Professor Adele Wolfson to replace Barry Kane as acting Registrar

It happens every year: summer approaches, and spring semester commences.  Students become inevitably concerned with course schedules, degree requirements and transcripts.  To this end, the College's Registrar Office must remain constantly staffed and efficiently structured.  In January, however, a void emerged in the system when registrar Barry Kane resigned to take a position at another university. Kane served as the registrar for only one semester.  While the College searches for his replacement, College member Adele Wolfson has agreed to fill his position as interim registrar.

"I chaired the curriculum committee for the last 6 years, [so] I was asked to step in [upon Barry's resignation,]" commented Adele Wolfson, professor of chemistry and director of the Three College Collaboration. "As with any administrative position, there is a need for an interim holder if a search can't fill the position immediately."

Wolfson has held many positions during her tenure at the College.  In the past, she has served as an associate dean for the College and on the Task Force Committee for the Sciences.

Although Wolfson has an extensive knowledge of the College, some students fear that the lack of a permanent registrar could cause changes to the timeliness of important documents and procedures. "As a senior I want my transcripts out as quickly as possible. I would prefer they could send them out that day, but, that obviously isn't feasible," said Kate O'Donnell '11. "I would love to get the class schedule sometime soon. Last semester I think it came out maybe two weeks before we could register. If they could get that out sooner it would be nice. It takes people a while to figure out a schedule and to create backups."

Other students seem unaffected by the change and trust that the College made the decision they thought was best, given the circumstances. "Personally I am not concerned about anything changing, but that is also because I am not doing anything directly with the registrar. I am not applying to internships that require a transcript," said Annie Wang '14. "If the College offered her the job, then they believe that she can fulfill it."

Although the potential for problems exists, Wolfson argues that business will continue as usual and students and faculty should see no significant changes. "There should be no change in services to students or faculty. All we ask is a little more patience and cooperation than usual, especially sticking to deadlines since exceptions require a lot of staff time," assures Wolfson.

Wolfson will absorb all responsibilities of the previous registrar during the interim period. General oversight of the office, policy decisions, sitting on committees that require the registrar, signing transcripts and other official documents are just a few of the tasks Wolfson describes as part of the position. "I am spending part of every day in the registrar's office," she notes.  The registrar also sits on the academic review board, board of admission and the committee for curriculum and academic planning.

Wolfson speculates that a new permanent hire will occur in the summer or the fall. "The registrar reports to the provost," she explains. "So he is ultimately responsible for the hire. This is a position that is most likely to be filled at the beginning of an academic year."

"If it is an important position filling, it should be a priority," said O'Donnell. However, O'Donnell believes Wolfson's current role raises concerns about the necessity of the registrar position itself. "My biggest question is do we even need a [separate] registrar [position]?" O'Donnell asks. "Why are we paying someone a full salary to do a job that one person is able to manage, while taking on two other positions?"

For now, the search for a registrar is set to continue until a candidate can fill the position permanently.  As Wang points out, Wolfson will not assume the position alone. "It is also not as though [the administration is] leaving her alone [with all of that new responsibility]. If she needs help, the College will help her," Wang said. "If she is good at