About Us
Organizational Overview
The Office of the Registrar is an academic service unit, reporting to the Vice Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning.
In collaboration with the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of the Registrar provides
services and information to students, faculty, staff, and other constituencies. Our core functions include:
academic records and transcripts; certificates and diplomas; classroom and event scheduling; degree certification;
enrollment and registration; grade collection and recording; fee classification; student athlete and veterans certification;
and transfer credit processing. In addition, we provide support for the curriculum and lead internal, cross-unit, and institution-wide initiatives.
The organizational structure for the Office of the Registrar is shown on our
organizational chart (pdf).
Our main office is located at 426 Auditorium Rd., Room 150, Hannah Administration Building, East Lansing, MI.
We are available to assist students, faculty and staff, and the general public in person during the hours of M-Th: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and F: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone and email questions are answered by the Spartan One-Stop during the hours of M-Th: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and F: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mission
Steward academic records and data accurately, effectively, and efficiently.
Vision
Anticipate and support the needs of the campus community and continuously challenge ourselves to provide exemplary services and solutions.
Values
The Office of the Registrar strives to:
- link operational and behavioral decisions with strategic goals;
- provide exceptional service;
- foster an environment of ongoing learning, growth, and teamwork;
- consistently examine policies and procedures with a mindset towards improvement;
- engage in active, two-way communication with each other and the campus community;
- be innovative in how we utilize technology; and
- effectively communicate and administer federal, state, and institutional policies and legislation.
Academic Records
- maintain student academic records and data from 1855 to present
- produce transcripts for current and former students
- manage end-of-term processes to include recording grades, calculating GPA, and processing academic status decisions
- process subpoenas in compliance with FERPA
- process students' requests to restrict directory information
- monitor students' progress toward degree requirements, certify students' completion of requirements, and issue diplomas and certificates
- post teacher certification recommendations to student academic records
- manage enrollment and degree verifications
- oversee reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse and updating students' records
- publish and maintain the Dean's List
- support admit-to-upper school and change of major processes
- conduct record verification for posthumous degree requests
- records retention and imaging
- manage processes associated with dual and linked programs
- manage general person functions such as address changes, deceased student processes, ethnicity reporting, gender changes, name changes, and tracking majors
Compliance and Articulation
- review requests for transfer credit, process requests for equivalency determination, update equivalency tables, and update student academic records
- provide training to the campus community regarding FERPA and MSU's Access to Student Information policy
- certify student-athletes in compliance with university, Big 10, and NCAA regulations
- oversee lifelong education processes including admission applications, advising, enrollment, and academic record functions
- process readmission applications
- process graduate assistantships
- create and publish the commencement program
- review and serve as a repository for articulation and consortium agreements
- manage enrollment processes and academic records for special student groups such as the CIC course share, Post-Doctoral appointees, Study Abroad, Traveling Scholars, Visiting International Professional Program, and Great Plains Interactive Distance Education (GPIDEA)
Registration Services and Classroom Scheduling
- oversee all facets of enrollment and registration related processes, including student withdrawals from the university
- schedule university classrooms and computer labs for courses and events
