COVID-19 has certainly changed our world, with more suffering yet to come. Many tragedies have reshaped society and the world economy. After the destruction and loss of life from 9/11, the financial markets and economy suffered in the short-term, but certain industries experienced longer lasting effects, primarily the airline, insurance, food and energy sectors. This…
The next generation of adult learners, Generation Z (those currently between the ages of 13 and 23) and young Millennials (roughly 24 to 30), are very different from other generations. They research providers more, as well as being more likely to abandon shopping carts.[i] They get creeped out by our efforts to extract too much…
We seem to be obsessed with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). Yet, our forward focus today more appropriately should be on the emergence, impact and potential of Quantum Computing. AI has had a remarkable impact on higher education, since the release of GPT 3.5 in November of 2022. For an inordinately…
In years gone by, we said that students went to college to gather knowledge. Now, college is appropriately expected to be much more about building wisdom. The expectations of prospective students and families, employers and society at large have shifted. Knowledge and information have become instantaneously available at speeds approximating personal recall. The next step…
From Silos to Systems: A Practical Guide to Cross-Campus Partnerships for Adult Learners
Adult learners have gradually become one of the most important populations in higher education. Roughly 3.9 million students over the age of 25 were enrolled in undergraduate programs in fall 2023, and adult learners now make up at least 40% of total higher ed revenue. Yet many institutions still serve them with structures built for…
UPCEA’s 2026 Online Education Benchmarking Report Shows Digital Learning at Consequential Point
Third annual study indicates institutions are centralizing governance, strengthening enterprise-level capacity, and addressing financial issues as online learning becomes part of core academic infrastructure WASHINGTON, D.C., ISSUED AUGUST 17, 2026…UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the release of its 2026 “Benchmarking Online Enterprises: Insights into Structures, Strategies, and Financial Models in Higher…
The Future of Professional Learning Starts with Us
In 1915, UPCEA’s founders built this association on a simple idea: carrying knowledge to the people. That founding purpose never had an expiration date, and it does not have one now. It is why, more than a century later, the question in front of us was never whether professional learning needs to change. It is…
UPCEA Launches Digital Learning Academy to Advance Professional Learning for Higher Education Leaders
New professional learning ecosystem offers flexible pathways for career growth, practical skill development, and leadership advancement WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 4, 2026 — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the launch of the UPCEA Digital Learning Academy, a comprehensive professional learning ecosystem designed to help higher education professionals build knowledge, develop practical…
In 1915, UPCEA’s founders built this association on a simple idea: carrying knowledge to the people. That founding purpose never had an expiration date, and it does not have one now. It is why, more than a century later, the question in front of us was never whether professional learning needs to change. It is…
The tagline for Convergence, Credential Innovation in Higher Education, raises two important questions: First, what kind of credentials are we talking about? Is the scope of credentials unlimited, blue sky, or confined to incremental changes on the margins of the status quo? And second, who is leading that innovation, and what do they need to…
Adult learners have become an increasingly important focus for higher education institutions. Today, adult learners are not an emerging population. They are the reality shaping the future of higher education. According to the Risepoint 2026 Voice of the Online Learner report, 89% of online learners work while pursuing their education, including 77% who work full…
Your next prospective student has already formed an impression of your program. They just haven’t visited your website yet. Half of prospective students now use AI tools at least weekly. 79% read Google’s AI Overviews. Before a student fills out an RFI form, an AI tool has likely already answered their questions about your program,…