Press Release Archive

WASHINGTON – July 9, 2015 – UPCEA, the association for professional, continuing, and online education, is pleased to announce the signing of a Gold level partnership agreement with World Education, an online certificate course provider.
 
Founded by eLearning pioneer Steve Gatlin and based in Arlington, Texas, World Education offers 300 innovative online Career Training Programs and over 1,000 Professional Enrichment courses for today’s growing career fields. World Education’s focus is on providing students with the tools they need to succeed in their online studies and beyond by providing quality instruction, personalized career coaching and job assistance after they graduate. By partnering with accredited, nationally recognized college and university partners, World Education’s online learning solutions are unmatched in their ability to deliver the training adult learners need to build new skills and enhance their careers.
 
“Exceptional course quality, high-touch service, and providing meaningful student outcomes are central to World Education’s mission” said Candice Markham, President of World Education. Steve Gatlin, CEO of World Education added, “The alliance with UPCEA is a testament to World Education’s commitment to excellence and innovation in all that we do. Our team has a strong history as a valued solutions provider to UPCEA member institutions, engagement and accountability have been key.”
 
Bob Hansen, CEO of UPCEA, agrees that World Education is meeting a critical need.  “We are seeing a strong resurgence in timely, high quality online certificate programs that are outcome-oriented, career-focused, and attuned to industry needs.  During conversations with Candice and Steve, it became very clear to me that World Education is focused like a laser on something that is deeply important to UPCEA and the members we serve: pairing high quality programs with the support services to ensure high completion rates and measurable outcomes.”  
 
About World Education
World Education is an Arlington, Texas-based provider of online certificate courses. Founded by eLearning visionary Stephen Gatlin, the company has experienced exponential growth through partnerships with some of the country’s premiere colleges and universities. The company’s current course catalog includes over 1,300 titles in today’s in-demand career fields. Please visit http://www.worldeducation.net to learn more.
 
About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members’ service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.

WASHINGTON, Apr. 1 – UPCEA, the Washington, D.C.-based association for university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, welcomed Alice Warren as the association’s 2015-16 President Elect during the 100th UPCEA Annual Conference. Warren is Vice Provost for Continuing Education at North Carolina State University.

As President-Elect, Warren’s priorities are focused on the association’s membership: sharing the benefits of UPCEA’s membership as the leading association of professional, continuing, and online education leaders and practitioners; expanding the membership of UPCEA to include all types of educational institutions, agencies, and entities; and continuing to engage and retain UPCEA’s current members through robust regions and networks, dynamic conferences and webinars, a sustainable “conference buddies’ program for newcomers, and leading UPCEA publications and services.

“UPCEA’s membership is such a rich resource both for and of members,” said Warren. “Encouraging other educators to join us will be a boost for collegial knowledge sharing, increased networking opportunities, and influence the diverse perspectives that will help us lead our field into the future.”   

Warren joined the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education at North Carolina State University in 1979. In 2008, she was appointed assistant vice chancellor and director of the division. Under Warren’s leadership as vice provost for continuing education, the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education programs and services were aligned under the Provost’s Office in 2011.  This alignment has demonstrated the value of continuing education to North Carolina State University and resulted in new collaborations with academic departments.

Established in 1924 as the General Extension department at State College, today the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education at North Carolina State University is comprised of eight units that reflect the ever-growing demand for continuing education and the needs of the people it serves with 225 employees and a $50M budget.  The units are the Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services, Customized Contractual Education, McKimmon Conference & Training Center, Office of Professional Development, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Technology Training Solutions, The Collaborative at the Gateway Technology Center, and the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council.

“Alice has served UPCEA in numerous volunteer roles, and has been a valued leader and advocate for the association for many years,” said UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen. “With her varied experience throughout the organization, I’m excited about her efforts to engage and support all members.”

Warren’s involvement with UPCEA spans the association’s activities. She has led national UPCEA committees for the association’s Annual Conference and Association Awards, served in multiple leadership roles for the South Region including chair, and has also served as an active member and chair of the Outreach, Engagement and Economic Development Network, as well as serving on UPCEA’s board of directors. Warren received the South Region’s Outstanding Service to Continuing Education Award in 2013 and the Walton S. Bittner Citation for Outstanding Service to UPCEA in 2014.

Warren received her A.S. from William Peace University, her B.S. from Campbell University, and her Master of Education from North Carolina State University.
 

About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members' service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.  

WASHINGTON, Apr. 1 – UPCEA, the Washington, D.C.-based association for university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, welcomed David Schejbal as the association’s 2015-16 President during the 100th UPCEA Annual Conference. Schejbal is the Dean of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning at University of Wisconsin-Extension. 
As UPCEA President, Schejbal is working to address three critical priorities: increasing our collective voice in the national higher education conversation to ensure that professional and nontraditional students are at the forefront of higher education policy; establishing UPCEA’s position regarding alternative and micro-credentialing; and building access to higher education for everyone who wants it whenever they need it and in whatever formats work for them. 
“For the first time since the GI Bill, education for adult and nontraditional students is a critical, national priority,” said Schejbal. “We as continuing and online education professionals and as members of UPCEA are uniquely positioned to lead our institutions and the national conversations to address this critical need.” 
Schejbal has close to 30 years of experience in continuing education, including 5 years as a lecturer in philosophy. He joined the University of Wisconsin-Extension in 2007, and oversees a budget of $100 million, the Higher Education Location Program, Independent Learning, and an array of online, competency-based, and face-to-face credit and noncredit programs. The division of Continuing Education, Outreach, and E-Learning at University of Wisconsin Extension works with all 26 campuses in the University of Wisconsin and with UW System Administration to increase access to programs, classes and degrees. Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Schejbal spent eight years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was associate vice chancellor and director of Continuing Education. 
“David’s national leadership role in advancing innovative initiatives such as competency based education provide the vision we need to begin UPCEA’s second century of reinventing higher education,” said UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen. “Federal policy, alternative credentialing, and access are important priorities not only for the field, but also for the larger societies we serve.” 
Schejbal has served on the board of directors for UPCEA, chaired the UPCEA Annual Conference Planning Committee and the Professional Development Committee, and received one of the association’s most prestigious awards, the Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Leadership. 
Schejbal is a graduate of Iowa State University, and received both his masters and doctorate from the University of Connecticut. 
 
