  2nd Annual Joint RMACRAO/NMACRAO Fall Virtual Conference9am-12pm, November 12 and 13, 2026AGENDA 9am-9:50pm: An Evolving Landscape: Connecting Statewide Dual Enrollment Initiatives to Postsecondary Practice Kelsey Mead, Dual Credit Manager, UNM -Taos Description: Dual credit plays an increasingly important role in postsecondary education, bringing together colleges and universities, high schools, students, and families. This session will explore New Mexico’s dual credit landscape, highlighting statewide initiatives, policy developments, program administration, and secondary-postsecondary partnerships. Participants will examine how statewide efforts translate into institutional practice, explore common challenges, and identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships and support student success. 10am-10:50am: Higher Education Updates Kathleen Sena, New Mexico Department of Education Description: Representatives from the New Mexico Higher Education Department will be present to provide updates on Common Course Numbering, transfer credit policies, and related developments. This will include an overview of new federal requirements regarding the acceptance of credits from all institutions and timelines for completing student transcript evaluations. 11am-11:50am: Residency Roundtable Kathleen Sena, Department of Education Renita Hicks, Registrar, New Mexico State University Katharine Baggett, Interim Business Analyst, Central New Mexico Community College Description: This roundtable event will provide an opportunity to ask questions about residency, learn how residency programs are structured and managed across different institutions, and receive general updates on residency-related topics. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions, share their concerns, and engage in meaningful discussion to enhance their understanding of the residency process. 11:50-12pm: Wrap-up and Closing: Katharine Baggett, President New Mexico ACRAO Amber Ovaska, President Rocky Mountain ACRAO November 13, 2026, 9am-12pm 9am-9:50pm SESSION DIRECT FROM AACRAO 2026! Writing in Plain Language: Why it Matters and How to Do it Tina Lowery, Senior Associate Registrar, University of Washington Description: Writing that uses clear and understandable language can have a positive impact on all students, while complicated academic writing can negatively affect student experience, success, and retention. Learn the how and why of plain language writing, while considering internal and external biases about language. Discover tips and tools to transform your writing from complicated to accessible. 10am-10:50am: What’s Coming, What’s Ours: Federal Updates and Institutional Decisions Erika Swain, Associate Director for State Authorization, University of Colorado System Description: Explore federal policy developments and what they may mean for admissions, registration, and institutional practice. Uncertainty makes your expertise more valuable, but it does not make every institutional decision your responsibility. This session connects the changing policy landscape to the professional judgment needed to explain operational consequences, recommend a path forward, and recognize when leadership needs to make the call. 11am-11:50am: Shadows in the System: Investigating "Ghost Students" (Bad Actors) Samantha Narvaez, Associate Registrar, Central New Mexico Community College Amber Ovaska, Interim Director of Scheduling, Central New Mexico Community College Description: Who are the students who never log in, never engage, yet somehow remain enrolled long enough to receive financial aid? As enrollment fraud continues to evolve, colleges are facing increasing challenges from "ghost students" and other bad actors who exploit institutional processes for financial gain. Join us for a candid discussion about how these fraudulent actors are impacting higher education, what we're seeing at CNM, and what is being done to address the issue. 11:50-12pm: Wrap-up and Closing: Katharine Baggett, President New Mexico ACRAO Amber Ovaska, President Rocky Mountain ACRAO
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