Name: Nanci Beier
Role: Registrar
Institution: Anne Arundel Community College

What do you do at Anne Arundel Community College?

In November 2020, a news article by the Baltimore Sun announced Morgan State University was planning for an in-person Spring 2021 Commencement. I'm sure we were all a bit skeptical considering the wave of the pandemic was still high. Nonetheless, let's fast forward to April 14, 2021. Did you read what we did? The University of Maryland College Park has solidifed their plans and in-person isn't something they are thinking about but it's official. Learn about the details here. Will more CAPACRAO be hosting in-person commencement activities for the Spring? 

Join CAPACRAO for a Spring Commencement Chat and Chew on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 3 pm to share some updates in our open forum. There is no agenda, just a space for any institution, department or colleague to dialogue about spring commencement. Feel free to share this link with your institutional colleagues so they can RSVP.

CAPACRAO membership isn't required but you do need to register for an account (if you don't have one) and RSVP for access to the Zoom link.

Give ideas.
Get ideas.
RSVP here.

Is your institution planning to host an in-person or virtual commencement for Spring? Dialouge with your thoughts below to start an online conversation. Need help? Email [email protected] for assistance.

Name: Cassandra Moore
Title: Director of Enrollment Development and Admissions
Institution: Anne Arundel Community College

What do you do at Anne Arundel Community College?

Hello March 2021! Hard to believe what transpired and has continued to unfold started a year ago. Wow! How everything it feels has changed. While the effects of the COVID pandemic are still present, many colleagues are getting vaccinated, businesses and educational facilities are re-opening, and we are all doing continual reflection and trying to balance mental, physical and emotional health. As best we can. I commend you for doing your part in the global, collective efforts to stay safe.

If the pandemic has taught me anything, it is the power in slowing down and enjoying little moments. Little moments can create big memories especially for our overall health and wellbeing. It can expand compassion and spark a thought when we let go of hurried thoughts. I am an early riser and ode I give to my grandmother, may she rest in power, who never believed in wasting a moment of daylight. During the pandemic, I've gained an affinity for walking. It was the only thing I was willing to do at one point. My best walking record was in July when I walked almost 97 miles. I digressed. My apologies. Anyhoo, I love watching the sun rise in the spring during my early morning walks. I enjoy watching the sun change the landscape from darkness as it peaks over the trees to light the earth with golden tones. Around me I can feel the briskness of the cool, morning air. I breathe. I take in my ability to walk, and the iphone which plays the audiobook I am listening too (currently, 400 Souls). I've immersed myself in so many good books on my walks. On a recent trek, I stopped listening to my audiobook for a moment to gain a new moment. A new perspective. The sounds of birds chirping overpowered my audiobook volume. The birds reminded me that they, and nature, wanted and craved some of my attention. In that moment, I expanded my appreciation for walking and nature. 

Name: Carol Harrison
Title: Interim Dean of Enrollment Services/Registrar
Institution: College of Southern Maryland

What are your credentials/experience, for working in your position? I have spent the last 32 years working in higher education. My experience includes Financial Aid, Admissions, and Registrar functions.  I believe the key credentials needed to work in this role are strong technical skills, critical thinking to solve problems and implementing these types of solutions that bridge Records, Admissions and Academic Affairs.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
2021 Executive Board

Serving as a member of the CAPACRAO Board helps develop leadership skills, provides an opportunity to get involved in local, regional and national issues, and is a great opportunity to push the organization to the next level. Please consider either a self-nomination or identifying a current member who is ready to take the next step in CAPACRAO leadership. We're looking for dedicated individuals who can bring a new perspective and voice for our members.

CAPACRAO invites you to SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS for our annual awards: Emerging Leader and Steven A. Smith.  These awards will be presented during CAPACRAO's Annual Business Meeting in mid-June. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, May 14, 2021.  

Participate in a survey for AACRAO's Mentoring Work Group

The AACRAO Mentoring Work Group will develop best practices for mentors and mentees alike and provide the foundation for any future AACRAO Mentor Program. 

Now is an essential time for AACRAO to provide guidance on the meaning and significance of mentorship in these three areas:

Professional Development Calendar

ACPA 2021 Conference | Virtual | March 1-17, 2021 

We love our local businesses! 

Picture retrieved from Amplified Digital Agency

“Celebrations are the punctuation marks that make sense of the passage of time; without them, there are no beginnings and endings. Life becomes an endless series of Wednesdays.” -James Kouzes & Barry Posner

CAPACRAO members take great pride in the work we do and the students we serve: but we like to have fun too! We have created an initiative that will surely provoke nostalgia and generate conversation about the places and things we love, have discovered and re-discovered and things we miss. Our local businesses need our support. Let's promote our local gems among one another. Join us all year as we #CAPACRAOShopsLocal!

Each month we will introduce a theme via our social media accounts and ask that you share your recommendations/memories associated with the theme for that month. Each suggestion gives you an entry into our quarterly raffle drawing!

