Colleges and universities committed to high-quality teaching and research are navigating a growing set of challenges in attracting and supporting international students. The presence of international students on our U.S. campuses enriches the academic environment, fosters global perspectives, and enhances the cultural competency of the campus communities. These learners often pursue STEM disciplines, contributing significantly…
Read MoreIn the fast-evolving landscape of higher education and workforce alignment, non-degree credentials are surging in popularity. This trend is largely a result of baccalaureate degrees that are not adapting quickly to address more immediate market needs, coupled with a skepticism about the value of the degree. In place of bachelor’s degrees, students are seeking more…
Read MoreWe are most accustomed to writing prompts and challenging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to give us answers, insights, sources, videoclips, and creativity. Emerging now is the walking, talking AI that engages us on our level. We have front-row seats to the maturing of AI in higher education. There has been audio for a while, but now…
Read MoreIt takes a team, if not a village, to work together to deliver quality higher education. Fortunately, we have a new cohort of colleagues joining us at colleges and universities. These new colleagues are eminently qualified; most have been knowledge-certified as above-average for Ph.D. holders in their field. They are truly tireless; working 24 hours…
Read MoreIn Memoriam: Gregory Milton
A Program Planning and Implementation Network Tribute to Gregory Milton, Ph.D. It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Greg Milton passed away last week. Greg Milton, Ph.D., was our colleague and friend and PPI’s former Chair (2018). Greg was instrumental to PPI for many years and helped the Network grow…
The 5 ways colleges can reverse trend of students stopping out (University Business)
Senior administrators ranked persistence and retention as the No. 1 priority in supporting higher education students in a study conducted by American University and the Association of American Colleges and Universities this past spring. They understand well the challenges facing those who attend their institutions, including the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact. But there are a number of other…
Report: Who Stops Out of College and Why? (Inside Higher Ed)
Students who stop out of college are disproportionately women, low income and working students, according to a new study by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association and StraighterLine, an online education provider. […] Jim Fong, chief research officer and director of the Center for Research and Strategy at UPCEA, said students will be greatly disadvantaged if…
Report: Who Stops Out of College and Why? (Inside Higher Ed)
[…] Jim Fong, chief research officer and director of the Center for Research and Strategy at UPCEA, said students will be greatly disadvantaged if colleges fail to anticipate the hurdles that cause them to leave. “Given the pandemic and the evolution of a new economy, one that relies on automation and information, students will be…
Over the last three years, UPCEA engaged in an innovative partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to enable the latter’s Distance Teaching and Learning (DT&L) conference to continue under UPCEA’s leadership. The partnership’s goals included making this valuable event for the distance learning community more sustainable and accessible to online practitioners focused on teaching and…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreConsider the humble pocketknife. For most owners, it cuts a fishing line or opens a bottle. But in the right hands, it becomes a tool of precision and creativity. Now, consider Artificial Intelligence. Vastly more complex, AI is also a tool—one that, depending on the user, can serve as a shortcut or a source of…
Read MoreThe pace and pressure of academic leadership have intensified. Many leaders are navigating increased responsibilities, constrained resources, political tension, and widespread fatigue. In this environment, clarity, presence, and sustained energy are essential and precious. To lead effectively, leaders must protect their most limited resource: their focus and energy. Coaching provides a structured space to do…
Read More