Catching FireResourcing student assistants to write and publish within

the Registrar's Office

Session M5.09Monday, February 2, 2015

4:15-5:15pmMelissa Holmes

ELON UNIVERSITY

What we’ve accomplished since 2013

• SACRAO Journal • SACRAO Newsletter • AACRAO Journal• AACRAO book • SACRAO student

scholarship

• Elon student published each year

• 7 student pieces published

• Article in College & University

• Multiple book chapters authored by a student

• The first student to win is Ashley Edwards representing Elon University

What does that mean?

• E-net is a buzz• Other offices intrigued• Staff appreciation day recognition• Staff member received dean’s recognition• Undergraduate Student success• Attention and resources from Provost

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN…

Student Assistants of Registrar’s Office PastHistorically student worker positions were heavily paper driven

• Filed papers in file folders• Pulled files and filed files that fulltime employees requested• Helped process registration• Copied and faxed papers• Processed paper transcripts and verifications when fulltime employee out• Answered phones and directed calls to full-time staff• Covered front desk for lunches• Started scanning current folders into electronic records• Paper driven work was being replaced with technology• The student workload changed dramatically however, the position and expectations

went unchanged• Poorly dress• Feet on desk• Low expectations• They did lots of homework

January 2013

• A bomb hit the office• His name is Dr. Rodney Parks• Office priorities changed with the hire of a new registrar• Total change in philosophy of what our office was doing• Expectations of entire office changed• Change in all full-time job descriptions• Massive overhaul of titles and duties• New reporting lines• Change in student assistant supervisor• Both leaders (of both the office and of the student assistants) were new

and developed new expectations• Both leaders had been given a chance to succeed at a newly aquired

position • New ideas combined with two people who were not afraid to change things

The era of the Rodpocalypse began

Why writing, research and mentoringfrom the Office of the Registrar?

• Elon’s Quality Enhancement Plan • The Writing Excellence Initiative • The Registrar• Utilizing resources • Leverage student workforce• Marketability of student• Makes our office unique• Mentor opportunity• Improve future co-workers

How do we make this work?• Hire tough • Require writing samples • Brainstorm session• Schedule weekly standing meetings • Preliminary review of literature • Review IRB procedures • Student completes CITI training modules • Completing the IRB, informed consent letter, and interview questions/survey

questions. • Research normally starts within a couple of weeks• Practice interviewing skills (normally conduct the first interview with the

student) • The writing itself is shared with the student• Editing• Decide where to present and send research for publication

• Students in Registrar’s office are the best• Students want to work in our office• Students know they are expected to write and publish articles or books (and they

want to)• You don’t have to have a PhD to mentor• Mentoring is rewarding• Makes our Registrar’s Office and the University look good• Promotes the goals of higher education and can impact student body• Utilizes resources that were already there and it benefits everyone involved• Students are more prepared for workforce or graduate level work• Cutting edge• Students rewarded for their work• No more complaints of boredom • Students are treated and seen as coworkers in our office • Mentality and image of student worker changed

The Outcome