Finalists selected for university registrar

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has announced four finalists for the position of university registrar.

The finalists are:

–Tammy L. Aagard, university registrar and interim director of student financial aid at University of Wyoming;

–Heather A. Chermak, associate registrar at University of Idaho;

–Larry Lockwood, assistant provost and university registrar, University of Iowa;

 –Scott Owczarek, associate registrar, Michigan State University.

During campus visits in November, the candidates will meet with varied campus representatives, including students, faculty and staff. Dates and itineraries for the campus visits will be publicized when details are finalized.

“Our search committee has conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive search process,” says Joanne Berg, vice provost for enrollment management. “They have presented us with four finalists, each having outstanding experience and leadership credentials in the registrar profession.”

The registrar and the Office of the Registrar is committed to providing long-term positive educational outcomes for students.  As a part of the Division of Enrollment Management, he or she will be a strong partner with the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Office of Integrated Student Information System, and with academic units and other campus offices.

The overall goal is to ensure a continuum of support from the time someone is recruited as a prospective student until they reach their degree goals and beyond.  

Positioning the office to take advantage of technology for the delivery of service, management of records and for access to and ensuring security of information will be a high priority.  A strong partnership with The Division of Information Technology and the Office of the Chief Information Officer will be critical.

In addition, the registrar position centers on several key priorities. The registrar establishes strategic direction, priorities and goals for the Office of the Registrar; collaborates with others in the campus community on issues and policy related to data access, enrollment, student records, and record privacy; is involved with the interpretation and application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and ensures excellence in the delivery of services to students, alumni, faculty, advisors, staff and a multitude of offices and colleagues across campus.

A broadly representative search-and-screen committee made up of faculty, staff and students recently presented the list of unranked finalists to Berg. The committee was chaired by Jocelyn Milner, associate provost and director of academic planning and analysis, and co-chaired by Brian Yandell, professor in the departments of Horticulture and Statistics.

The registrar role is currently held on an interim basis by Dan Edlebeck.