26 recipients chosen across three award categories

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 16, 2026 — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, has announced the recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Enrollment Management Award, the Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award, and the Excellence in Marketing Award.

All three awards are sponsored by UPCEA’s Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Network. Recipients will be honored at the 2026 UPCEA MEMS: Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference, November 30-December 2 in Orlando, Florida. The top award recipients will also share their work and strategic insights with conference attendees during an interactive panel.

“This year’s honorees demonstrate the impact of thoughtful, innovative approaches to engaging and supporting today’s learners,” said the members of the 2026 MEMS Awards Subcommittee. “From creative marketing strategies and enrollment initiatives to new approaches that strengthen the student experience, we are proud to recognize the creativity, collaboration, and meaningful results behind these achievements.”

Excellence in Enrollment Management Award

The UPCEA Excellence in Enrollment Management Award recognizes an outstanding online and professional continuing education organization, unit, or individual that models best practices and combines process excellence with superior results in enrollment management.

The 2026 recipient is:

• Dual Enrollment Programs
  University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award

The UPCEA Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award recognizes an institution that has implemented a successful strategic initiative, project, or service that has significantly advanced the success of adult and/or nontraditional student audiences.

The 2026 recipient is:

• UGA’s Comprehensive Learner Record
  University of Georgia

Excellence in Marketing Award

The UPCEA Excellence in Marketing Award recognizes marketing campaigns that excel in creativity, execution, and impact. Regardless of institution size or budget, the award focuses on outstanding and effective marketing in higher education based on overall creativity, messaging, results achieved, and level of design.

The 2026 recipients are:

GOLD

• Narrative-Based Medicine Lab
  University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• NYU SPS Degree Completion Awareness
  New York University School of Professional Studies
  Strategic Marketing and Communications
• Reimagining Commencement: Using Authentic Storytelling to Transform Graduation into a Recruitment
  San Diego State University Global Campus

SILVER

• ASBSN Readiness-to-Application Conversion
  San Diego State University Global Campus
• Kent State Online: Theme-Based Marketing Transformation
  Kent State University
• Boise State Online CTV Campaign
  Boise State University
• Hail State Online: Building Connection and Bulldog Pride During National Distance Learning Week
  Mississippi State University Online
• AlamoONLINE Student Ambassador
  Alamo Colleges District
• K-12 Regional Awareness & Enrollment Marketing Campaign
  Texas Tech University
• Your Because Is Our Why: Building Demand for Online Education Through Brand-Led Marketing
  NC State University
• Global Immersion Experience Campaign
  Bryant University
  Lauren Andersons and Angelina Denomme
• Agents of Change Choose Tulane
  Tulane University School of Social Work and Archer Education
• 130+ Campaign
  University of Cincinnati Online

BRONZE

• College of Engineering Accelerated Campaign
  University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Continuing Education
• Where Careers Move Forward
  The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Toronto Metropolitan University
• Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology Campaign
  University of Missouri
• Online Modality Campaign
  University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Continuing Studies
• Free Application Week
  University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Enterprise Education for Transformation
  Stanford University
• #1 In NC
  University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Where Legends Log In
  The University of Alabama Online
• Golden Mavs 55+: Learn. Connect. Thrive. Your Next Chapter Starts Here.
  The University of Texas at Arlington
• Owning Our City
  University of Cincinnati Online
• To Be a Titan Is a Family Affair
  California State University, Fullerton

Congratulations to all of the 2026 award recipients!

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About UPCEA

UPCEA is the online and professional education association. Our members continuously reinvent higher education, positively impacting millions of lives. We proudly lead and support them through cutting-edge research, professional development, networking and mentorship, conferences and seminars, and stakeholder advocacy. Our collaborative, entrepreneurial community brings together decision-makers and influencers in education, industry, research, and policy interested in improving educational access and outcomes. Learn more at upcea.edu.

CONTACT:

Molly Nelson, UPCEA Vice President of Communications, [email protected]