A Message from the University Registrar
Fiscal Year 2025 Reflections: Strengthening Student Retention Through Service, Innovation, and Strategic Impact
As part of the university’s Enrollment Management division, the Office of the Registrar plays a pivotal role in supporting student retention and success. In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), our work was deeply aligned with the University of Iowa Strategic Plan, advancing excellence in teaching and learning, fostering creative discovery, and contributing to transformative societal impact.
Our teams support students at every stage of their academic journey—from onboarding and registration to degree completion and beyond. This comprehensive engagement allows us to identify and remove barriers, streamline processes, and ensure students have the tools and information they need to persist and thrive. Our work is not just transactional—it’s transformational.
We also collaborate closely with faculty and staff to enhance the student experience. By providing accurate data, responsive service, and system enhancements, we help create an environment where students can focus on learning and growth.
Internally, our staff embraced transitions and growth, strengthening operations through professional development and cross-functional collaboration. These efforts have positioned us to meet future challenges with resilience and agility.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to our role within Enrollment Management and to the university’s mission. The work we do—often behind the scenes—has a direct and lasting impact on student retention, success, and the overall health of our academic community.
Shawna Saad, PhD
University Registrar
In FY25, we:
- Advanced student retention by improving registration workflows, proactively resolving academic record issues, and supporting timely degree audits and graduation processing.
- Supported excellence in teaching and learning through accurate course scheduling, grading systems, and academic record integrity—empowering faculty to deliver dynamic educational experiences.
- Enabled innovative research and creative discovery by maintaining reliable data systems that support academic planning and reporting.
- Promoted holistic well-being and success by collaborating across Enrollment Management and student services to ensure continuity and care throughout the student lifecycle.
- Contributed to transformative societal impact by stewarding records from closed institutions, allowing students to continue their academic journey and achieve their aspirations.
Classroom Scheduling
Manages 305 University Classrooms across 34 buildings.
Tuesday and Thursday 9:30–10:45 a.m. is the top scheduled class period assignment.
1,741
11,046
6,763
25,169
Commencement
Coordinates 15 ceremonies in the spring and 7 in the fall.
6,000 +
43,000 +
Curriculum Management
Assists with creating and managing Academic Organizations, Course Library, Degree Audits, Programs of Study, General Catalog, and Sample Plans of Study.
1000 +
2,400 page pdf created
220
700
2,400
1,500 +
Thousands of manual revisions
1,232
21% dropped
33
Degrees and Diplomas
Processes degree applications and confers degrees.
8,014
7,830
Grades
Coordinates the processing of all grades each session.
< 13,600
97 %
MAUI Access and Security
Reviews MAUI access forms and assigns security roles based on academic needs.
900 +
Transcripts and Verifications
Processes requests via online forms, printable forms, and in person.