The National Student Clearinghouse continues to report sobering statistics on higher education enrollments[i]. Their Spring 2022 report shows that undergraduate enrollment fell by 662,698, as compared to the prior year. In addition, spring graduate enrollments were relatively flat, but still falling by 22,337. With the predicted demographic cliff looming nearby, a decade of tuition increases…
Read MoreMarketing budgets and staffing have significantly increased from pre-pandemic levels I once heard that when faced with trauma or chaos, humans consider a number of options … fight, flight (or flee) or freeze. Institutions and their leadership make similar choices when faced with economic adversity. Based on the 2022 UPCEA Marketing Survey, institutions of higher…
Read MoreBeyond the health and social implications of the pandemic, the economic dominos that fell for higher education included The Great Resignation followed by The Great Interruption. The economy in the U.S. and other parts of the world continues to be impacted by the former, as many jobs remain unfilled or where a constant churn of…
Read MorePrior to the pandemic, for the UPCEA Center for Research and Strategy it was business as usual – conducting feasibility studies, environmental scans and an occasional review of a professional, continuing and online education unit’s portfolio. During the pandemic, this flip-flopped as our unit did more portfolio reviews, market needs studies and marketing and enrollment…
Read MoreRecent Center for Research and Strategy studies have explored different facets of today’s new learner. Explore these studies for details on how your institution can best meet new learners’ needs. The Six Personas of the New Learner: Changing Motivations and Situations of the New Learner Landscape (with Thinking Cap) As we move into the future,…
Read MoreABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lead consultant Jim Fong, the founding director of UPCEA’s Center for Research and Strategy, has extensive background in marketing at Penn State, as well as experience in private industry. Jim brings a rich understanding of the dynamics driving today’s higher education leaders, providing research-driven strategy and positioning. Jim often presents at UPCEA’s regional and national conferences, sharing vital information with attendees.
Click here to learn more about Jim and his work.
Whether you need benchmarking studies, or market research for a new program, UPCEA Research and Consulting is the right choice.
We know you. We know the challenges you face and we have the solutions you need. We speak your language and have been serving leaders like you for more than 100 years. UPCEA consultants are current or former continuing and online higher education professionals who are experts in the industry—put our expertise to work for you.
Data that tells your story.
Whether you need to assess the viability of a new program, find out how you stack up with the competition or would like a program portfolio review, we can assist with research and data that will help move your unit forward. Your decisions impact the quality of your operation, as well as the bottom line. We’ll provide data that does more than sit on a page—it’s data that tells the story.
UPCEA Research and Consulting offers a variety of custom research options through a variable pricing model.