 
 
About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members' service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.  

WASHINGTON, Mar. 31 - UPCEA is pleased to announce the release of the association's Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership. Online education is critical for the future of America's universities, and the UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership outline the concerted institutional strategy and structure necessary for successful online programs. 

Developed with a goal of identifying the range of what will constitute successful online leadership, the UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership include standards, aspirations and principles essential into the foreseeable (and not so foreseeable) future of online education. The UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership identify seven facets of leadership and organizational development: internal advocacy, entrepreneurial initiative, faculty support, student support, digital technology, external advocacy, and professionalism. 

The UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership are the result of the work of UPCEA's National Task Force on Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership, established in 2014. The Task Force, chaired by Jay A. Halfond of Boston University and Senior Fellow of the UPCEA Center for Online Leadership and Strategy, has established those markers that will ultimately characterize entities on America's campuses dedicated to online learning. 

"Strong and successful online learning programs are essential to the future of American higher education," said Bob Hansen, CEO of UPCEA. "There is much at stake, from access for working adults who now constitute the vast majority of today's students, to fiscal sustainability for all but the most elite institutions, and to innovation in teaching and learning." 

Early endorsements of the UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership include the American Council on Education (ACE), the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and Quality Matters. 

"The Hallmarks fully incorporate the range of goals necessary to be a first-rate provider of online education," said Kevin Kruger, President of NASPA. "The thorough articulation of key performance indicators give institutions a clear sense of how to bring these goals to action." 

The UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership are available online at upcea.edu/hallmarks.

 

About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members' service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.

14 Individuals and 6 Programs Receive Association’s Highest Honors
 
WASHINGTON, Mar. 17 - UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education, has announced the recipients of the 2015 Association Awards. The UPCEA Association Awards program includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership.
 
Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members’ outstanding contributions to the Association and the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications, and many other areas.
 
Award recipients will be honored at the UPCEA 100th Annual Conference, on March 31 in Washington, D.C.
 
The recipients of this year’s awards are as follows:
 
Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Leadership is given to an individual in recognition of unusual and extraordinary contributions to the cause of continuing education on the regional, national, and/or international level.
Recipient: James Shaeffer, Old Dominion University
 
Walton S. Bittner Service Citation for Outstanding Service in UPCEA expresses appreciation to a member for outstanding contributions to continuing education at his or her institution, and for service of major significance to UPCEA.
Recipient: Jennifer Wooley, Georgia Institute of Technology
 
Adelle F. Robertson Continuing Professional Educator Award recognizes the scholarship, leadership and contributions to the profession of a person who has entered the field within the past five to ten years.
Recipient: Karen Smith, Kennesaw State University
 
Phillip E. Frandson Award for Literature recognizes the author and publisher of an outstanding work of continuing higher education literature.
Recipients: Sharan B. Merriam and Laura L. Bierema, Adult Learning; Linking Theory and Practice
 
Dorothy Durkin Award for Strategic Innovation in Marketing and Enrollment Management recognizes an individual for achievement in strategic planning, marketing innovation or enrollment management success.
Recipient: Stacy Snow, University of Missouri
 
Leadership in Diversity Award recognizes an individual or a program representing best practices in promoting the educational success of diverse students.
Recipient: The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
 
Excellence in Teaching Award is presented to individuals who have provided outstanding teaching, course development, mentoring of students, and service to continuing education.
Recipient: Neil Diercks, Berklee College of Music
 
Outstanding Continuing Education Student: Credit Award recognizes outstanding student achievement in professional and continuing education.
Recipient: Gita Seleh, University of Maryland University College
 
Outstanding Continuing Education Student: Noncredit Award recognizes outstanding student achievement in professional and continuing education.
Recipient: Moises Arroyo, Kennesaw State University
 
Outstanding Program:Credit Award recognizes outstanding professional and continuing education programs allowing students to earn academic credit.
Recipient: Statewide Cooperative EdD Program, University of Missouri
 
Outstanding Program: Noncredit Award recognizes outstanding professional and continuing education pro­grams that do not offer credit.
Recipients: Steve Sinclair and Sherry Foldvary, California State University, Northridge, Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Fieldwork Experience Program
 
UPCEA International Leadership Award recognizes an individual for representing innovative leadership in facilitating international professional and continuing education.
Recipient: Kristine Billmyer, Columbia University
 
UPCEA International Program of Excellence Award recognizes a program engaged in activities that promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas of global significance. Recipients:
Mapuche Project, St. Cloud State University
Proyetca 100K, California State University, Sacramento, International Programs
 
UPCEA 11th Hour Award for Leadership in Times of Crisis is given to an individual, team or unit in recognition of exemplary character, ethics, and decisive action in times of crisis.
Recipient: Center for Continuing and Professional Education, Georgetown University
 
UPCEA Award for Excellence in Advancing Student Success recognizes an individual or program for advancing the success of students in both credit and non-credit programs.
Recipient: Marie Cini, University of Maryland University College
 
UPCEA Award for Strategic Innovation in Online Education recognizes an institution of higher education that has set and met innovative goals focused on online education and been strategic in the planning, development, implementation and sustainability in line with the institutional mission.
Recipient: Roger Brown, Berklee College of Music
 
UPCEA Engagement Award recognizes an outstanding mutually-beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources between a UPCEA member institution and one or more external constituents such as local communities, corporations, government organizations, or associations.
Recipients: Wentworth Institute of Technology and IBEW Local 103
 

UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members’ service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues.

WASHINGTON - March 15, 2015

A group of higher education organizations today released the complete dataset from the first national effort to benchmark the persistence patterns of non-first-time (NFT) college students. Previously released findings from the study showed low completion rates for returning students and examined the efficacy of mandatory “15 credit per semester” policies at 2-year programs.
 
