The event was part of the Comprehensive Student Record Project, which is a partnership between the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education that aims to develop replicable transcript innovations..
Jack Fryer, a sophomore majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship, attended and presented at the Lumina Foundation’s two-day event in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the Comprehensive Student Record Project. The project is a partnership between the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education (NASPA) that aims to develop replicable transcript innovations.
Elon University is one of 12 institutional partners in the project, which was launched in early 2015. In the company of exceptional universities such as Stanford and the University of Wisconsin, Elon shines as the pioneer of the nation’s first visual transcript. Fryer joined University Registrar Rod Parks, Assistant Provost Paul Miller, and Programmer and Analyst Julie White to introduce and explore this transcript at the convening, which also featured several plenary panels, exploratory sessions, and “deep dive” working sessions.
Earlier this year, Fryer developed two surveys to gauge the interest in and perceived utility of a visual transcript. One was sent to Elon’s employer partners, and the other was sent to the university’s undergraduate student population. The results of both studies were overwhelmingly positive, and respondents offered a plethora of constructive feedback. After compiling the results, Fryer offered invaluable input into campus conversations about the continued development of the new credential. For the Beyond the Transcript event, Fryer transformed this input into an engaging and interactive presentation.
As the only student representative at the event, Fryer presented a unique perspective as both a consumer of the transcript and a scholar that has studied its perception among employers and students. His presentation was well-received, encouraging thought-provoking conversations and one-on-one interviews with the sophomore. Fryer was thrilled to represent his university in a national conversation, and intends to continue collaborating with the Office of the Registrar on research and development priorities.
Fryer has worked as a research assistant in the Office of the Registrar for one year, developing quantitative and qualitative research studies and participating in conversations with AACRAO consultants. In addition to his research activities, he has served as an orientation leader and is now a member of Orientation Head Staff, preparing to welcome next fall’s incoming class.