Editor’s note: Duck of the Week is a section in Around the O Workplace that highlights UO employees and their work. Each story features an interview with one employee, in his or her own words, with light editing for clarity and length only.

How long have you worked at the UO?

I’ve been in my current position for two and a half years, and have worked at the UO for 10.

Tell us about your work:

I supervise a staff of five people who oversee the creation of the class schedule. My coworkers and I work with department partners to make sure their classes are represented correctly so students can register for them. Classroom scheduling is a big part of in-person and remote course options, so I assign those as well.

In addition to my oversight of the degree guide and university catalog, I am on several different committees on campus. I am not a voting member of the University of Oregon Committee on Courses, but I attend meetings and make sure that the course proposals that come through adhere to the university policies regarding course numbering and other prerequisites or restrictions. I also sit on a committee for academic infrastructure. This committee addresses how classroom space is used on campus. We talk about where improvements can be made and try to strategize those changes. This year, I joined the Textbook Affordability Task Force, which tries to make textbooks more affordable for students as well.

What does your typical day look like?

I have been going into the office a couple days a week to get work done. My typical day consists of a few meetings with my staff, managers for the registrar’s office, the curriculum committee, or other entities. I work a lot with the provost’s office to plan what future schedules will look like. We try to merge the faculty perspective they bring with the scheduling perspective we have to make a schedule that is appropriate for the university. My work requires me to be as nimble as possible while trying to plan out as far ahead as I can.

What do you like about working at the UO?

I love working with my colleagues in the registrar’s office because I’ve had a lot of good relationships with our department partners. I have enjoyed being on several committees for the past couple of years and like learning about these different areas of the university. I love that the work I do with my coworkers has a real effect on students. Knowing that we can help with their registration, scheduling and graduation plans makes working here a rewarding experience.

What keeps you motivated?

I am motivated by the belief that we can improve existing processes and find better ways to create new ones. Even if we think we have things running smoothly, we can make it even better. The work we do has a significant impact on students, so I am inspired by the idea that we can make the student experience better in our own little segment of the university.

What is something people may not know about you?

I am a tennis player and grew up playing a lot with my dad. My parents live in east Tennessee so I don't get to see them a lot. Every once in a while, my dad and I will play father-daughter doubles tournaments together. We got to play a national tournament in San Diego a couple of years ago. It’s just a fun thing that I do with my family when we get together.

Sarah Strickler is part of the Office of the Registrar.

Do you know someone who should be Duck of the Week? Nominate a UO employee.