Game On! WACRAO’s 94th annual conference serves up higher education knowledge

Standing, left to right: Lori Christianson, Cori Stewart, Jessi Asmus, Anne Eckenrod, Heidi Tuescher-Gille, and Beth Warner. Kneeling, left to right: Ellen Clark, Kayla Jensen, Joshua Rybaski, Kelly Norton, Kate Kurek, and Jackie McHugh. Green Bay is known as one of the most vibrant sports towns in the country. It makes sense, then, that the Wisconsin Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ (WACRAO) annual conference would lean into that theme. Even though the Packers didn’t take to Lambeau Field until a few days later, it was “Game On” at the 94th annual conference, held Nov. 5-7 at Tundra Lodge. DEM team members led or co-led a total of eight sessions this year, diving into topics ranging from enrollment management-specific to how we can grow and support each other as professionals. Presentations included:

• The RO’s Cori Stewart taking attendees through how to make strategic data requests and how to share data with others;
• The RO’s Kate Kurek and Anne Eckenrod and OAR’s Kayla Jensen kicking off WACRAO’s new Parenting Professionals group (WACRETs);
• The RO’s Heidi Tuescher-Gille, Kelly Norton, and Anne Eckenrod sharing experiences on and strategies for navigating career transitions (which was selected as WACRAO’s Best of the Best submission for AACRAO’s national conference);
• The RO’s Jessi Asmus and Beth Warner discussing the nuts and bolts of National Student Clearinghouse enrollment and degree reporting;
• OAR’s Lori Christianson co-leading a session on what works (and what doesn’t) when recruiting various types of students;
• OAR’s Ellen Clark sharing some key project management tips and tricks;
• The RO’s Kelly Norton leading participants in a discussion of how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education; and
• The RO’s Jackie McHugh and other members of WACRAO’s Access, Diversity, and Equity Committee highlighting the shifting political winds surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Contributions Recognized

A number of DEM team members were also recognized at the conference for their contributions to WACRAO and higher education. Receiving years of service pins were:

• RO’s Jeff Armstrong (10 years);
• OAR’s Dave Leszczynski (25 years); and
• RO’s Beth Warner (25 years).

In addition, the RO’s Aaron Apel was acknowledged for his role as historian, and the RO’s Kate Kurek and Jackie McHugh were acknowledged as the chairs of the Professional Development and Access, Diversity, and Equity committees, respectively. OAR’s Ellen Clark received the Tina Falkner Exemplary New Member Award, which recognizes members who make significant contributions to WACRAO within their first five years of membership.

Looking Ahead

Next year’s conference will be held Nov. 18-20 at the Madison Marriott West hotel in Middleton. OAR’s Joshua Rybaski is co-chairing the Local Arrangements Committee that will plan much of next year’s conference.