CAPACRAO Members are always on the move! Congratulations to Jacqui Rogers, Coordinator of Transfer and Articulation at the College of Southern Maryland, who was recently selected to serve on AACRAO's Transfer Student Success Work Group. The fourteen member workgroup will expand dialouge and policy discussions regarding domestic and international student transfer.

Why she applied?

I was excited at the opportunity to dive into the research and scholarly work within transfer to provide guidance on a bigger scale. It also gives me the opportunity to work and learn with other professionals throughout the country. I may have also had some encouragement from Carol Harrison, the Registrar at the College of Southern Maryland. 

What she hopes this will be gained for two and four-year instititions? 

I hope this workgroup will encourage 2-year and 4-year institutions to strive to improve their transfer initiatives from a holistic perspective, analyzing all of the aspects of the institution that touch transfer.

Dual Enrollment Word Cloud made using https://wordart.com/. 

CAPACRAO Launches a Dual Enrollment SIG for Chesapeake and Potomac Area Colleagues

My name is Sheena Luaehu-Lyons and I am the President of CAPACRAO. Last year brought a whirlwind of changes for all our institutions. As we adapted to the ever-changing environment, our organization made a quick pivot to discover new ways to connect with its members and corporate partners in a virtual setting. I was happy to connect with many of you through our virtual programming in 2020 which included webinars, happy hours, and a summer lunch-and-learn series.

I am proud to announce that CAPACRAO was awarded the Elbert W. Ockerman State and Regional Professional Activity Award by AACRAO. This accolade was accomplished through the collaboration of our Executive Board and Standing Committee members, our Corporate Partners, and each of the members from our Member Institutions. Thank you for sharing this success with us!

COVID aside, during the winter months, we tend to engage in less physical activities that can get our hearts engaged. February is American Heart Month. CAPACRAO challenges you this month to encourage you, your family, your coworkers, and anyone else you are in constant communication with to boost your awareness about heart health.

Heart Healthy Ideas

• Wear Red! Friday, February 5 doesn't have to be the only day we wear red! Suggest it for your next staff meeting.
• Exercise! Support a local gym by attending their live virtual classes. Or find a video via YouTube.
• Make Valentine's Day Heart Healthy! Plan a date to go on a hike or cook a heart-healthy meal with your loved one on Valentine’s Day.
• Walk! Commit to a walking schedule with a friend or family member, even if you can’t walk together. We are virtual nowadays anyway.
• Walking outside? There is an app called Charity Miles that donate resources based on your walking. Learn more here.
• Walking inside? Search "walking exercises" via Youtube for tons of inspiration.
• Create a Department Team Builder! Challenge your office, department, or unit to participate in a “steps” contest. Use activity trackers (hint, Charity Miles is free - learn more here) to see which team takes the most steps.
• Flip Your Team Staff Meeting! Ask health care providers or members of your Student Wellness Center to give a presentation to your office, department, or unit about ways to prevent heart disease.
• Get Social! Join the #OurHearts movement by sharing on social media how you’re working with friends or family to be heart healthy. Encourage your friends and family to as well. Be sure to use the hashtag!

Thanks for reading. Explore more ways to help encourage heart-healthy behaviors for yourselves or others. 
Do you have insights for other heart-healthy ideas this month? Don't be shy! Feel free to comment below and share. 

Professional Development Calendar

AtD Webinar: Applying a Holistic Systems Approach to Designing Student Supports | Virtual | February 1, 2021 | 1 PM

Picture obtained from https://www.kmymca.org/volunteer

Work in the COVID environment has been a little stressful for individuals. Whether you are working from home or commuting to the office, there is a demand to still be "on" all the time. How does one take time out for themselves? Often giving back and channeling away from the day-to-day work of home and the office helps. Consider volunteering a little bit of your time with the following activities. And the best thing, they are social distance compliant! 

For those who like outdoor activity
Charity Miles: Earn money for the charity of your choice by walking. Charity Miles lets you turn a neighborhood jog or weekend hike into a fundraiser for good. Just choose a charity and get moving. The app tracks your movement. For every mile you log, you help to earn money for your chosen charity. Choose from over 40 charities that are making a big impact on health, children, animals, the environment, education, veterans and more. 
Click here to get fit and make an impact: https://charitymiles.org.

Dual Enrollment has been steadily gaining traction over the last few years. For institutions in Maryland, the spark increased with the passing of the 2013 legislation SB-740. We find that Dual Enrollment is managed differently in both Maryland and the District of Columbia. Several colleagues have expressed desires to connect more easily and frequently. CAPACRAO has answered the call by creating a listserve to share resources and dialogue quarterly about Dual Enrollment's evolution.  

Join our Dual Enrollment Listserve

Colleagues,

AACRAO is seeking your suggestions for spring 2021 coffee break ideas.
What are your campus concerns? What do you need professionally? 

Feel free to make a comment via our blog and we will forward them. 

Happy New Year! I came across this January 5th article in The Chronicle, As the Pandemic Worsens, College Prepare to Test Their Spring Plans and I'm wondering, how are CAPACRAO institutions operating? 

We would love to dialogue with you. Feel free to leave your responses via our blog.