AACRAO has a critical need for expertise to advise the association and support its membership in navigating the complex and dynamic landscape of digital learner records in higher education. Our goal is to ensure that best practices are identified and that
students' data privacy and security are protected. A lack of understanding surrounding data exchange and related technologies creates both a technical and psychological barrier to the realization of an inclusive data exchange ecosystem in the US.
The AACRAO Technical Advisory Council is responsible for tracking the rapid development of digital learner records and credentials in higher education, advising the association on the development of content, programming, guidance, and education to support its membership and strategic priorities. The committee will monitor developments in the field of digital learner records and provide regular updates and recommendations to the association leadership.
Qualifications
Specialized expertise related to the technology of the digital record ecosystem, including existing digital exchange practices and/or engagement with emergent trends for issuing digital records between institutions and other business spaces to support learners wishing to enter the labor market. Advisory council members will be actively engaged with the latest research and trends, attend external events, and interface with multiple constituents within the association and the industry.
Council membership should represent a broad cross-section of experts in the field of student records, educational technology, and data management. Members might include representatives from the voting membership as well as organizational and corporate subject matter experts and thought leaders.
Are there any required events for this role?
- General engagement with council meetings and associated projects
What is the work
- Monthly ATAC meetings.
- Track the rapid development of digital learner records and credentials in higher education.
- Advise AACRAO on the development of content, programming, guidance, and education to support the membership and strategic priorities.
- Monitor developments in innovative learner records and provide regular updates and recommendations to AACRAO leadership.
- Collaborate with standards bodies to contribute to the development and adoption of data standards and structures of digital learner records to achieve true interoperability.
- Develop/maintain strong collaborative pathways with Student Information Systems (SIS) to advocate for the needs of AACRAO members and to enhance learning mobility among all members of the credential ecosystem. This includes learners, institutions, corporate partners and all entities who have interest in learning records. table access to digital exchange of learner records.
- Engage with industry stakeholders, attend external events, and stay updated on the latest research and trends in the field.
- Under the direction of AACRAO, develop and deploy initiatives such as national higher education technology audits, baseline expectations for learner record exchange, and curriculum maps for technical knowledge requirements.
- Advise AACRAO on new and emergent technical innovations and guidance for institutions and professions in the digital learner records space.
- Participate and lead in AACRAO’s Higher Education Software Exchange Community.
Time commitment
- 1-year Membership with 2-3 Hours per Month
What is the impact?
- For the Volunteer
- Professional Growth and Leadership: Involvement in ATAC provides unique opportunities to engage with cutting-edge developments in digital learner records, expanding the volunteer’s technical knowledge and leadership experience.
- Network Expansion: Through regular engagement with peers, standards bodies, and industry leaders, volunteers broaden their professional network and gain insight into best practices and national trends.
- Influence and Visibility: Volunteers play an active role in shaping AACRAO’s priorities, guidance, and national initiatives, increasing their visibility and credibility as thought leaders in the digital credentialing space.
- For the Institution
- Strategic Advantage: The institution benefits from early awareness of innovations in digital credentials, data interoperability, and SIS integration, enabling proactive planning and adoption.
- Representation in Standards Development: By having a seat at the table, institutions help shape national data standards and technical guidance that will directly impact their operations and learners.
- Enhanced Learning Mobility: Through advocacy and collaboration, the institution contributes to and benefits from expanded pathways for learning mobility, including more seamless exchange of learner records.
- For the Field of Higher Education
- Accelerated Innovation: The workgroup's efforts help track and respond to the rapid evolution of digital credentialing technologies, ensuring that higher education stays relevant and adaptive.
- Interoperability and Equity: By developing standards and engaging with the credential ecosystem, ATAC supports efforts to make learning records more portable, secure, and accessible across diverse systems and stakeholders.
- Field-Wide Collaboration: ATAC fosters coordinated engagement across institutions, vendors, and policy bodies, aligning efforts around a shared vision for the future of learner records and digital education infrastructure.