The group is releasing the dataset to enable others concerned with outcomes in higher education to conduct their own analysis and to spur further research into the factors affecting college credential attainment rates, particularly among working adults. The initiative is a cooperative effort between the American Council on Education (ACE), InsideTrack, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and the National Student Clearinghouse.  
 
“Our initial analysis raised many important issues that merit further study,” notes NASPA President Kevin Kruger. “By releasing the data, we hope to encourage others to take a deeper look at the underlying causes of attrition among returning students and what can be done to enhance their success.”
 
According to Dave Jarrat, vice president of marketing at InsideTrack, the data released today is just the tip of the iceberg. “More research is needed if we’re going to meaningfully move the needle on adult college completion,” Jarrat notes. “You can’t fix what you don’t measure and we currently do a poor job of measuring outcomes for adults returning to higher education.”
 
Deborah Seymour, assistant vice president of ACE’s Center for Education Attainment and Innovation says that the group invested in creating the dataset to begin filling in gaps in data available through Federal data sources. “Most of the higher education outcomes data available focuses on first-time, full-time students,” says Seymour. “These traditional students no longer represent the majority of students attending our nation’s colleges and universities.”
 
The group also hopes the data will support important policy discussions happening at the state and national levels, including those pertaining to the financing of higher education for working adults. “We want to arm policy makers with data on the students our higher education institutions are actually serving,” says Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA. “For too long, policy decisions have been driven by memories of the four-year, residential college experience most students no longer have.”
 
The dataset includes summary results from two cohorts of students tracked by the National Student Clearinghouse. The first cohort consists of 4.5 million students who re-enrolled in college between Aug. 15, 2005 and Aug. 14, 2008 after at least one year away from higher education. The second cohort consists of 7 million students who re-enrolled between Aug. 15, 2008 and Aug. 14, 2013. Data for both cohorts is segmented by level of institution, age, gender, geographic location, enrollment intensity and the type of degree being pursued.
 
The group will hold discussions on the data and its implications at the following events:

  • ACE Annual Meeting, March 14-17, Washington DC
  • 2015 NASPA Annual Conference, March 21-25, New Orleans LA
  • UPCEA 100th Annual Conference, March 30-April 1, Washington DC

 
A compressed file containing the dataset and accompanying notes can be downloaded here: http://www.insidetrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/nft-student-clearinghouse-dataset-ace-insidetrack-naspa-upcea.zip
 
About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.
 
About InsideTrack
Society thrives when students succeed. Since 2001, InsideTrack has used a proven combination of coaching, analytics, consulting and technology to unlock potential in millions of students and the institutions they attend.  We invite you to join the leading colleges, universities, foundations and others working with us to enhance the transformative power of higher education. Please visit us at www.insidetrack.com and follow us on Twitter @InsideTrack.
 
About NASPA’s Research and Policy Institute
NASPA's Research and Policy Institute (RPI) intentionally links research, policy, and effective student affairs practice in support of student success and the strategic priorities of the association. The RPI generates scholarship and conducts policy analysis to articulate student affairs contributions to student success, learning, and development; interprets information to advance practice and policy conversations; and connects the research and policy activities of NASPA members to increase reach and impact. To learn more and access publications, blog postings, and data resources, please visit www.naspa.org/rpi.
 
About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members’ service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.
 
About the National Student Clearinghouse
The National Student Clearinghouse (a nonprofit formed in 1993) is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges, handling more than 700 million verification requests and 250 million education record exchanges annually. The Clearinghouse serves as a single point of contact for the collection and timely exchange of accurate and comprehensive enrollment, degree, and certificate records on behalf of its more than 3,600 participating higher education institutions, which represent 98 percent of all students in public and private U.S. institutions. The Clearinghouse also provides thousands of high schools and districts with continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics on their alumni. Visit www.studentclearinghouse.org.

WASHINGTON - January 20, 2015 - The latest findings from the nation’s first effort to benchmark the persistence patterns of non-first-time (NFT) college students indicate that NFT students are more likely to complete an associate degree and less likely to drop out if they combine full-time and part-time enrollment. The findings could renew discussions about the efficacy of mandatory “15 credit per semester” policies at 2-year programs.
 
“Returning students are typically balancing work, family and other commitments that ebb and flow in intensity over the course of their academic career,” says Dave Jarrat, vice president of marketing at InsideTrack. “Mixing part-time and full-time enrollment enables these students to persist through the inevitable fluctuations in their life obligations.” 
 
The benchmarking initiative is a cooperative effort between the American Council on Education (ACE), InsideTrack, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), and the National Student Clearinghouse.  It was designed to begin addressing the lack of publicly available data on the success of adults returning to college.
 
“Higher education policy is almost entirely driven by memories of the four-year, residential college experience most policymakers had,” says Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA.  “A small minority of students still experience higher education that way, but it’s time to arm higher education leaders with data on the students they are now serving,” Hansen adds.
 
The new results, which will be presented today at the Summit for Online Leadership & Strategy being hosted by UPCEA and ACE also show some interesting shifts in state-level completion rates and enrollment patterns for NFT students. For instance, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, New Hampshire and Utah saw a decline in relative outcomes, but Washington DC saw the biggest loss (+20.8 percent above to -0.2 percent).  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada and Oregon improved relative outcomes; but only Arizona and Illinois improved AND are above average (AZ went from +2.5 percent to +5.6 percent; IL went from -7.0 percent to +1.8 percent). 
 
The results also revealed interesting trend lines in market share of adult students across states. For instance, Arizona also gained the most market share among NFT students enrolled since Aug. 15, 2008 (1.4 percent to 2.4 percent of total NFT enrollment), while California lost the most market share (18.9 percent to 16.9 percent of total NFT enrollment).  
 
The findings are based on analysis of two cohorts of data from the National Student Clearinghouse.  The first cohort consists of 4.5 million students who re-enrolled in college between Aug. 15, 2005 and Aug. 14, 2008 after at least one year away from higher education.  The second cohort consists of 7 million students who re-enrolled between Aug. 15, 2008 and Aug. 14, 2013. Both data sets include results segmented by level of institution, age, gender, geographic location, enrollment intensity and the type of degree being pursued.
 
