Registrar Adds New Role to Job Title and Duties

University Registrar Dr. Karen Jarrell, a UT Dallas veteran of more than 11 years, recently was tapped to serve as leader of the Financial Aid Office.  In her new role, Jarrell will continue to serve as registrar, and her title will change to University registrar and assistant vice president for student financial aid and academic records.

Jarrell, who reports to Curt Eley, vice president for Enrollment Management, will lead all activities involving student financial aid — including helping students understand and apply for aid, management of the various financial aid programs offered through the University and management of the financial aid counseling staff.

As registrar, she is responsible for the registration of all students, as well as the maintenance of academic records — including things like posting grades, changing majors, determining transfer work equivalency and conferring degrees.

“I’m very excited to take on this additional role, as I have a keen interest in enrollment management and its components that serve to attract and hold onto top-notch students,” Jarrell said.  “The Financial Aid Office performs a critical role both in recruiting and retaining students, and I look forward to working with the staff to streamline processes that will better serve our students.” 

Eley said he believed Jarrell was the most qualified individual to take on the complicated task of leading the two key offices.
           
“Karen is a highly-regarded leader, both at the University and within the community,” Eley said.  “During her tenure as University registrar, she has refocused the office into a student-centric model of customer service.  She’s committed to staff development and succession planning in higher education.  I look forward to seeing her cultivate the same positive programs in the Financial Aid Office.”

Eley said Jarrell also will be instrumental in helping to facilitate integration among the financial aid and student records modules as the University transitions to PeopleSoft Campus Solutions software. 

That initiative, called Project Orion, is a Web-based information portal that may one day manage virtually every aspect of a student’s academic career, from registering for classes to accepting financial aid, to applying for graduation.

Jarrell, who also is an adjunct professor of public affairs in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, joined UT Dallas in 1997 as assistant registrar.  Prior to that, she served as acting registrar at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.   She received her Master of Education from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and her Ph.D. in public affairs from UT Dallas. 

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