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

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

Lessons Learned from Star Trek

October 24, 2024

I am part of Generation X. I was born in 1965 and which makes me one of the cohort’s older members. Although I am a part of Generation X, I at times align with the “Next Generation” … the Boomers. Growing up around Boomers and being an older Gen X’er meant watching I Dream of…

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New Survey Explores Intersection of AI and Credentialing in Higher Ed

October 23, 2024

UPCEA and Instructure recently released the results of a survey on whether institutions are utilizing AI to enhance learner outcomes and records, and if so, how? Most survey respondents are heavily involved in developing learner experiences and tracking outcomes, though nearly half report that their institutions have yet to adopt AI-driven tools for these purposes.…

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

VR and AR Online

May 21, 2018

Online: Trending Now #132 One of the challenges we face in teaching online is bringing “reality” into our classes. The potential of virtual reality and augmented reality in online courses is enormous. Especially in online learning, these technologies promise to enable us to bring the laboratory, geography, cultures, and communities to reality for those who are…

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GDPR Deadline Looms; Are You Ready?

May 14, 2018

Online: Trending Now #131 The General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union is going into effect on May 25.  If you are not aware of GDPR, now is the time to get up to speed on this European Union policy that may reshape data privacy and security around the world. The EU has greatly expanded…

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Your one-stop shop for the latest Association happenings, policy updates, plus thoughts from the desk of CEO Bob Hansen.

A map of the United States with pins showing 33 of the most populous US cities, with a counter indicating a total combined population of 40.8 million

Beyond Degrees: How Credential Innovation is Closing the Gap for 42 Million Learners

A Movement, Not Just a Community Convergence is emerging as the place where the credential innovation community for higher ed comes together. But more than a community, it’s a movement. Not a movement to make degrees less valuable, let alone obsolete. Rather, it’s a movement to complement degrees by meeting the needs of those for…

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UPCEA Announces Selection of Peer Learning Leaders to Drive Innovation in Skills-Based Credentialing

Six individuals selected for grant-funded work helping advance University-to-Business credential innovation strategies WASHINGTON (October 23, 2024) – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is thrilled to announce the selection of six individuals to be Peer Learning Leaders for the association’s grant-funded “Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement in Credential Innovation” project. The project will…

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Half of Higher Ed Institutions Now Use AI for Outcomes Tracking, But Most Lag in Implementing Comprehensive Learner Records

Survey conducted by Instructure and UPCEA explores the intersection of AI and credentialing in Higher Education SALT LAKE CITY — October 22, 2024 — Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and UPCEA, the online and professional education association, announced the results of a survey on whether institutions are leveraging AI to improve learner outcomes and manage…

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Best Colleges Ranking – 2025 (WalletHub)

Insights from Ray Schroeder, Senior Fellow at UPCEA – The Online and Professional Education Association and Professor Emeritus of Communication – University of Illinois Springfield Are Ivy League and other “name- brand” schools worth the high sticker price? Wise consumers of higher education should begin with the outcome. What career or job is your desired…

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Musings on trends and updates from UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen.

Beyond Degrees: How Credential Innovation is Closing the Gap for 42 Million Learners

October 24, 2024

A Movement, Not Just a Community Convergence is emerging as the place where the credential innovation community for higher ed comes together. But more than a community, it’s a movement. Not a movement to make degrees less valuable, let alone obsolete. Rather, it’s a movement to complement degrees by meeting the needs of those for…

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UPCEA Brand Evolution in an Era of Change

March 26, 2024

The pandemic upheaval forced rapid adaptation across campuses, accelerating the digital transformation that had been underway for decades. Online and professional education is at the forefront of this transformation, addressing strategic questions about business models and learner needs. In this ever-evolving landscape of higher education, adaptation isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. UPCEA recognized…

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Valuable insights from UPCEA's trusted corporate partners.

Convergence 2024: All Learning Matters

October 21, 2024

The recent Convergence Conference in New Orleans brought together thought leaders from across the higher education spectrum, offering profound insights on how institutions can evolve to better meet the needs of learners in an era of rapid change. This was our fourth UPCEA-hosted event and the second time at Convergence, but my first time attending….

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Beyond “Thank You for Your Service”: A Higher Ed Guide to Supporting Student Veterans this Veterans Day

October 18, 2024

As Veterans Day approaches, universities and colleges nationwide often reflect on how to honor student veterans on their campuses. Instagram posts may already be scheduled with some version of “Thank You for Your Service” typed across a proudly waiving American flag. While expressions of gratitude are a step in the right direction, going beyond annual…

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