“The data raise many important issues – for example, why institutions and states serving similar populations have substantially different outcomes,” notes NASPA President Kevin Kruger. “We need to look deeper at the underlying causes and understand what we can do to improve support for returning students.” 
 
The data also show that:
  • Private institutions gain market share among returning students, at the expense of their public counterparts.  
  • Male and female NFT students have the same completion rate for bachelor’s degree and higher after six years. 
 
The four organizations that launched this initiative will continue their analysis of the data through February 2015, and then release the entire dataset to the public. 
 
“Improving our higher education system is in everyone’s interest, and we are looking forward to sharing further findings and all of the data with the entire higher education community and the general public,” said Deborah Seymour, assistant vice president of ACE’s Center for Education Attainment and Innovation. “We collectively invested in this project so that students, institutions, and other critical stakeholders might benefit from its outputs.” 
 
The group will release the dataset via the members’ websites in early March and hold discussions on the data and its implications at the following events:
  • ACE Annual Meeting, March 14-17, Washington DC
  • NASPA Annual Conference, March 21-25, New Orleans LA
  • UPCEA 100th Annual Conference, March 30-April 1, Washington DC
 

 Watch a discussion of the study's full findings and implications from the 2015 UPCEA-ACE Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy. 

About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.
 
About InsideTrack
Society thrives when students succeed. Since 2001, InsideTrack has used a proven combination of coaching, analytics, consulting and technology to unlock potential in millions of students and the institutions they attend.  We invite you to join the leading colleges, universities, foundations and others working with us to enhance the transformative power of higher education. Please visit us at www.insidetrack.com and follow us on Twitter @InsideTrack.
 
About NASPA’s Research and Policy Institute
NASPA's Research and Policy Institute (RPI) intentionally links research, policy, and effective student affairs practice in support of student success and the strategic priorities of the association. The RPI generates scholarship and conducts policy analysis to articulate student affairs contributions to student success, learning, and development; interprets information to advance practice and policy conversations; and connects the research and policy activities of NASPA members to increase reach and impact. To learn more and access publications, blog postings, and data resources, please visit www.naspa.org/rpi.
 
About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members’ service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.
 
About the National Student Clearinghouse
The National Student Clearinghouse (a nonprofit formed in 1993) is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges, handling more than 700 million verification requests and 250 million education record exchanges annually. The Clearinghouse serves as a single point of contact for the collection and timely exchange of accurate and comprehensive enrollment, degree, and certificate records on behalf of its more than 3,600 participating higher education institutions, which represent 98 percent of all students in public and private U.S. institutions. The Clearinghouse also provides thousands of high schools and districts with continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics on their alumni. Visit www.studentclearinghouse.org.

103 Recipients Receive Honors Across 27 Categories for Excellence in Marketing
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 23, 2014 -- UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education, has announced the recipients of the 2014 Marketing Awards. The UPCEA Marketing Awards program recognizes the top marketing and creative work across the UPCEA membership.
 
This year, UPCEA is honoring 103 recipients for their excellence in 27 awards categories across 8 divisions: Print Publications, Print Advertising, Outdoor/Exhibit Signage, Broadcast Advertising, Mixed Media Campaign, Most Improved, Strategic Recruitment Marketing Plan, and Interactive Media.
 
“Many creative and marketing departments are under increased pressure to deliver impactful campaigns that connect with adult learners,” said Jennifer Wooley, Chair of UPCEA’s Marketing, Enrollment and Student Services Network. “The submissions for this year’s awards demonstrate that many of our members are accomplishing these goals.”
 
Award recipients will be honored at the UPCEA 23rd Annual Marketing and Enrollment Management Seminar, on November 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The 2014 Marketing Award recipients are:
 
Print Publications
Catalog/Tabloid, 4-Color

  • The University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, UBC Continuing Studies Fall 2013 Course Calendar, Gold
  • University of Colorado Boulder, Division of Continuing Education, Continuing Education Spring 2014 semester catalog, Silver
  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Summer Intensives Bulletin, Silver
  • Rice University, Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, Fall 2014 Course Catalog, Bronze

Catalog/Tabloid, Color Cover

  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Summer 2014 Bulletin, Gold
  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Fall 2014 Bulletin, Silver
  • San Diego State University, College of Extended Studies, Catalog Series, Bronze

Annual/Anniversary Report/Magazine

  • Northwestern University, School of Professional Studies, Continuum Magazine, Gold
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's President's Report, Silver
  • Utah State University, Regional Campuses & Distance Education, 2013 Annual Report, Silver
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech Professional Education, Georgia Tech Professional Education 2013 Impact Report, Bronze

Brochure/Booklet

  • University of Pittsburgh, College of General Studies, What's Next General Information Booklet with Customizable Step-down Sheets, Gold
  • Ferris State University, Extended and International Operations, School of Digital Media Brochure, Silver
  • UCLA Extension, Department of the Arts, Master of Interior Architecture brochure, Bronze
  • Utah State University, Regional Campuses & Distance Education, Regional Campus Viewbook Publication Series, Bronze
  • University of Richmond, School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Summer Study Abroad 2014 Brochure, Bronze

Postcard

  • Northwestern University, School of Professional Studies, Summer Writer’s Conference Postcard, Gold
  • University of New Mexico, Continuing Education, Substance Abuse Studies – Postcard, Gold
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Student Greeting Postcards, Silver
  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Summer Direct Mail Postcard, Bronze

Newsletter

  • University of Pittsburgh, College of General Studies, CGS Alumni Newsletter, Gold
  • Kennesaw State University, College of Continuing and Professional Education, OLLI Newsletter, Silver
  • University of Minnesota, College of Continuing Education, CCE Current, Bronze

Poster

  • Boise State University, Educational Technology, Poster, Gold
  • University of New Mexico, Extended Learning, Summer Class Infographic Poster, Silver
  • University of Richmond, School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Summer Study Abroad 2014 Poster, Bronze

