So much has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. The “new normal” everyone is talking about seems like constantly shifting sands in a sand storm. We can’t see too far ahead and the landscape and even our footing is shifting, causing us to be unstable and requiring us to deal with something new every day. I… Read More Empathy for Students
When I watched the video of the police officer killing George Floyd on May 25, 2020, I was sickened. Inside, I was reeling and stumbling at the blatant act of evil on display for all the world to see, proof again that power often begets violence. I am a white male, and I do not… Read More Black Lives Do Matter: How Can a Registrar Be an Ally?
In the COVID-19 crisis, how can a university or college keep operating? At Trinity Western University, classes have moved online, and yes, Alex Usher, they really have moved online. They’re not perfect, but they’re working. And how can a Registrar’s Office keep working? Here are my ideas, and make sure you read to the end… Read More 3 Ways to Work Remotely
Y2K, SARS, COVID-19 are all scary events that I have had the privilege of being a Registrar through. I’m on a response team for my university, and here is what I’ve both heard and offered to my team about dealing with things like this: Lead. As Mr. Rogers’ mother famously told him, “Look for the… Read More Registraring in a Crisis
A day after I posted my thoughts on what good policy should do, Alex Usher posted a brilliant commentary on how to make good policy. You need to read it! In summary, I think he’s saying that in Canada we have a warped view of power and the way we use that power to create… Read More Good Policy Update
As a Registrar, I find myself interacting with policy on a daily basis. At my university, I find that I write or revise several policies every year. Today seems to be a policy-writing day, so I thought I would share my reflections on policy here. My philosophy of good policy is that it should promote… Read More Good Policy Promotes Good
“Boss! I need your powerful signature.” In universities, there are a lot of expectations of a Registrar. Earlier today, I was discussing with a colleague the assumption that the Registrar should sign a certificate of participation. He wasn’t so sure the Registrar needed to sign, but others were putting pressure on him. Some people like… Read More Six Questions I Ask Before I Sign Something as Registrar
As many of you will have heard, Melanie Mark, the Minister of Advanced Education in BC, has asked colleges and universities in British Columbia to provide to her our policies on how we handle large cash payments and refunds. Many news outlets have carried this story. We are being asked to do this because a… Read More Money Laundering Investigation
I am a regular reader of Seth Godin’s blog, and the other day he wrote about investing in slack. I thought he meant Slack, which he has promoted before, but no, he was referring to what some have called margin. As usual, he got me thinking! I have just returned from a Registrar’s conference during… Read More Slacking in the Registrar’s Office
The Western Association of Registrars held another successful conference this week. Congratulations to James D’Arcy, Registrar at the University of Regina, for chairing the Conference committee and for hosting such a good conference. One of the privileges of being the President of the Association is that you get to host the biannual conference in your… Read More Another Successful Conference
