Within the Student Registry and Assessment Department, the student’s entire academic journey takes place, from the time of enrollment until graduation.

Project managers in the division handle student registration, final exam arrangements, timetabling, graduation documentation for all students at the university, and assist teachers with publishing grades from exams and courses. In addition, the department is responsible for providing general information to various stakeholders.

Anna Steinunn Gunnarsdóttir is the head of the department. She emphasises the importance of students staying alert about vital dates and information.

It is important for students to keep an eye on the academic calendar, as it shows when the exam schedule is published, when resit and makeup exams take place, when course registration opens and closes, and so on. It should also be stressed to students that they need to check their email regularly, as reminders about necessary actions are sent there. Nothing happens automatically – for example, students must register themselves for graduation. The university’s website and faculty pages also provide all the main information.

Previously, Anna Steinunn worked as a project manager at the Department of Law. She says that it is useful to be familiar with the university as a whole and to understand the different structures and needs within each faculty.

The way semesters are structured varies between faculties, which requires a great deal of oversight and organization. You need to know the faculties, how the programs are built, the teaching periods, and exams. In addition, we work closely with the Student Counseling Center regarding special arrangements for students,” she explains.

During exam periods, the university receives extra support from a group of proctors, who have become a steady presence. Some of them have worked at RU for a long time, and according to Anna Steinunn, the longest-serving proctors have been doing the job for just over 20 years and are now approaching their nineties.

They are wonderful, and it’s a joy to work with them. During final exams, there are between 30–40 people in the group, coming from different professions, many of them retired. I can tell you this is a popular job – there’s a two-year waiting list to become a proctor, and some who are getting older have emailed us asking to be put on the list! I know they really enjoy it, but it’s also a lot of work and long days. It warms our hearts when the group arrives at the building, and it’s always nice to see them in the mornings, having coffee, chatting, and knitting.

The process culminates in students’ graduation, which brings a flurry of activity for Anna Steinunn and her colleagues, especially in the spring when the largest graduation ceremony at RU takes place.

At that time, we’re primarily printing all the graduation documents and collecting signatures and so on. Then we must publish graduation confirmations and grades electronically for students. The graduation ceremony follows a well-rehearsed plan in close cooperation with the university’s events manager, so it usually runs very smoothly – but at the same time it’s detailed, precise work. Graduation is a celebration, it’s the final touch and confirmation that the semester is complete and that our students have succeeded. It’s especially enjoyable to see happy students graduate,” she concludes.