Posts by UPCEA
A Look in the Mirror – Using Inquirers Perspectives to Understand Enrollment Funnels
Eleven months ago, my wife and I were on vacation in Tucson, Arizona. In a past life, I’d briefly worked in Saguaro National Park removing invasive species, so I was eager to get back and bask in the unique qualities of the Sonoran Desert and the Old Pueblo of Tucson. On a Sunday afternoon, we…
Read MoreThree common challenges adult learners face — and how holistic coaching can help
As innovators and changemakers in the adult learner space, you’re always looking for the best ways to support the students you serve and help them overcome obstacles on their educational journey. Through coaching, you can provide adult learners with a personalized approach tailored to each individual, ultimately giving them the tools and techniques they need…
Read MoreThe Fastest-Growing Job Skills for Universities to Prioritize in 2024
In an ever-evolving job market, higher education plays a crucial role in preparing students for strong career outcomes. I’m excited to share that Coursera’s third annual Job Skills Report is here to guide higher ed leaders as they navigate this landscape by highlighting the essential skills and credentials that are shaping the workforce. The Job…
Read MoreUPCEA Announces 2024 Association Award Recipients
8 Individuals and 8 Programs Receive Association’s Highest Honors WASHINGTON, February 2, 2024 – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, has announced the recipients of the 2024 Association Awards. The UPCEA Association Awards program includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership. Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members’ outstanding…
Read MoreThe Edge: Missed opportunities in nondegree credentials (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
The untapped possibilities of nondegree credentials Employers have a strong interest in partnering with colleges to design and deliver nondegree programs. Yet more than 45 percent of employers in a recent survey said colleges had never approached them to do so. That’s one finding from a new report by UPCEA, the online and professional education association,…
Read MoreLifelong Learning with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
What will it mean to higher education when AI systems carry out tasks at an intelligence level that matches or exceeds humans? Recently, both OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made somewhat surprising announcements regarding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In an interview with Bill Gates, Altman said AGI could come in the…
Read MoreDistance Education and State Authorization Negotiated Rulemaking Begins | Policy Matters (January 2024)
Major Updates Negotiated Rulemaking Session on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality Begins The U.S. Department of Education has started a Negotiated Rulemaking Session focused on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality. The first session took place January 8–11. The second session will occur from February 5–8, and the final session is scheduled for March 4–7. These…
Read MoreBlurring the Lines for Faculty Development
In December 2020, my staff at the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching sent a survey to about 500 faculty and other instructors who had completed the online course design institute we offered the previous summer. The OCDI, as we called it, was a two-week faculty development program aimed at helping our university’s instructors prepare to…
Read MoreHow institutions are leaving money on the table with their alternative credential offerings (University Business)
Alternative non-degree credentials are slowly becoming higher education’s hottest learning modality. Enrollment is strong and employer buy-in is promising. However, two reports from UPCEA demonstrate that despite institutions’ increased infrastructure to provide these academic programs, challenges persist—and they’re leaving money on the table as a result. In a December 2023 report that studied nearly 100 UPCEA members representing institutions focused…
Read MoreMicrocredentials on the Rise, but Not at Colleges (Inside Higher Ed)
As the pool of traditional-age students shrinks, colleges are increasingly turning to nondegree credentials to expand the appeal of their academic offerings to working adults. At the same time, an increasing number of employers want their employees to be able to upskill and reskill through microcredential programs. But four-year institutions are lagging behind third-party providers, such as LinkedIn…
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