Miscellaneous Print Pieces

  • Montana State University, Extended University, Living Colors: Microbes of Yellowstone National Park, Gold 
  • University of British Columbia, UBC Continuing Studies, Writing Centre Bookmark, Silver
  • University of New Mexico, Anderson School of Management Executive and Professional Education Center, Executive MBA Informational Mailer - 2013-2014, Silver
  • Ferris State University, Extended and International Operations, Admit Packet, Bronze
  • Oregon State University, Professional and Continuing Education, Professional Development for Brewers and Cider Makers Ad, Bronze

Print Advertising
Single Ad

  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, New York Times Global Energy Advertisement, Gold
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Aviaiton 101 ad, Silver
  • University of Richmond, School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Sometimes you have to go back 4 color print ad, Silver
  • Tulsa Community College, Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Tulsa People General CEWD Ad, Bronze
  • California State University, Northridge, The Tseng College, "Teach to Your Students’ Strengths" ad,Bronze
  • University of New Mexico, Continuing Education, Story of New Mexico – Ad, Bronze

Print Ad Campaign

  • Rollins College, Hamilton Holt School, 2013-2014 Holt Print Campaign,Gold
  • University of New Mexico, Extended Learning, Tradiciones Ad Campaign for Taos News, Silver
  • Ferris State University, Extended and International Operations, Spring 2014 Print Campaign, Bronze
  • University of Pennsylvania, Penn PLE, Master of Liberal Arts and Post-Baccalaureate Studies Kimmel Campaign, Bronze

Outdoor/Exhibit Signage
Outdoor Billboard/Signage

  • Oregon State University, Ecampus, “Top-ranked” Outdoor Campaign: Oregon State Degrees Online, Gold
  • Northwestern University, School of Professional Studies, Summer Session Poster, Silver
  • UCLA Extension, UCLA Extension Billboard Awareness Campaign, Bronze

Transit

  • Memorial University of Newfoundland, Distance Education, Learning and Teaching Support, Memorial@Home Toronto Transit Posters, Gold
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Asia Recruitment Bus Wrap, Silver
  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Summer Intensives Subway Poster, Silver
  • McGill University, School of Continuign Studies, For What You've Got In Mind Transit Advertising,Bronze

Trade Show Exhibits

  • Utah State University, Regional Campuses & Distance Education, RCDE Free Standing Pull Up Banners, Gold
  • Kansas State University, Global Campus, Kansas State University Global Campus Display, Silver
  • Mississippi State University, Center for Distance Education, Distance@STATE Branding Displays, Bronze

Outdoor Campaign

  • Rollins College, Hamilton Holt School, 2013-2014 Holt School Billboard Campaign, Gold
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha, Division of Continuing Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha Bachelor of General Studies Degree Campaign, Silver

 
Broadcast Advertising
Radio

  • University of Missouri, Mizzou Online, Finish Like a Tiger Radio Ad, Gold
  • Kansas State University, Global Campus, On Track Radio Spots, Silver
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, The Friday Center Pandora Radio Campaign, Silver
  • University of Wisconsin-Extension, Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning, UW Flexible Option Radio Ad,Bronze

Television

  • Ferris State University, Extended and International Operations, Ferris Statewide 2014 Television, Gold
  • Kansas State University, Global Campus, Graduate commercial, Silver

Broadcast Advertising Campaign

  • University of South Carolina Palmetto College, USC Palmetto College Broadcast Campaign,Gold
  • Kansas State University, Global Campus, On Track broadcast advertising campaign, Silver

 
Mixed Media Campaign

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech Professional Education, Georgia Tech Professional Education Reengagement Campaign, Gold
  • Mississippi State University, Center for Distance Education, Distance@STATE Branding, Silver
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland, Distance Education, Learning and Teaching Support, Memorial@Home Stakeholder Campaign, Silver
  • Ryerson University, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, 2013 - 2014 Marketing Campaign: SOARING, Bronze

Most Improved

  • University of New Mexico, Substance Abuse Studies – Brochure, Gold
  • Southern Methodist University, Continuing and Professional Education, Nonprofit Leadership Brochure,Gold
  • Rollins College, Hamilton Holt School, Holt School Website Redesign, Silver
  • University of Wisconsin Extension, Continuing Education Outreach & E-learning, University of Wisconsin Health Information Management and Technology website, Silver
  • University of Pennsylvania, Penn PLE, College of Liberal and Professional Studies Website – Most Improved, Silver
  • Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Integrated Marketing Strategy, Bronze
  • The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State World Campus, The New Penn State World Campus Social Media, Bronze
  • The University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, Redesign of the UBC Continuing Studies Website, Bronze

 
Strategic Recruitment Marketing Plan

  • University of Nebraska, University of Nebraska High School Virtual Scholars Program, Gold
  • California State University, Chico, Center for Regional & Continuing Education, OLLI at CSU, Chico Membership & Fundraising Plan, Silver
  • Columbia University, School of Continuing Education, Columbia Summer 2014, Silver
  • University of Pennsylvania, Penn PLE, Master of Environmental Studies Strategic Recruitment Marketing Plan, Bronze

 
Interactive Media
Website

  • University of Wisconsin-Extension, Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and ELearning, University of Wisconsin Health Information Management and Technology website,  Gold
  • University of California, Irvine, University Extension, Continuing Education Website - Responsive Design,Gold
  • Rollins College, Hamilton Holt School, Holt School Website, Silver 
  • The University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, UBC Continuing Studies Website, Bronze
  • Ranku, UNC Online Site Redesign, Bronze

e-Communication

  • California State University, Northridge, The Tseng College, Online Master of Arts in Educational Administration ebrochure, Gold
  • UCLA Extension, UCLA Extension Newsletter, Silver
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech Professional Education, 2014 GTPE e-Newsletter: The Cohort, Bronze
  • Colorado State University, OnlinePlus, ValuEd blog, Bronze

Streaming/On-demand Content

  • Oregon State University, Ecampus, Ecampus in 30 Seconds – Oregon State University Ecampus, Gold
  • Rice University, Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, Become What You Want to Be, Silver
  • UC Irvine Extension, Paralegal Career Story, Bronze
  • Oregon State University, Professional and Continuing Education, Chamber Music Workshop 2014 Video,Bronze
  • Simon Fraser University, Continuing Studies, Electronic Information Session for the Next-Generation Transportation Certificate, Bronze

