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

How to Partner with Employers to Support Student Success

August 6, 2025

Now, possibly more than ever, it is critically important for colleges and universities to engage with employers for the benefit of our students. Higher education is facing an unprecedented time. The demographic cliff is upon us, the current political environment has led to policy whiplash and has upended funding sources for research. Our campuses have…

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Artificial Intelligence is Non-Negotiable for Higher Education Marketing and Enrollment Management

August 5, 2025

Why Institutional Leaders Can No Longer Afford to Wait on AI adoption The clock is ticking for higher education institutions that haven’t fully embraced AI. What was once an experimental advantage in marketing and enrollment has quickly become an urgent necessity. AI has firmly established itself as an operational imperative across diverse industries, with the…

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

Teaching and Learning Critical and Creative Thinking

July 23, 2025

As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the emphasis in higher learning is less on in-depth discipline knowledge and more on agile skills in critical thinking and creative thinking. How can we more deeply integrate the development of these skills into our curricula? Of course, the need for these skills is based upon the continuing…

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Keep in Mind that AI is Multimodal Now

July 10, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a Pen Pal, or, perhaps, one should say, no longer just a “Keyboard Pal” experience. Remember those years ago in late 2022 when ChatGPT arrived on the international scene, you communicated with AI through a simple chatbot interface. It was remarkable that you could type in relatively short…

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

How to Develop Leaders in the Online, Continuing, and Professional Education Landscape

Introduction  The online, continuing, and professional education landscape has experienced rapid growth and transformation in recent years. With technological advancements and an increasing demand for flexible learning options, institutions are tasked with delivering high-quality programs in a dynamic environment. As this field evolves, the need for strong, effective leadership becomes even more critical. Leaders in…

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UPCEA Congratulates Members Recognized in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Ranking of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

Thirty of the thirty-one Top 25 Ranked Institutions are UPCEA Members WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2025) — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is pleased to congratulate the many UPCEA members recognized in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings. U.S. News rankings include more than 1,790 online programs, covering…

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Federal Funding Pause Blocked by U.S. District Judge, Memo Rescinded | Policy Matters (January 2025)

At 11th hour, judge blocks Trump’s pause on federal funding (Higher Ed Dive) “UPDATE: Jan. 28, 2025: A U.S. District judge halted the government’s temporary freeze on federal funding just minutes before it was set to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to news reports. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., blocked the…

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Should I Get Microcredentials To Complement My Four-Year Degree In Today’s Job Market? (Forbes)

“Think about a professional stepping into the workforce—equipped with the strategic insights cultivated during a four-year business degree and bolstered by technical expertise gained through microcredentials. This balanced blend of broad understanding and specialized skills does more than make them competitive; it prepares them to lead and drive transformative change. Employers are no longer satisfied…

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Musings on trends and updates from UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen.

Foreword by Bob Hansen Featured in The COLO Guidebook

July 10, 2025

We are pleased to share the foreword by UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen from the newly released Chief Online Learning Officers’ Guidebook: A Framework for Strategy and Practice in Higher Education. The guidebook, now available from Routledge in paperback, hardback, and eBook formats, provides a comprehensive framework for today’s online learning leaders. Learn more and purchase…

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A new direction for the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference

November 7, 2024

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…

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Valuable insights from UPCEA's trusted corporate partners.

Understanding the Evolving Needs of Online Learners

August 4, 2025

Every year, the Voice of the Online Learner report offers a window into the motivations, preferences, and challenges of today’s online students. Now in its 14th year, the 2025 edition provides timely insights for UPCEA members seeking to design courses and programs that meet the needs of adult learners, employers, and communities. At Risepoint, we’re…

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Rebuilding Student Trust: 6 Coaching Strategies to Support Belonging for Online and Adult Learners

July 28, 2025

Rebuilding Student Trust: 6 coaching strategies to support belonging for online and adult learners How institutions can help online and adult learners feel seen and supported throughout their college journey In today’s higher education landscape, more adult learners are enrolling in online programs, often while managing work, family and other life commitments. However, these motivated…

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