By Jackie Carter, President, AACRAO Board of Directors, and Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Program Manager, Washington University in St. Louis
2023 has been a year of global upheaval. Higher education continues to evolve, addressing changes in enrollment trends, credentialing, technology, and the shifting needs of a global workforce.
At AACRAO, we recognize the importance of leaning into change and doing the best we can to proactively meet the evolving needs of learners. Just like our member institutions, as an organization, we continue to evolve structures, systems, and practices.
Changes at AACRAO
A couple of the most recent changes at AACRAO include:
Launching the AACRAO Exchange: An Online Community
In October 2023, AACRAO launched the AACRAO Exchange, an online community for higher education professionals pursuing excellence in admissions, registration, and enrollment services. The AACRAO Exchange is full of opportunities to connect, learn, and share insights and best practices. Join or log in using your AACRAO membership credentials.
New Member Dues Structure
At the 2023 Annual Meeting, the membership voted to give the Board the ability to review and change the membership structure. The new system, approved by the Board in June 2023, allows for unlimited rosters at member institutions and has a more equitable dues structure based on an institution's total expenditure rather than enrollment.
AACRAO Member Institutions Now Have Unlimited Membership Rosters
In December 2023, the first phase of the new structure, open rosters for all institutional members, went into effect and has received an extremely positive response. All active institutional members can now add an unlimited number of personnel to their membership roster for free. This change supports AACRAO’s ongoing commitment to expanding access, innovation, and collaboration, providing full AACRAO membership benefits to all interested personnel at active member institutions. Beginning July 1, 2024, AACRAO’s institutional membership dues will shift to being based on annual expenditure (as reported by IPEDS) rather than full-time enrollment.
Member Town Halls
On January 23 and February 20, AACRAO will host virtual Town Halls to discuss the new membership structure. Join the AACRAO Board of Directors and Executive Director for an update on our progress with the new structure, which will fully go into effect with the 2024-2025 membership year starting on July 1, 2024.
We look forward to your feedback and questions on the changes so far.
A Renewed Vision for the Future
Structural changes may not be the most exciting things to talk about, but as professionals in admissions, registration, and enrollment, you know that the right structures and systems make a world of difference. In supporting learners and their mobility, systems that support innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration are more crucial than ever.
We are proud to be on this journey with you, our members. 2024 will continue to be a year of change. Let’s lean into it together as we build the systems, practices, and nomenclature that are needed to support learning mobility and student success