- edit work copy by examining class scheduling data to ensure alignment with grading, refunding, reporting, and academic policies and procedures
- schedule final examinations and publish final exam schedules
- assist students using veterans education benefits; identify and explain education benefits, services, and resources
- coordinate and oversee Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- oversee marketing and administration of Summer Study
- pre-enroll incoming students into core classes prior to Academic Orientation Program
- provide enrollment-related support during Academic Orientation Programs
- establish and manage refund and grading deadlines for all course sections
- determine in-state fee classifications
- determine and process refund appeals
- manage enrollment process for China Turfgrass Program
RO Technology Services
- specialize in student data extraction, reporting, and dissemination
- work closely with University Systems Support Team to support the Student Information System, Degree Navigator, Athlinfo, and other systems
- maintain and support systems including but not limited to: academic integrity, academic progress reporting, academic programs, courses, degree audit,
early course reservation, electronic student academic folder, emergency contact system, event scheduler, pre-enrollment, readmission, Registrar's Office
Instructor System, satisfactory academic progress, Schedule of Courses, subterms, textbook, transfer credit articulation, web enroll, and work copy
- produce census, end-of-term, and ad-hoc reports for the campus
- manage access to the Student Information System and Office of the Registrar web systems
Curriculum and Catalog
- provide support related to curriculum, academic policies, and procedures
- create, publish, and update the following resources: the academic calendar and the University catalog (Academic Programs and Course Descriptions)
- update and maintain academic program information in Degree Navigator, and load courses into the Student Information System
Cross-functional
- comply with and educate the campus about state and federal legislation
- provide enrollment services related support to the College of Law
- assist with course demand analysis, providing academic and administrative units with data
- facilitate non-attendance reporting to ensure compliance with Federal legislation
- provide support to commencement ceremonies
- represent the Office of the Registrar, MSU, and the profession within the State of Michigan, regionally, and nationally
Some information within the following PDF files may not be accessible with assistive technology. If you have any needs or concerns, please
contact our office.
- MACRAO 2018 Annual Meeting: Pulling a Rabbit out of a Hat...Course Scheduling and Seat Demand, K. Blair-Chambers and K Schuette
- MACRAO 2018 Annual Meeting: Student Information Systems (SIS)—Present and Future: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly, S. Shablin (with S. TerMeer)
- PACRAO 2016 Annual Conference: Creating IT Governance Frameworks, Dr. N. Rovig
- MACRAO 2016 Annual Conference: Creating a Culture of High Performance in Times of Declining Resources, Dr. N. Rovig
- OACRAO 2014 Annual Meeting: Creating a Culture of High Performance in Times of Declining Resources, Dr. N. Rovig
- WaACRAO 2014 Annual Meeting: Engaging your Personal Leadership, Dr. N. Rovig
- MSACROA and WaACRAO 2014 Annual Meeting: Take Charge of Your Day and Achieve Professional Growth along the Way, Dr. N. Rovig
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2014: Beyond SIS: Creating Governance Frameworks for Promoting Data Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness, Dr. N. Rovig and S. TerMeer
- AACRAO 2014 Annual Meeting: Where Did The Day Go, Making Effective Decisions and Prioritizing Daily Responsibilities, K. Blair-Chambers
- AACRAO 2014 Annual Meeting: Project Management Key to the Future Success of your Office, S. TerMeer
- NACADA 2014 Region V Conference: Moooving Students Toward Success Through Academic Orientation Collaboration, K. Blair-Chambers (with Deb Dotterer Assistant Dean & Director College of Natural Science, Michigan State University)
- Great Lakes AACRAO (GLACRAO) 2013 Conference: Beyond SIS: Creating Frameworks for Promoting Data Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness, Dr. N. Rovig
- MSACROA 2014 Annual Conference and Great Lakes AACRAO (GLACRAO) 2013 Conference: Preferred Name, Dr. N. Rovig
