Many people view commencement from the outside: a wonderful celebration of academic achievement and a time to celebrate graduates' accomplishments. By contrast, the commencement coordinator analyzes and implements each of the smaller parts that culminate in graduates crossing the stage and throwing their caps. The perfect commencement is…

In four years of managing the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Student Service Center--a one stop shop--from concept to fruition, the author has collected some tips and tricks and a toolbox of key components for success. The NAU Service Center journey started in 2012, when university leadership came together for a two-year concept review that…

"One-stop" centers are evidence of institutions' recognition of students' changing needs and habits. The centers enable students to manage all of their business in one location (mirroring somewhat the process of managing tasks in industries outside of higher education). A one-stop center moves services from a process-centered approach to…

When a person looks back at critical career moments in higher education either as a student, teacher, or staff member, they likely recall people who went out of their way to provide advice when they were unsure or uneasy. This article reaches out to those who are considering becoming a mentors. It provides guidance for beginning a mentoring…

Today's students--traditional and nontraditional--are more wired (or wireless) than ever before. With computers and wireless devices becoming more affordable and universal, they expect, and even demand, to securely manage their educational experience online--from registering and paying for courses to receiving advice--all the time, from anywhere.…

Existing commercially developed resource planning models have been developed for institutional use without much attention to the local situation. The approach to faculty resource planning that this article outlines is broadly based and involves the local university community. (Author)

The process of project management is illustrated through application to one activity, development of a new brochure, within the admissions program of a fictional college. The project life cycle is described, and a work responsibility schedule, project completion schedule, and critical path chart are used as planning and implementation tools. (MSE)

Proceedings from the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers that pertain to planning and management techniques, and systems development are summarized. The names and addresses of conference participants are included. (SF)

A list of questions are posed to introduce a range of issues that may affect higher education enrollment. The need for opening up a dialogue to promote thought and subsequent action on alternative responses to future unknowns--e.g., federal intervention, unionization, labor force redirection--is discussed. (MLW)

The Brigham Young University (Utah) Academic Information Management program, a computer-based academic information and planning system, is described. The system provides students with critical and timely academic planning information, assesses and provides access to student academic information for the academic community, and facilitates…