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December 23 2025
Necia Martins, Associate Registrar of Student Finance & Client Services at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, has earned the Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). Martins also has the honor of being the 100th recipient of this Endorsement. Martins is among an elite group of only 100 individuals internationally and is the 12th person from Canada (7th from Ontario) to earn this endorsement.
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December 04 2025
AACRAO recently renewed its agreement with Bethel University regarding its Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement for graduates of the Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement Program. Under this renewed agreement, professionals who have earned the AACRAO SEM Endorsement by completing the SEM-EP have one course waived toward the completion of the Doctor of Education: Leadership in Higher Education degree at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon successful completion of the SEM Endorsement Program, Bethel University will waive the course, EDUC 885: Individual Projects in Higher Education (two to four credits). In this revised agreement, AACRAO members with a SEM Endorsement accepted into the Bethel University Ed.D. program will also now receive a scholarship that will cover up to $400 of tuition per term for a maximum of $1,200 per academic year. This is a new benefit of the renewed agreement.
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November 14 2025
AACRAO research indicates that many current CAdOs are preparing for the next step in their career, indicating more CAdO roles opening in the United States in the next three years. To offer guidance for that career path, the report also explored the responsibilities, workloads, and common challenges faced by CAdOs and asked respondents what skills they considered most important to the position. This report was made possible by a sample of 268 U.S. Chief Admissions Officers who participated in our survey and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), which assisted in sharing the survey.
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July 24 2025
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) supports the efforts of the U.S. for Success Coalition as a member of the coalition and serves on the advisory council.
The U.S. for Success Coalition, a national alliance of more than 50 organizations spanning business, higher education, and innovation sectors, today called on the U.S. Department of State to immediately prioritize visa processing for international students and scholars.
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July 09 2025
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is proud to announce that "Project Infuse," a groundbreaking collaborative initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to digital credentials in higher education, has officially launched with support from Walmart.
Infuse is leveraging connections and collaborations with a growing network of institutional leaders, technical experts, vendors, and public interest partners. These stakeholders are working together to shape next steps, coordinate pilot efforts, and ensure that the resulting infrastructure reflects the diversity of needs and strengths across the higher education landscape.
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July 02 2025
AACRAO releases Learning Mobility: Empowering Educational Journeys Beyond Traditional Pathways, the first comprehensive examination of learning mobility in U.S. higher education. Developed in collaboration with scholars, practitioners, and policy experts, this groundbreaking volume challenges traditional credit recognition models and offers innovative strategies that center learners' diverse educational journeys. Available free to AACRAO members, the book serves as a catalyst for institutional transformation and supports the development of more inclusive, efficient, and future-ready pathways through higher education.
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May 29 2025
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is proud to announce we are part of 12 leading national associations have collaborated to adopt a unified set of core principles for advancing Learning and Employment Records (LERs). This collective agreement marks a pivotal step toward aligning learning and skills development with workforce needs, ensuring access for all to verifiable credentials, and supporting lifelong learning pathways.
This initiative aligns with national movements by public and private sector employers and education to shift to skills-first approaches to respond to the growing economy and quickly connect people with good jobs. By prioritizing LERs, the coalition seeks to build upon this momentum and further strengthen the nation's workforce.
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April 09 2025
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is proud to announce we are part of 12 leading national associations have collaborated to adopt a unified set of core principles for advancing Learning and Employment Records (LERs). This collective agreement marks a pivotal step toward aligning learning and skills development with workforce needs, ensuring access for all to verifiable credentials, and supporting lifelong learning pathways.
This initiative aligns with national movements by public and private sector employers and education to shift to skills-first approaches to respond to the growing economy and quickly connect people with good jobs. By prioritizing LERs, the coalition seeks to build upon this momentum and further strengthen the nation's workforce.
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February 26 2025
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is proud to announce we are part of 12 leading national associations have collaborated to adopt a unified set of core principles for advancing Learning and Employment Records (LERs). This collective agreement marks a pivotal step toward aligning learning and skills development with workforce needs, ensuring access for all to verifiable credentials, and supporting lifelong learning pathways.
This initiative aligns with national movements by public and private sector employers and education to shift to skills-first approaches to respond to the growing economy and quickly connect people with good jobs. By prioritizing LERs, the coalition seeks to build upon this momentum and further strengthen the nation's workforce.
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November 19 2024
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October 22 2024
AACRAO and Ithaka S+R have released "Balancing Access and Accountability: Insights from States with Existing Transcript-Hold Regulations Part 2," highlighting the effects of state-level transcript-hold regulations on higher education. Key findings include that 97% of institutions altered their practices following state regulations, with over half eliminating transcript holds for unpaid balances. The report notes that while changes affected a small portion of learners, 90% of institutions felt prepared to comply with new federal regulations. It emphasizes the need for proactive strategies to prevent unpaid balances and offers recommendations for institutions to adapt effectively to regulatory changes. For more details, the full report can be accessed online.
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September 03 2024
Innovative new resource hub aims to support the adoption and implementation of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in postsecondary education.
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August 14 2024
Innovative new resource hub aims to support the adoption and implementation of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in postsecondary education.
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June 26 2024
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) has published a new report, "Balancing Access and Accountability: Assessing the Implications of the New Federal Transcript-Hold Regulation for Higher Education - Part 1." Authored by Dr. Wendy Kilgore of AACRAO and Dr. James Dean Ward of Ithaka S+R, the report examines the effects of federal regulations limiting transcript holds for unpaid balances. Data from a survey of 326 institutions reveals that while 77% do not plan to use partial-transcript holds, many are eliminating holds and changing policies in response to the new regulations. The report highlights the need for ongoing research and collaboration to understand and adapt to these changes, promoting learner success and institutional stability. The full report is available on the AACRAO website.
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June 24 2024
AACRAO and Sova announce the launch of the Learning Evaluation and Recognition for the Next Generation (LEARN) Commission, a new national effort to recognize undergraduate learning and improve credit evaluation policies and practices. The LEARN Commission will evaluate policies and practices for transferring and applying credit between accredited institutions, as well as policies and processes for recognizing credit earned from high school dual enrollment and learning obtained in the workplace and military.
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April 17 2024
A coalition of national associations representing stakeholders in higher education has formed the LER Accelerator to address the slow adoption of digital credentials in college campuses. Led by AACRAO, the coalition aims to promote Learning and Employment Records (LERs) as evidence of learners' skills to employers.
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January 31 2024
Due to the continued delays in the availability of FAFSA applicant data, AACRAO, in collaboration with eight other higher education associations, urges colleges and universities to extend institutional enrollment, scholarship, and financial aid deadlines beyond the traditional May 1 date.
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September 18 2023
AACRAO and 9 other leading stakeholders in education, workforce development, and government announce the launch of an interactive LER Ecosystem Map, designed to help individuals access career opportunities and help employers hire and promote talent based on skills and experience.
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July 24 2023
Data from this first-look 2023 benchmark survey addresses a number of issues, challenges and opportunities that institutional professional and continuing education (PCE) units face with academic registrars and others in central administration.
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June 27 2023
Fifty-six community colleges across four states came together at the AACRAO Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Planning Convening to showcase their long-range plans for increasing access and improving student success.