Mobile Marketing

  • UC Berkeley Extension, University Extension, UC Berkeley Extension Responsive Website, Silver

Online Display Ads

  • UCLA Extension, Figueroa Courtyard Online Display Ad/Website, Gold
  • Boise State University, Educational Technology, Web Video Promotion Series, Silver 
  • NYU School of Professional Studies, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Art Crime Symposium Interactive, Silver
  • Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech Professional Education, Georgia Tech Professional Education Advanced Problem Solving Course: Awareness/Enrollment Campaign Utilizing Digital Media, Bronze
  • University of Delaware, Professional & Continuing Studies,  Program Information Session interstitial static banner ad, Bronze

Interactive Media Campaign

  • Kennesaw State University, College of Continuing and Professional Education, CCPE Promotional Videos, Silver
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Embry-Riddle Career Services interactive media campaign, Silver

Miscellaneous Interactive Media

  • Syracuse University, University College of Syracuse University, Winterlude Microsite, Gold
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Professional Education, Gerogia Tech Professional Education Holiday Card, Silver
  • Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech Professional Education, Changes Coming to ISO - Content Marketing Strategy, Silver
  • University of California Irvine, Extension, "Rip ‘em Eaters" Social Media Infographics, Bronze

 
 

 

UPCEA is the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. The association serves its members with innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Learn more at upcea.edu.

In the first national effort to benchmark the persistence patterns of non-first-time college students, researchers found that only 33.7 percent of non-first-time students completed their degree, compared with 54.1 percent of first-time students. The number of adult learners who re-entered higher education between 2005 and 2008 but have not completed their degree (2,535,946) would almost fill the city of Chicago.

The results come at a critical time as leaders across the country work to increase college attainment rates among working adults.  According to the organizations partnering on the study, the idea that a disparity in outcomes exists between non-first-time (NFT) and first-time (FT) students is not new. But, now that the data quantifies the size of the disparity, and highlights the differences in state completion rates, it raises concerns about how effectively our nation’s higher education system addresses the needs of returning students.  
 
“One thing is certain,” says Dave Jarrat, vice president of marketing at InsideTrack, who organized the study, “if our nation expects the more than 30 million adults with some college but no degree to complete a credential, we need to do a much better job supporting them once they’ve made the decision to re-enroll.”
 
Not surprisingly, the findings show that six- to eight-year completion rates for NFT students at four-year private non-profit institutions are significantly higher (52.5 percent) than at two-year public institutions (27 percent). At two-year public institutions, which enroll the largest number of returning students, completion rates are 26 percent lower for NFT students than for FT students. At both four-year public and four-year private non-profit institutions, there is a 27 percent difference.

The data also indicate that some states are doing a much better job than others at getting returning students to the finish line.  For example, large states such as Texas, New York and Florida have NFT student completion rates of 37 percent to 40 percent.  California, which accounts for approximately one in five returning student enrollments, has one of the worst completion rates for NFT students, at 24 percent. The District of Columbia has the highest completion rate for returning students at 57 percent, but accounts for only 0.1 percent of NFT student enrollments.
 
“Clearly non-traditional students need more time to work through the process.  They have to balance work and life challenges,” says Robert Hansen, CEO of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). “But why are some states better at serving adult students over an extended period of time? Are there best practices at the state and institutional level that can be replicated?” 
 
The initial findings are based on analysis of data from the National Student Clearinghouse for a cohort of 4.5 million students who re-enrolled in college between August 15, 2005 and August 14, 2008 after at least one year away from higher education.  The group is also analyzing a second cohort of 7 million students who re-enrolled between August 15, 2008 and August 14, 2013. Both data sets include results segmented by level of institution, age, gender, geographic location, enrollment intensity and the type of degree being pursued.
 
One counterintuitive finding in the data, returning students who combine full-time and part-time enrollment over the course of their academic career have 9 percent higher completion rates than first-time mixed-enrollment students.
 
“The data that’s been collected is an important first step to inform how student affairs professionals can strategically support post-traditional students,” says Kevin Kruger, president of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.  “We are pleased to be working with our partners to address a critical gap in our understanding of how these students are engaging higher education so we can ensure effective supports for them.”
 
According to Cathy Sandeen, vice president for education attainment and innovation at the American Council on Education (ACE), the group has just begun its analysis. It plans to release additional findings at the Summit for Online Leadership & Strategy being hosted by UPCEA and ACE in San Antonio, Texas, January 20-22, 2015, following discussions with educational leaders and others throughout the fall.
 
"We've just scratched the surface in analyzing this data and look forward to engaging our colleagues across the higher education community in a meaningful dialogue on the important issues it raises,” notes Sandeen. 
 
The benchmarking initiative is a cooperative effort between ACE, InsideTrack, NASPA, UPCEA, and the Clearinghouse. It was designed to begin addressing the lack of publicly available data on the success of adults returning to college.
 
Afet Dundar, associate director at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center noted, “This project highlights one of the biggest strengths of the Clearinghouse data: the ability to analyze the education pathways of a student population that has not been explored.”
 
Click here for the methodology and summary data. 

About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.
 
About InsideTrack
Society thrives when students succeed. Since 2001, InsideTrack has used a proven combination of coaching, analytics, consulting and technology to unlock potential in millions of students and the institutions they attend.  We invite you to join the leading colleges, universities, foundations and others working with us to enhance the transformative power of higher education. Please visit us at www.insidetrack.com and follow us on Twitter @InsideTrack.
 
About NASPA’s Research and Policy Institute
NASPA's Research and Policy Institute (RPI) intentionally links research, policy, and effective student affairs practice in support of student success and the strategic priorities of the association. The RPI generates scholarship and conducts policy analysis to articulate student affairs contributions to student success, learning, and development; interprets information to advance practice and policy conversations; and connects the research and policy activities of NASPA members to increase reach and impact. To learn more and access publications, blog postings, and data resources, please visit www.naspa.org/rpi.
 
About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members’ service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit www.upcea.edu.
 
