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UPCEA is the only organization in North America focusing on both professional and continuing education and quality online programs, with the knowledge and resources colleges and universities need to serve the nontraditional market. UPCEA’s membership includes leading public and private institutions, and is more than 14,000 members strong!

What does this mean for you and your institution? It means you are part of a powerful group of colleagues, thought leaders and friends who truly “get” what it means to work in online and professional continuing education. Make the most of it! 

 

Choose UPCEA today to find the resources you need to develop engaging programs that attract today’s learners.

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The company you keep.

Our members from institutions large and small are ready to share best practices in online and professional education.

Meet our members.


Everybody talks about the importance of networking, but how often do you get to do it with people who really understand the business of online and professional continuing education? That’s where your UPCEA membership is key! At UPCEA, we know that sharing with colleagues and developing lifelong friends is more than just social — it’s a critical business investment in your institution’s ongoing success and your own career advancement. There are abundant networking opportunities at UPCEA’s conferences and seminars, but you can also get advice, answers and ideas from your colleagues online via CORe, UPCEA’s professional networking platform.

Membership gives you full access to:

✚ Active conversations, and the chance to ask your questions in real time
✚ Robust search of conversation archive
✚ A diverse resource library
✚ UPCEA’s entire member directory
✚ Exclusive member content — including benchmarking studies, conference session slides, and webinar recordings
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The tools you need.

Access to industry-leading research and benchmarking, timely publications, free webinars, conferences, and more.


Research and Benchmarking

Whether you need to assess the viability of a new program, find out how you stack up with the competition or would like a program portfolio review, we can assist with research and data that will help move your unit forward.

Your decisions impact the quality of your operation, as well as the bottom line. We’ll provide data that does more than sit on a page—it’s data that tells the story.

UPCEA Research and Consulting offers a variety of custom research options through a variable pricing model including:

  • New program feasibility analysis
  • Program portfolio assessment
  • Occupational analysis, trending, and forecasting
  • Competitive impact and analysis
  • Marketing and positioning, including target market definition and brand research
  • New program pricing
  • Organizational structure of the marketing department
  • Enrollment management and process improvement

Timely Publications

UPCEA offers timely publications on many issues of higher education. Our main two publications include our magazine and bi-weekly Briefing. The UPCEA e-magazine, Unbound: Reinventing Higher Education, is designed to showcase thought leadership, case studies, research and other valuable contributions to the field. The UPCEA Briefing is our bi-weekly primer designed to position our members as thought leaders on their campuses. The Briefing provides timely, topical, and trendy information that members can apply in their programs and departments. UPCEA also offers various blogs and target communications based on Network involvement and deep dives into latest trends and research.

Free Webinars

Frequent webinars on a range of topics applicable to online and professional education are free and available exclusively to members. Learn from your peers and industry leaders without leaving your desk!

Click here to see our webinars.

Conferences & Events

UPCEA events are a great resource for our members. Networking, best practices, idea sharing, all of which you can expect the best of at our events. We have multiple nationwide events and regional salons each year.  

2024 MEMS | Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success Conference | December 3-5, 2024 | Philadelphia, PA
DECEMBER 3-5, 2024

2024 UPCEA MEMS: Marketing | Enrollment Management | Student Success

Philadelphia, PA

2025 UPCEA Annual Conference | March 24-26, 2025 | Denver, CO | #UPCEA2025
MARCH 24-26, 2025

2025 UPCEA Annual Conference

REgions
MULTIPLE DATES

UPCEA Regional Salons

Virtual 

Free for UPCEA Members

SOLAR 2025: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration | July 22-24, 2025 | Portland, OR
JULY 22-24, 2025

2025 UPCEA SOLAR: Summit for Online Leadership and Administration

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education | Sept 29 - Oct 1, 2025 | Washington, DC #credovation
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2025

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

Washington, DC

REGIONAL EVENTS

UPCEA’s five regions provide opportunities for members to examine issues of local and regional importance, develop collaborative initiatives, network with area colleagues, and take advantage of cost-effective professional development at regional salons free for UPCEA members. Regional content is especially useful for new and mid-level professionals who will discover opportunities to build leadership skills and learn from our industry’s best in a  smaller, more intimate setting. 
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UPCEA Research and Consulting — The best value in the industry today. 

Informed decisions. Ideas that work. The data you need. Reasonably priced and all in one place from the experts in online and professional continuing education: UPCEA. Whether you need benchmarking studies, market research for a new program, or specific information to evaluate and develop strategies to take your programs to the next level, UPCEA Consulting is the right choice. UPCEA also offers peer review teams for on-site visits.

The Nation's Top Universities Choose UPCEA Research and Consulting

UPCEA Research and Consulting

UPCEA offers the gold standard of research and benchmarking information in the industry through UPCEA Research and Consulting. Under the experienced leadership of Founding Director Jim Fong, UPCEA conducts several free studies per year for the benefit of all members, in addition to dozens of custom studies for individual members that are considerably more affordable than the private sector. UPCEA Research and Consulting offers a variety of custom research options through a variable pricing model.

Peer-to-Peer Consulting
 UPCEA deploys teams for on-site consultations at discounted pricing for members that include a strategic review of infrastructure, program mix and services and a host of related topics customized to meet the needs of your institution.

Second Opinion

Our lead consultants are available to provide brief, rapid responses for members who have questions about all aspects of online and professional education programs and strategy. Members can request a thirty-minute phone consultation free of charge.
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The perks you deserve.

Awards, advocacy, and opportunities to grow and build your skills as a volunteer, presenter, or mentor.

ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Association Awards Program includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership.

 

MARKETING AWARDS

UPCEA’s Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services Network sponsors an annual competition to recognize the best marketing practices and promotional pieces in the field of online and professional education.

REGIONAL AWARDS

Each of the five regions host their individual awards programs, recognizing outstanding achievement to those institutions and individuals in their own region.

ADVOCACY

UPCEA advocates on behalf of the online and professional education field, and for the students served by these programs. UPCEA's policy efforts are designed to position members as thought leaders on their campuses. UPCEA is a Steering Committee member of the Today's Students Coalition and a member of other policy coalitions. These Coalitions seek to advance higher education outcomes through unified voices representing the adult learner in public advocacy.

Click here to read UPCEA Government Affairs news.

Click here to learn more about the Today's Students Coalition.

VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

Volunteer and grow as a leader, presenter, or mentor
 

Take an active role in membership! Members are encouraged to serve as volunteer leaders — there are many ways to get involved:

✚ Be an ambassador, “conference buddy” or mentor
✚ Submit a proposal to present at regional or national conferences
✚ Serve on a regional or network committee
✚ Join a network and share your knowledge
✚ Volunteer at your regional conference
✚ Submit an article for Unbound, UPCEA’s e-journal
✚ Post on CORe and join the conversation
PRESENT/SUBMIT SESSION PROPOSALS

 
UPCEA allows its membership to submit presentations for the various conferences and seminars that are held throughout the year. 

BE A MENTOR


Join decades of other UPCEA leaders who have helped mentor a generation of others in online and professional education.
 

Make the right choice. Get started today.

Want to learn more about UPCEA and the benefits of membership? Email [email protected] or fill out the form below.

Interested in membership? Give us a call at 202-659-3130 or email us at [email protected]

Learn more about the details of UPCEA membership by clicking here.