Join us for our first-ever virtual conference!

As you know, due to the CDC guidelines, we are moving to a virtual conference this year. Our theme is Connection with Colleagues: Keeping TN Higher Education Communities Engaged Through a Pandemic, and I so hope that you can join us!

With the CDC guidelines and the way that COVID-19 has significantly altered so many membership institution’s academic calendars this fall, we have changed the dates of the conference. The Annual Meeting will be held virtually on November 11 & 12, 2020. Please save the date on your calendar! An emailed invitation will be sent when registration officially opens.

We are also accepting session proposals! Submit a session proposal here: http://www.tnacrao.org/?page_id=998.

Statement Regarding Racial Tensions

Dear TACRAO members,

It has become painfully clear that our country continues to wrestle with racial divides.  While we have made some progress in this country in many areas, other areas have been woefully neglected.  Many of us are trying to process the murder of Mr. George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department and are dealing with emotions such as frustration, anger, dismay, and hopelessness.

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s1963“I have a Dream” speech, he said “all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  Sadly, after the many years since that speech, the dream has not yet been fully realized. 

Moving forward, the Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers will continue to affirm our commitment to equity and inclusion.  As an organization, we can effect change and work together through our member institutions to educate and provide leadership in modeling supportive, inclusive, and welcoming environments for all people.

We are so grateful for the contributions of our members and colleagues of color; truly, TACRAO would not be a successful, impactful organization without your valuable insight, your professional talents, and your collegiality and friendship. We, as an organization, pledge to continue to support diversity on our board and in our committees. We want to support the efforts you make in your offices and on your campuses to be inclusive and supportive of students and staff of color. The TACRAO Board plans to continue encouraging our colleagues of color to gain professional development through opportunities within our state, regional, and national organizations.

Education has proven to be a changing force throughout history. We have a unique opportunity, as higher education professionals, to educate ourselves as we lead students to and in their collegiate experiences. We are confident that our association can come together to learn how to serve students of various backgrounds in the most effective and inclusive ways.

Sincerely,

TACRAO Board of Directors

2020 Annual Meeting Survey

Dear TACRAO members,

I hope that this email finds you, your families, and your institutions well!  It would be an understatement to say that the current pandemic has changed the way we are going about our business in just about all aspects of our lives.  While I know I join many of you in hoping that a vaccine will be created very soon to help us get back to some semblance of normal, several of the medical professionals I have spoken with regarding COVID-19 are expecting a resurgence at the end of this year.

The TACRAO Board of Directors cares about you and your safety.  We are currently working to plan our annual meeting, which is scheduled for November 2020 in Memphis, TN.  We would like to better understand the needs of all institutions and have created a survey to collect some feedback from you regarding this year’s annual meeting.  We appreciate your willingness to participate and prioritize the safety of all members as we are making conference decisions.

You may find the survey at the following link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLHDF77

Thank you for your honest feedback!

Sincerely,

Tom

Dr. Tom Donohoe
TACRAO President

TACRAO Update on Tornado and Coronavirus Outbreak

Dear TACRAO Members,

The Board of Directors are very aware of the recent destructive tornado event in middle Tennessee and the spread of the COVID-19 virus in parts of the United States.

We would like to remind all of our members to be mindful of events in areas where the virus has been confirmed or where there is tornado damage.

The health and safety of our members is our highest priority.  The Center for Disease Control has not determined that organizations in the United States should consider postponing or canceling events. 

TACRAO is closely monitoring the situation and the risk assessments released by the CDC and we will keep you updated with any changes regarding event closures or postponements.

For more information please visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Sincerely,

Thomas N. Donohoe, Ph.D.
TACRAO President

TACRAO 2017 Presentations

You may download the presentations uploaded to the TACRAO 2017 Guidebook using the following LINK.  Once in Guidebook navigate to the Schedule and under each individual session is the uploaded presentation if one was provided.