About the National Student Clearinghouse
The National Student Clearinghouse (a nonprofit formed in 1993) is the trusted source for and leading provider of higher education verifications and electronic education record exchanges, handling more than 700 million verification requests and 250 million education record exchanges annually. The Clearinghouse serves as a single point of contact for the collection and timely exchange of accurate and comprehensive enrollment, degree, and certificate records on behalf of its more than 3,600 participating higher education institutions, which represent 98 percent of all students in public and private U.S. institutions. The Clearinghouse also provides thousands of high schools and districts with continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics on their alumni. Visit www.studentclearinghouse.org.

7 Individuals and 7 Institutions Receive Association’s Highest Honors

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education, has announced the recipients of the 2014 Association Awards. The UPCEA Association Awards program includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership.

Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members' outstanding contributions to the Association and the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications, and many other areas.

Award recipients will be honored at the UPCEA 99th Annual Conference, on March 27 in Miami, Florida.

The recipients of this year’s awards are as follows:

Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Leadership is given to an individual in recognition of unusual and extraordinary contributions to the cause of continuing education on the regional, national, and/or international university level.
Recipient:  David Schejbal, University of Wisconsin Extension

Walton S. Bittner Service Citation for Outstanding Service in UPCEA expresses appreciation to a member for outstanding service to continuing education at his/her institution, and service of major significance to UPCEA.
Recipient:  Alice Warren, North Carolina State University

Adelle F. Robertson Emerging Professional Continuing Educator Award recognizes the scholarship, leadership and contributions to the profession of a person who has entered the continuing, online, and professional education field in the past five to ten years.
Recipient:  Jessica Rafter, University of Virginia

Leadership in Diversity Award recognizes an individual or a program representing best practices in promoting the educational success of diverse students. 
Recipient:  Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Professional Development Program, University of California-Davis

Dorothy Durkin Award for Strategic Innovation in Marketing and Enrollment Management recognizes an individual for achievement in strategic planning, marketing innovation or enrollment management success.
Recipient:  Anna Behar-Russell, California State University-Long Beach
 
UPCEA Outstanding Continuing Education Student Awards: Credit honors a nontraditional student who is enrolled in a credit program at a UPCEA member institution, for achievement of excellence in pursuit of continuing education.
Recipient: Michael Feingold , Kansas State University

UPCEA Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award acknowledges best practices and initiatives that advance student success.              
Recipient:  Transitions: College and Career Preparation Program, Pennsylvania State University

UPCEA Excellence in Teaching Award is presented to individuals who have provided outstanding teaching, course development, mentoring of students, and service to continuing education.        
Recipient:  Brad Hatfield, Berklee College of Music

International Leadership Award recognizes an individual for representing innovative leadership in facilitating international professional and continuing education.
Recipient:  Geraldine de Berly , Syracuse University

International Program of Excellence Award recognizes a program engaged in activities that promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas of global significance. 
Recipient:  International Leadership Development Program (IDLP), University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

UPCEA Outstanding Program Award: Credit honors credit continuing education programs at UPCEA member institutions for excellence in achieving their educational objectives.      
Recipient:  Reverse Internship Program, Eastern Connecticut State University

UPCEA Outstanding Program Award: Non-Credit honors non-credit continuing education programs at UPCEA member institutions for excellence in achieving their educational objectives.       
Recipient:  UBC/DAA Award of Achievement in Digital Analytics, University of British Columbia

UPCEA Strategic Innovation in Online Education Award recognizes an institution of higher education that has set and met innovative goals focused on online education and been strategic in the planning, development, implementation and sustainability in line with the institutional mission.
Recipients: 
Mizzou Online Campus Program, University of Missouri
Division of Online and Distance Education, Ball State University

 

UPCEA is the association for leaders in professional, continuing, and online education. It serves 365 institutions, including most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. The association provides innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities, and timely publications.
www.upcea.edu

UPCEA/ACE Present First-Ever Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy

SAN DIEGO -- Jan. 29 -- UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education and ACE, the American Council on Education, kick off the first-ever Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy. This landmark gathering convenes nearly 350 university presidents, provosts, deans and directors to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of online learning within higher education.

The Summit assembles key thought-leaders and practitioners to address four key topics that are re-shaping the 21st century university: the alignment of online education with institutional mission and strategy; analysis of how "big data" is driving efficiency and effectiveness; innovation, access, and affordability as a strategic imperative; and exploration of the policy environment for online education. UPCEA's Center for Online Leadership and Strategy was key to the development of the program.

The event marks a new direction for the 99-year-old education Association, explains UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen. "UPCEA has been known as the leading association for continuing education in North America," he points out. "That historic identity is strong and will remain so, but it has now evolved into something even more dynamic." Hansen continues: "UPCEA is emerging as a leader in online education, with a special focus in aspects of management that are so crucial to a successful online enterprise: leadership, strategy, sound financial models, marketing and program development, student services, and effective partnerships."

Online education leaders from around the country will present in San Diego over two days. Content from the sold-out Summit will be captured in its entirety and will be accessible online after the event for a fee.

 

UPCEA is the association for leaders in professional, continuing, and online education. It serves 365 institutions, including most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. The association provides innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities, and timely publications.

February 23, 2013

The UPCEA Leadership and Strategy Network partnered with the Center for Research and Consulting to survey the professional development needs of leaders in the field. Findings suggest an extremely strong interest in several current offerings as well as new professional development opportunities that might be developed in the future. 

 
Interest in current UPCEA offerings was strongest for the Association's series of free webinars, followed closely by the new Deans Forum and special topic pre-conferences at the Annual Conference.  New initiatives, such as offering an intensive executive leadership academy and offering professional development modules that lead so some form of certification, also received a great deal of interest. 
 
Topics drawing the most interest were Program Development and Innovation (87 percent), Strategy Management (86 percent), and Online Learning Management (74 percent). View the complete survey findings online.

UPCEA has created three new awards that will be given for the first time in 2013. They include:

The Dorothy Durkin Award for Strategic Innovation in Marketing and Enrollment Management – This award recognizes an individual for achievement in strategic planning, marketing innovation or enrollment manage¬ment success. A key element in all areas is demonstration of creativity layered on a foundation of strategic thinking. Awardees will have exhibited leadership and commitment to achieving a responsive, student-centric culture at their institution.

