It is clear that higher education will face a number of challenges over the next decade as the pandemic has accelerated a number of technological, societal and economic trends. Further complicating the matters for institutions of higher education in the U.S. is the fact that demographic trends show an upcoming decade of declining traditional students.…
Read MoreOur recent study on non-credit to credit pathways, sponsored by MindEdge, revealed that while institutions recognize the value of these pathways, most colleges and universities have not yet implemented these routes to a degree. These pathways are prescribed avenues that translate non-credit achievements into credit toward a degree. Non-credit to credit pathways ensure that each…
Read MoreIn recent months we have frequently seen reports of cheating among students at colleges, universities and even military academies. Is this entirely the fault of students or are faculty contributing to the problem by emphasizing rote memory of facts, figures and formulas? The popular press seems to attribute an apparent rise in academic cheating to…
Read MoreCourse content is a sacred compact between the instructor and the learner. Truth, relevancy and currency are among the key components of that agreement. In this 21st century, technologies are changing the landscape of industry and society at a rate not previously documented. Are our courses keeping up? I recall teaching communication technology classes in…
Read MoreUS Department of Education Begins Substantial Negotiated Rulemaking Sessions
Beginning Tuesday January 15, following a day and a half of weather delay, the Department of Education initiated negotiated rulemaking sessions covering a considerable number of issues important to UPCEA and its membership. Meetings will continue through the months of February and conclude in March. Among the issues being discussed include, but is not limited to:…
Retirees to Embrace Campus Life (Inside Higher Ed)
….According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 0.3 percent of students pursuing a degree are aged 65 and over. And education programs targeting those aged 55 and older rarely generate significant long-term revenues, according to Jim Fong, founding director of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association’s Center for Research and Strategy. “The target…
People & Programs: NJIT Associate Vice President of Continuing and Distance Education Gale Tenen Spak Retires
Gale Tenen Spak, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Continuing and Distance Education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) retired on January 1, 2019. Dr. Spak served as Associate Vice President for 26 years. Located in Newark, New Jersey, NJIT is the science and technology public research university of the State of New Jersey….
Partnership Working to Connect Degrees and Certifications (Campus Technology)
Workcred, a nonprofit organization focused on credentialing in the workforce, is partnering with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the University Professional and Continuing Education Association to help create opportunities for undergraduate students to earn certifications as part of their degree program. Supported by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, the effort will bring together experts from higher…
I’m pleased to inform you of a special offer for our institutional members, in thanks for your loyalty and commitment to UPCEA during the pandemic. Our new professional development courses and certificates have been enthusiastically endorsed by participants. Students have appreciated the opportunity to learn from leaders in the profession, network with colleagues across…
Read MoreI’m pleased to share with you some exciting news: UPCEA’s industry-leading events will be back live and in-person in April 2022! Even better, we are combining the Annual Conference and the Summit for Online Leadership and Administration + Roundtable (SOLA+R), hosting both events in Orlando, FL, at Disney’s Coronado Springs April 11-14, 2022. For the…
Read MoreFinancial sustainability is the biggest existential threat facing higher education today. In the United Kingdom, the universities in deficit have almost quintupled in the last five years, from 24 in 2015/16 to 119 in 2018/19. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this challenge, with London Economics predicting that universities will be hit by a $3bn shortfall…
Read MoreYour future continuing education students already exist — researching and searching for your programs right now. So how can you effectively tap into the continuing education market and recruit new students for your programs? Who are your future students? According to research from Thinking Cap Agency, professional certification students are an average of 31 years…
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