- Great Lakes AACRAO (GLACRAO) 2013 Conference: CSI FERPA: Under the Microscope, T. Gulick (with Dennis Hicks, Registrar, Indiana University East and Brad Myers, J.D., University Registrar, Ohio State University)
- Great Lakes AACRAO (GLACRAO) 2013 Conference: Streamlining your Veterans Certification Process, K. Blair-Chambers
- AACRAO 2013 Annual Meeting: Calming the Chaos: Pre-Enrollment for Incoming Students, K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2013 Annual Meeting preconference workshop: CSI FERPA: Investigations from the Field, T. Gulick (with LeRoy Rooker, AACRAO Senior Fellow and Tina Falkner, Director of Compliance, University of Minnesota)
- MACRAO 2012 Annual Meeting: FERPA - CSI: Investigations from the Field, T. Gulick
- MACRAO 2012 Annual Meeting: Calming the Chaos: Pre-Enrollment for Incoming Students, K. Schuette
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2012: DIY eTranscripts, A Guide, K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2012 Annual Meeting preconference workshop: CSI FERPA: Investigations from the Field, T. Gulick (with LeRoy Rooker, AACRAO Senior Fellow and Tina Falkner, Director of Compliance, University of Minnesota)
- AACRAO 2012 Annual Meeting and MACRAO 2012 Annual Meeting: Take Charge of Your Day and Achieve Professional Growth Along the Way, Dr. N. Rovig
- AACRAO 2011 Annual Meeting: Being an Effective Middle Manager, Dr. N. Rovig
- AACRAO 2011 Annual Meeting: Considerations and Strategies for Sustaining an Effective Work Environment in Times of Declining Resources, Dr. N. Rovig
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2010: Books! Checkem Out!, S. Owczarek
- AACRAO 2010 Annual Meeting: Strange Bedfellows: The Registrars Office and University Policy and Curriculum Committees, Dr. N. Rovig and D. McKenna
- AACRAO 2010 Annual Meeting: Books! Checkem Out!, S. Owczarek
- MACRAO 2009 Annual Meeting: Books! Checkem Out!, S. Owczarek and K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2009 Annual Meeting: Strange Bedfellows: The Registrars Office and University Policy and Curriculum Committees, Dr. L. Stanford and D. McKenna
- MACRAO 2009 Spring Drive-In: FERPA New Regulations and What do they Mean?, T. Gulick and R. Pasrcha
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2008: Simply Revolutionary: Michigan State University's Electronic Transcript and Certified Document Solution, K. Schuette and S. Owczarek
- MACRAO 2008 Registrar Drive-In: MSUs Electronic Transcript, K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2008 Annual Meeting: Visions of Automation: From Paper-based to Online Degree Certification, D. McKenna and K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2008 Annual Meeting: Michigan Transfer Network, K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2008 Annual Meeting: Document Imaging: The Devil in the Details, K. Schuette
- MACRAO 2007 Annual Meeting: ESAF 2: Electric Boogaloo (Or: How the Registrars Office Continues to Shape the Process of Academic Advising and Degree Certification at MSU), D. McKenna and K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2007 Annual Meeting: Causing a Quiet Riot: MSUs Transformation of Student Academic Advising, D. McKenna and K. Schuette
- NACADA 2006 Annual Meeting and 2006 NACADA Advising Technology Innovation Award Recipient: Advising with the Speed of Technology, R. Kelley and K. Schuette
- MACRAO 2006 Annual Meeting: Creating a Student Academic Folder: How to go Paperless...or at Least Paper-Less!, K. Schuette
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2006: Virtual Advising Folders: How to go Paperless...or at Least Paper-Less!, K. Schuette
- MACRAO 2005 Annual Meeting: MSU's "Smart" Readmission Process: Making Everyone's Life a Little Bit Easier, D. McMillan and K. Schuette
- AACRAO Technology Conference 2005: MSU's "Smart" Readmission Process: Making Everyone's Life a Little Bit Easier, D. McMillan and K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2005 Annual Meeting: The Online CEU (Continuing Education Units) Course System: How to go paperless, S. Buike Phillips and K. Schuette
- CUMREC 2005 Annual Conference: Above and Beyond: Building Faculty Tools and Relationships, K. Schuette
- AACRAO 2004 Annual Meeting: Make the Web Work: Leveraging Technology in Uncertain Times, D. McMillan and K. Schuette
- MACRAO 2003 Annual Meeting: Make the Web Work: Leveraging Technology in Uncertain Times, D. McMillan and K. Schuette
- WebdevShare 2003: Make the Web Work: Leveraging Technology in Uncertain Times, S. Noh and K. Schuette