Code of Ethics

Preamble
The New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers recognizes the diverse and important roles of registrar and admissions personnel in contributing to academic achievement and promoting the ideals of higher education. Their willingness to respond to students’ needs and the integrity reflected in every aspect of their duties help create an environment where scholarship may flourish. The admissions officer serves the educational community by presenting an accurate and current overview of the institution to prospective students and works to enroll a student population which is most likely to benefit from the academic programs offered by the institution. The registrar serves the educational community by maintaining the accuracy and integrity of student academic records and by providing appropriate data to further the educational process of the institution. Registrars and admission officers acknowledge the responsibilities of the professions and agree to execute their responsibilities in accordance with the New England Association Code of Ethics and the AACRAO Code of Ethics. In turn, registrars and admissions officers expect institutions to provide an environment in which they are free to carry out the responsibilities of the professions.

Code

  • We believe in the philosophy and goals of the professions and are loyal to the institutions we serve.
  • We are willing to assert ourselves when policies or practices are proposed which seem to be contrary to the philosophy and goals of our professions and our institutions.
  • We will promote the highest personal, professional, and intellectual development of all individuals. We will treat them as equals under the law and institutional policy, without regard to race, creed, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.
  • We will commit ourselves to the practice of honesty and integrity in all our activities.
  • We will work cooperatively within our institutions to promote the welfare of all students, fostering our accessibility to them and striving to treat them with compassion and understanding. We will promote reasonable, impartial, and well-coordinated administrative policies and procedures for the entire academic community through the highest standards of professional behavior and practice.
  • We will strive to ensure that educational programs and services offered will be the primary emphasis to advertisements, publications, promotional literature, financial aid and recruitment activities. All statements and representations will be clear, factually accurate, and current.
  • We will respect the right of all individuals to privacy from unwarranted intrusion into personal life and records. We will honor the confidential nature of all records and information under our supervision and will not make disclosures to any person or agency outside the institution without the individual’s consent, except where legally required or permitted.
  • We will insure that an accurate, complete and unambiguous record is maintained for each student, clearly reflecting present academic status and progress according to established institutional policies. We will permit changes or alterations in this record only to correct errors or to amend the record in accordance with established procedures and appropriate authorization.
  • We will commit ourselves to the development of efficient data systems which insure the integrity of institutional records and the accurate interpretation of resulting data.

 

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers AACRAO is a professional Association whose purpose it is “to promote the advancement of higher education in its fullest and broadest implications”. It had its beginnings with a meeting of 15 registrars in Detroit in August 1910. Today there are over 7000 individual members and over 2000 institutions represented. In addition, there are 28 regional organizations, like NEACRAO, under the AACRAO umbrella. The Association maintains an office in Washington, D.C. with a professional staff headed by an Executive Director. In addition to the support of the on-going programs of the Association, this office maintains a liaison with a large number of other associations, works with governmental agencies, and reviews legislation and regulations that impact on the areas of admissions and records. The Association is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of a President, President-elect, Past President, Secretary-Treasurer, and five Vice-Presidents. Over 25 standing committees report through the Vice-Presidents, with many other committees, advisory boards, task forces, councils, and inter-association representatives reporting to other members of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director.

Among the benefits of AACRAO membership are the outstanding publications, including College and University, the World Education Series, Transfer Credit Practices, and other monographs and pamphlets. The highlight of the year is the Annual Meeting held in March or April. The conference offers over 100 workshops and programs sessions covering all facets of the profession at all levels of experience.