy-four percent
self-identified as middle management, 13% as first-level management, 7% as executive-level
management, and 3% each as front-line staff and individual contributors.
Key Data
- 88% agree that registrars should be actively engaged with strategic enrollment
management efforts at the institution
- Front-line staff members are less likely to hold this perspective than
executive-level management
- 79% agree that registrars should be actively involved with student engagement across
the student lifecycle
- 86% selected academic records management as the most important function for a
registrar
- 34% believe that “inadequate positional power/authority/influence” is the most
significant obstacle registrars face when implementing change to support student
success
- One in ten respondents say technology is their most significant obstacle when trying to
implement changes that support student success
This research has been made possible in part by sponsorship from
