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Online Leaders Have a Community — and It’s UPCEA

November 5, 2025

In celebration of National Distance Learning Week, UPCEA is highlighting key resources each day that showcase how online and professional education leaders continue to drive innovation, resilience, and transformation.

Behind every successful online learning initiative is a strong community of leaders who share ideas, solve challenges, and push the field forward together. At UPCEA, that community is thriving. From collaborative forums and networking groups to specialized events and exclusive discussions, UPCEA brings together the leaders shaping the future of online and professional continuing education.

Whether you’re a Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO), instructional innovator, or strategist in online and professional education, UPCEA connects you with peers who understand your world, and helps you lead with insight and confidence.

CORe: Conversations that Spark Strategy

UPCEA’s CORe (Collaborative Online Relationships) is the association’s vibrant online hub where members share knowledge, discuss current challenges, and connect around common goals. For COLOs and other online learning leaders, CORe is the place to stay informed, exchange strategies, and build relationships with peers navigating similar institutional landscapes.

CORe also hosts a COLO-only discussion area focusing on topics ranging from scaling online programs to implementing AI in course design, as well as updates on research, professional development, and events. For members, it’s a living network; a digital commons where ideas turn into action.

All UPCEA members are welcome to join in the discussions in CORe, and designated COLOs from member institutions can join COLO conversations.

Networks that Connect and Empower

UPCEA’s Networks bring together professionals with shared expertise and focus areas, creating spaces for deep collaboration and practical exchange. For online learning leaders, two are especially relevant:

Online Administration (OA) Network: Dedicated to the policies, practices, and people that power online learning operations, this Network helps institutions refine strategy, improve student support, and strengthen online infrastructure.
eDesign Collaborative (eDC) Network: A community of instructional designers, technologists, and educators advancing excellence in course design and digital learning experiences.

Through webinars, articles, and shared resources, these Networks foster a sense of belonging and continuous learning that keeps UPCEA members on the leading edge of the field.

Events that Keep You Ahead

UPCEA’s conferences and events are cornerstones of professional growth and community engagement. They offer opportunities to learn from leading institutions, share your successes, and gain actionable insights to strengthen your programs.

SOLAR 2025 Presentations: Explore sessions from the 2025 Summit for Online Leadership and Administration (SOLAR), featuring case studies, best practices, and leadership insights from across higher education.
SOLAR 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP): Ready to share your expertise? Submit your session ideas for next year’s conference and help shape the conversation on the future of online learning. CFP will open soon. Watch the SOLAR website for updates.
SOLAR Encore (October 22) Recording: Missed this year’s Encore event? Catch the replay featuring the top-rated sessions from SOLAR 2025—handpicked from attendee feedback and brought back in a special virtual format highlighting the most impactful content in online strategy and leadership.
Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference: Join us for this premier virtual event for instructional designers and online learning professionals, February 4–5, 2026. Connect, collaborate, and learn from global innovators. Open to all, free for UPCEA members! Register Now.

Together, these events embody UPCEA’s commitment to connection, helping leaders see the big picture while gaining the practical know-how to move their institutions forward.

From Insights to Impact: Learning Together at UPCEA

UPCEA’s Webinars and Coffee Chats bring members together to learn, share, and stay informed on the most important topics shaping online and professional continuing education. These sessions offer opportunities to connect with peers, gain practical insights, and explore emerging trends across the field.

At times there may be a COLO-Only Strategic Conversations, similar to our other Coffee Chats, these sessions are curated, small-group discussions designed specifically for Chief Online Learning Officers. These conversations foster candid dialogue and relationship-building among the field’s top leaders. The next COLO-Only Coffee Chat, More with Less: AI for Operational and Instructional Enhancements, will take place on November 12 at 2 PM ET, exclusively for UPCEA members who hold the COLO title.

Building the Future of Online Leadership – Together

Online leaders don’t lead alone. They lead with the support, ideas, and energy of a community that understands the challenges of digital transformation and the promise of what’s ahead. At UPCEA, that community is alive, active, and growing, and it’s where the next generation of online leadership is being built.

Stay tuned throughout National Distance Learning Week as UPCEA continues to highlight the resources and relationships that empower professionals to lead with confidence in online and professional education.

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