Managing the Implementation of New Business ProcessesPresented by Michele Neary, Northwestern University

2010 IACRAO Annual Conference

Private university founded in 1851

Three campuses

Evanston

Chicago

Doha, Qatar

11 distinct schools

2,500 full-time faculty members

Freshman class size of 2,128 students

Full-time students:

– Undergraduates: 8,397 across 6 schools

– Graduate/Professional: 7,870

Part-time students in the School of Continuing Studies:

1,100

Total enrollment: approximately 19,000

Degrees Conferred 2009-2010Total 5,905Bachelor’s: 2,110

Graduation Rate4-year: 86%5-year: 92%

Graduation petition and certification process for 5 of the 6 undergraduate schools

Time-consuming process Stakeholders not speaking the same language Limited use of technology to facilitate the process Degree auditors in the role of advisors No established deadlines

Identify process/procedure ripe for change

Involve relevant stakeholders

Develop project goals and timeline

Implement changes

Collect feedback

Understanding the existing process Internal office perspective External perspective Issues/concerns/questions

Relevancy of the current process Does each step add value? Is there a more efficient way?

Communicating early and often

Building consensus

Obtaining buy-in

What is the scope?

What changes should be made?

When should the changes be implemented?

What are the goals and objectives?

Communicating the plan

Redefining roles and responsibilities

Ensuring access to appropriate

resources

Ongoing and ad hoc

Formal debriefing session

What’s working? What’s not?

Access to the system

Accuracy of the degree audit reports

Communication with students / advisors

Reliance on old “worksheets”

Michele NearyAssociate University Registrar

Northwestern UniversityPhone: 847.491.8466

Email: m-neary@northwestern.edu