UPCEA Blogs

See below for the full set of all blogs hosted by the association.

Learn more about UPCEA publications. If you want to be sure to get updates from us, be sure you're a UPCEA member.

The Pulse of Higher Ed

Perspectives on Online and Professional Education
from UPCEA’s Research and Consulting Experts

Marketers Matter More in the Dynamic World of Professional, Continuing and Online Education

August 2, 2019

Advertising and marketing should never be confused. There are many types of marketers in the workplace and hiring the wrong one or not retaining the right one impacts enrollment success. Tomorrow’s marketer needs to understand strategy, competition, metrics, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and digital and social media and positioning. They also need to manage…

Cybersecurity, FaceApp, and Higher Ed

July 19, 2019

I admit it. I did the FaceApp thing and I shouldn’t have been surprised that the “old me” looks a lot like my father. However, like many others, I later learned through the media that there are potential threats and concerns regarding the ownership and permissions of the app. While the developers of the app…

Online: Trending Now

Unique biweekly insights and news review from Ray Schroeder, Senior Fellow at UPCEA

Focus on Quantum Future

August 20, 2026

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…

From Knowledge Building to Wisdom Building in Higher Education

August 6, 2026

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…

UPCEA Updates

Your one-stop shop for the latest Association happenings, policy updates, plus thoughts from UPCEA Senior Leaders.

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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From the CEO

Musings on trends and updates from UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen.

The Future of Professional Learning Starts with Us

August 4, 2026

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…

Constructing the Future: Why Credential Innovation Needs Bold Leadership

November 21, 2025

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…

Valuable insights from UPCEA's trusted corporate partners.

Start With the Workforce: What Malaysia Can Teach Us About Building for Growth

August 24, 2026

Why bringing workforce development into the conversation from the beginning can change the role universities play in economic growth. Imagine building a university because you’re building an industry. I recently spent time in Malaysia meeting with university and business leaders, and that idea stuck with me. We talk constantly about aligning higher education with workforce…

How AI Is Reshaping the Adult Learner Experience

June 24, 2026

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…