Dorothy Durkin transformed the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies through a 40-year career focused on staying ahead of the curve in advertising trends, data-driven decision making, and student relationship management. Coaching and mentor¬ing was important to Durkin, as were the relationships she fostered through UPCEA. Her definition of success included commitment to integrating innovation, research and student success.

NEW INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
UPCEA recognizes globalization as one of the key forces molding higher education today. The association encourages its member institutions and organizations to extend their outreach globally and to facilitate international or global professional and continuing education in creative and inno¬vative ways. UPCEA aims to play an active role in preparing individuals for effective participation in a global society by engaging in activities that promote the exchange of knowl¬edge and ideas of global significance.

International Leadership Award – This award recog¬nizes an individual for representing innovative leadership in one or more of the following areas: educational programs and services, administrative practices, collaborations and partnerships, or research.

International Program of Excellence Award – This award recognizes a program of excellence in one or more of the following areas: educational programs and services, administrative practices, collaborations and partnerships, or research.

The UPCEA 97th Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon in late March was the culmination of 15 months of planning, transition and revitalization for the association. Attendance was up 10 percent from last year, reaching nearly 600 participants, and UPCEA members unanimously approved a new strategic plan and associated bylaws.

Changes in the bylaws include strengthening the Board of Directors with more at–large positions and two–year terms that foster greater continuity and institutional memory. A new Leadership Committee will review nominations for four at–large positions and the Secretary/Treasurer.

In other changes, full memberships were created for international universities and a special membership category was added for companies that serve the UPCEA community.

The strategic plan focused on strengthening membership value by transforming professional development, research and information, advocacy efforts, infrastructure and business practices, and the organizational structure.

The most visible change for members was the creation of “Networks” that represent six practice areas of expertise within the profession. Networks include:

- International
- Leadership & Strategy
- Marketing Enrollment & Student Services
- Online Management & Design
- Outreach, Engagement & Economic Development
- Program Development & Innovation

This new streamlined model replaces the old UPCEA commissions, communities of practice, and knowledge networks. Details about Networks can be found on page 11 in the Winter 2012 issue of the InFocus newsletter and the Network Transition Committee Report.

Network Transition Leadership Teams, now in place for each Network, will meet in Washington, D.C., June 20-21, to build on the work of the Network Transition Committee.

The UPCEA 97th Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon in late March was the culmination of 15 months of planning, transition and revitalization for the association. Attendance was up 10 percent from last year, reaching nearly 600 participants, and UPCEA members unanimously approved a new strategic plan and associated bylaws.

Networks
The strategic plan focused on strengthening membership value by transforming professional development, research and information, advocacy efforts, infrastructure and business practices, and the organizational structure. The most visible change for members was the creation of “Networks” that represent six practice areas of expertise within the profession. Networks include:
 

  • International
  • Leadership & Strategy
  • Marketing, Enrollment & Student Services
  • Online Management & Design
  • Outreach, Engagement & Economic Development
  • Program Development & Innovation
     

This new streamlined model replaces the old UPCEA commissions, communities of practice, and knowledge networks. Details about Networks can be found here and the Network Transition Committee Report.

UPCEA has named Ray Schroeder, Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning at the University of Illinois at Springfield, as its first Innovation Fellow. Schroeder has a proven track record of national and international leadership in the application of digital technology to promote effective approaches to higher education.  His vision and experience span the strategic, operational and pedagogical aspects of the field.  As the Innovation Fellow for Digital Learning, Schroeder will serve UPCEA and its members with a combination of articles, white papers, webinars and consulting services through the Center for Research and Consulting.  He is also the author of UPCEA’s daily “Online, Continuing, and Professional Education Update,” and is a frequent contributor to UPCEA’s quarterly newsletter, InFocus.

The UPCEA Center for Research and Consulting has issued the UPCEA Salary, Staffing, and Structure Report, which reflects the results of the 2011 Management Survey. The report focuses on results specific to salary, staffing, and organizational issues.  The CRC also plans to disseminate other findings analyses from the survey at a later date.

For more information, please contact CRC Director, Jim Fong, at [email protected].

At the UPCEA Board of Directors meeting held January 24-25, 2012, Board members endorsed a revised Strategic Plan. UPCEA's new Strategic Plan calls for bold new directions for the 97-year-old Association. One of many noteworthy changes is the consolidation of Commissions, Communities of Practice, and Knowledge Networks into a single structure called "Networks.” (available to members only)

Members can view the final draft of the Plan. The Institutional Representatives will vote on the plan at a luncheon and business meeting at the Annual Conference in Portland on March 28th.

UPCEA has formed a Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) that will advise the UPCEA Washington Office on the field of adult, professional, continuing, and online education and provide input on how to evolve corporate relations for the mutual benefit of UPCEA, its member institutions, and the corporate community.

The Council will be comprised of invited CEO or senior-level representatives from the corporate community, and UPCEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Learning Officer, and Director of Corporate Relations.

Currently, the following organizations serve on the Council: B Virtual Inc., InsideTrack, Demand Engine, CAMPOS INC., and Dow Lohnes PLLC.

UPCEA will co-host a forum, Creating the Classroom of the Future: Technological Innovation Transforming Higher Education, with the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) on Sept. 21. The Forum will be held from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and will showcase the technological innovations transforming higher education in the U.S. and abroad. UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen will moderate the second panel of the day. There is no charge for the event, though registration is required.

UPCEA has partnered with the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) to present the Summit on the Future of Online Learning. This first UPCEA event dedicated exclusively to online education issues will be held September 15-16 in Chicago. Representatives from Sloan-C, Educause, and WCET will be in attendance. The size of the venue and the inter-organizational nature of the event require a limited number of participants. Invitations have been extended to the UPCEA Board and to members of two Association commissions (Learning, Instruction, and Technology, and Futures and Markets) whose missions relate to the theme of the Summit. If additional space becomes available, UPCEA will open registration up to institutional representatives.