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Retiring Registrar considers accomplishments on campus

After nearly 16 years with Bradley University, Kathie Beaty will retire as Registrar.

Beaty graduated from Western Illinois University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus in business and a master’s degree in education.

Before arriving at Bradley, she worked at Western Illinois reviewing student transcripts, working her way up to advising and registering students. There was a myriad of steps toward her position as Registrar, she said.

“I don’t think you will find anyone who claims they grew up wanting to be a Registrar,” Beaty said. “I didn’t even know what a Registrar was until I started college. If you ask other Registrars, you will find that their paths are as varied as the individuals.”

Beaty was working as the Associate Registrar at Western Illinois when she received a call from Bradley’s previous Registrar encouraging her to apply for the open position.

Beaty helped usher in sweeping changes on campus, such as introducing the online registration program, Webster, and implementing one of the first secure systems of online transcript delivery.

She also worked on projects to create an online grade submission system for teachers so that faculty no longer had to bring in paper copies of final grades. Beaty contributed to many projects that improved behind-the-scenes performances of academics at Bradley.

“I am a member of a number of committees, which means there are a lot of meetings to attend,” Beaty said. “Because the Registrar’s Office has contact with nearly every student, faculty member and staff member on campus, no two days are the same.”

Her work has earned her the 2013 recipient of the Tom Bilger Citation for Service Award through the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

Beaty said she will miss the people she interacts with on campus daily but is looking forward to retirement. She said she still has writing to do but plans on visiting her children and grandchildren, honing her photography skills, volunteering and possibly running a 5K marathon.

“Without a doubt, I will miss the people,” Beaty said. “I’ll also miss my friends and colleagues at Bradley and in the state and national professional organizations in which I have been an active participant. I’ve been on a college campus for many years, first as a student and then as an employee. I’ll miss being around young, energetic people who are eager to learn and take on leadership roles.”

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