Online: Trending Now

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

GDPR Deadline Looms; Are You Ready?

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 the privacy rights of their citizens and put tighter controls on what data may be retained and used. And, that, of course impacts universities who have EU citizens as students, particularly distance learning programs:

It is tempting to believe that American institutions that enroll EU residents in the US are entirely exempt from compliance with the GDPR. This would certainly be true for EU residents who initiate their admission application process from outside the EU, but most EU applicants start the admissions process from their home countries and obtain visas to enter the US after gaining admission to eligible programs. In theory, active student recruitment campaigns targeting EU residents could subject the data collected from such students, whether via automated or non-automated means, to compliance requirements under the GDPR…. The GDPR took years to be adopted, and it is safe to assume that it will take years before its real impact and practical compliance requirements become fully settled.

So, what should you have done by now.  The UK Training Journal sets out a process for preparing for the May 25thdate:

  • Audit your existing data. What current data do you hold? From names and email addresses, to health information or web browsing information, know what you’re working with.
  • Map the existing flow of personal data through supply chains. Know where data is going and how it’s being dealt with.
  • Hire a data protection officer. If you process data on a large scale or have more than 250 employees, you’re going to need one.
  • Create a GDPR team. Include individuals with IT and legal expertise, and a representative from every team that handles data.
  • Carry out gap analysis. Look at where the problem areas are and how you can fix them to become GDPR compliant.
  • Invest and prioritise. Being GDPR compliant is a business cost, plain and simple.
  • Document everything. Aside from being compliant, you need to prove you are compliant. Keep records of when data was gathered and how explicit consent was given.
  • Be prepared for a breach. Under GDPR all business are required to report a data breach within 72 hours of becoming aware of one. Be aware of the effect a data breach could have on your customers and your business, and understand the impact of a breach before it even happens with regular data privacy impact assessments. Get a crisis plan in place now.   

Webster University has prepared a succinct graphic to help staff step through a data privacy assurance process when the GDPR is in force. It may be up to you to create awareness across your campus of the new requirements.  Some institutions are considering implementing the GDPR standards for all students and employees rather than segment populations for special treatment.  In any case, it is in the best interests of all if word is spread about the requirements of the new rules.

For further information, EDUCAUSE has created a meta-site on GDPR. 

Of course, I will continue to track the developments in MOOCs, emerging trends, technologies, pedagogies and practices in continuing and professional higher education and share them with you through Professional, Continuing and Online Education Update blog by UPCEA. You can have the updates sent directly to your email each morning  – no advertising, no spam!

Best,
 
Ray Schroeder
Director
National Council for Online Education

A man (Ray Schroeder) is dressed in a suit with a blue tie and wearing glasses.

Ray Schroeder is Professor Emeritus, Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and Senior Fellow at UPCEA. Each year, Ray publishes and presents nationally on emerging topics in online and technology-enhanced learning. Ray’s social media publications daily reach more than 12,000 professionals. He is the inaugural recipient of the A. Frank Mayadas Online Leadership Award, recipient of the University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award, the United States Distance Learning Association Hall of Fame Award, and the American Journal of Distance Education/University of Wisconsin Wedemeyer Excellence in Distance Education Award 2016.

Other UPCEA Updates + Blogs

AI Tools Are Driving Prospective Student Decisions, UPCEA and Search Influence Research Shows

Half of prospective students use AI tools weekly, and early-adopting institutions stand to gain in enrollment visibility. NEW ORLEANS, La., October 13, 2025 – 50 percent of prospective students now use AI-powered search tools at least weekly, making artificial intelligence a critical first step in discovering and evaluating higher education programs. The 2025 AI Search…

Read More

Maximizing Audience Lifetime Value: The Role of Branding, Partnerships, and Alumni Networks in Credential Success

Shifting Student and Employer Priorities Create Opportunities for Higher Education Interest and innovation in workforce-related programming and credentials continue to surge, emerging as one of the fastest growing markets in higher education. Two-thirds of colleges and universities are making significant investments in this area, with more than one-third also embedding professional certifications into their online…

Read More

UPCEA Virtual Forum Recap: Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement in Credential Innovation

September 17, 2025 marked UPCEA’s first-ever Virtual Forum on Employer Engagement and Credential Innovation. The event, curated by Amy Heitzman, Ph.D., UPCEA’s Deputy CEO and Chief Learning Officer, brought together senior leaders in professional, continuing, and online education to examine how institutions can strengthen partnerships with employers and scale credentialing strategies that align with workforce…

Read More

UPCEA Publishes “The Future Is Now: Essential Conversations for Building Tomorrow’s University Today” to Guide Higher Education Leaders into a New Era

Advocacy piece serves as a guide for institutional leaders to navigate challenging times WASHINGTON, D.C., ISSUED OCTOBER 6, 2025…UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announces the release of its latest advocacy piece, “The Future Is Now: Essential Conversations for Building Tomorrow’s University Today.”  Designed to raise awareness of critical questions every campus leader…

Read More

Trump Administration Gives Harvard 20 Days to Turn Over Admissions Data | Policy Matters (September 2025)

Major Updates Trump Administration Gives Harvard 20 Days to Turn Over Admissions Data The U.S. Department of Education has given Harvard University 20 days to turn over detailed admissions data in connection with an ongoing federal review of selective admissions practices. While focused on one institution, this move signals heightened scrutiny across higher education. Administrators…

Read More

Preparing Four-Year Institutions for Workforce Pell

Institutions must begin preparing now for 2026 implementation.  On July 4, 2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping legislative package that reshapes federal student aid and accountability policy. Among many consequential provisions for higher education is the creation of Workforce Pell, which will extend Pell Grant eligibility to some short-term,…

Read More

Whether you need benchmarking studies, or market research for a new program, UPCEA Consulting is the right choice.

We know you. We know the challenges you face and we have the solutions you need. We speak your language and have been serving leaders like you for more than 100 years. UPCEA consultants are current or former continuing and online higher education professionals who are experts in the industry—put our expertise to work for you.


UPCEA is dedicated to advancing quality online learning at the institutional level. UPCEA is uniquely focused on excellence at the highest levels – leadership, administration, strategy – applying a macro lens to the online teaching and learning enterprise. Its engaged members include the stewards of online learning at most of the leading universities in the nation.

We offers a variety of custom research options through a variable pricing model.


Click here to learn more.

The Nation's Top Universities Choose UPCEA Consulting

Informed decisions. Ideas that work. The data you need. Trusted by the top universities in the nation.