Online and Professional Continuing Education News
See below for a listing of curated news articles of the day brought to you by Ray Schroeder, Senior Fellow at UPCEA.
Sign up for daily updates
- Opinion: In an Age of Tech, Colleges Should Emphasize Connections - Eric Anicich, Los Angeles TimesTechnology is driving at least two trends in young people that colleges should have an answer for: self-education and loneliness. Meanwhile, employers increasingly value social and collaborative skills that AI cannot provide. Artificial intelligence is rapidly eroding their monopoly on instruction, and young adults are experiencing historically high levels of loneliness. If higher education is […]
- Copilot+ PCs Offer Fast, Powerful AI to Boost Faculty Members’ Productivity - Amy Burroughs, EdTechMagazineOn-device artificial intelligence and custom applications drive efficiency in teaching, research and administrative work. “All of us are being asked to do more with less,” says Dale Perrigo, the director of Windows in the Education for the U.S. and Canada for Microsoft. “And in higher ed, research is important. There’s often that element of competing […]
- The UB Podcast: Navigating the new age of higher ed philanthropy - University BusinessUniversity leaders seeking support from donors must present the impact of certain programming tactfully.The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which has the most Pell Grant recipients in the state system, must carefully communicate how affordability and diversity initiatives contribute to the state’s success, says Jones.Those conversations must take place in the backdrop of increased […]
- Ethical AI in higher education: boosting learning, retention and progression - Isabelle Bambury, Higher Education Policy InstituteNew research highlights a vital policy window: deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) not as a policing tool but as a powerful mechanism to support student learning and academic persistence. Evidence from independent researcher Dr Rebecca Mace, drawing on data generated by a mix of high, middle and low-tariff UK universities, suggests a compelling, positive correlation between […]
- OpenAI Inks Deals With Colleges, Seizing Early Lead in Education Market - Brody Ford & Liam Knox, BloombergOpenAI has sold more than 700,000 ChatGPT licenses to about 35 public universities for use by students and faculty. Students and faculty used ChatGPT more than 14 million times in September, with each user calling on it 176 times that month for help with tasks such as writing, research and data analysis. OpenAI has sold […]
- Energy Department Announces Collaboration Agreements with 24 Organizations to Advance the Genesis Mission - US Dept of EnergyThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced agreements with 24 organizations interested in collaborating to advance the Genesis Mission, a historic national effort that will use the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate discovery science, strengthen national security, and drive energy innovation. The announcement builds on President Trump’s Executive Order Removing Barriers to American […]
- You can now verify Google AI-generated videos in the Gemini app. - Google Keyword BlogWe’re expanding our content transparency tools to help you more easily identify AI-generated content. You can now check if a video was edited or created with Google AI directly in the Gemini app. Simply upload a video and ask something like, "Was this generated using Google AI?" Gemini will scan for the imperceptible SynthID watermark […]
- Leading growth through transformation - McKinseyCompanies are embracing a new model of performance—one where leaders approach volatility and uncertainty with the discipline of an elite athlete. In this shifting order, transformation becomes a new way of working, enabling companies to adapt rapidly to constant change. And growth is possible only through bold strategic choices and rigorous execution. Today’s most successful […]
- The Colleges That Couldn’t Survive 2025 - Josh Moody, Inside Higher EdAt least 15 nonprofit institutions announced closures this year due to enrollment and financial challenges, down from 16 last year. There were also fewer mergers announced. That number is down from last year when Inside Higher Ed tracked 16 closure announcements but up from 2023 when 14 nonprofit colleges announced plans to shutter their operations. […]
- Trump expands travel bans and restrictions to 39 countries - Laurel Spitalniak, Higher Ed DivePresident Donald Trump on Tuesday fully banned individuals from an additional seven countries from traveling to the U.S., as well as those with travel documentation from Palestinian authorities, effective Jan. 1. In a presidential proclamation, he also placed partial entry limitations on 15 additional countries, including Nigeria, one of the top 10 sources for international […]
- Here are 3 qualities that make graduates better job candidates - Alcino Donadel, University BusinessHigher education is fulfilling its mission of cultivating a civilized and workforce-ready society, according to a new employer survey from AAC&U, or the American Association of Colleges and Universities. At least 70% of executives and hiring managers have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education and believe colleges and universities […]
- Artificial intelligence: Embracing agentic AI coworkers - McKinseyEmployees started the year more ready to adopt gen AI than their leaders. And the technology itself continued to build momentum, developing at a striking pace. But while nearly all companies have invested in AI, few have seen tangible benefits—the so-called gen AI paradox. As we move into 2026, companies have the opportunity to advance […]
- AI Has Joined the Faculty - Beth McMurtrie, Chronicle of Higher EdAccording to a recent survey by Tyton Partners, about one in four faculty members had used AI to save time in creating more engaging in-class activities or generating quizzes and other assessments. About one in five had used it to create writing assignments or grading rubrics. Another survey, by The Chronicle, found that 52 percent […]
- Women in the Workplace 2025 - Alexis Krivkovich, Drew Goldstein, and Megan McConnell; McKinseyWomen face less career support and fewer opportunities to advance as companies show declining commitment to women’s progress. While women are as dedicated to their careers as men, there is a gap in their desire for promotion. That’s according to the latest Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey and LeanIn.Org. Corporate America risks rolling […]
- University of Illinois seeks partners to build Quantum facilities as ComEd starts power upgrades at South Side tech park - CCN Staff Writer, Chicago Construction NewsConstruction is underway at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), a multibillion-dollar project on the South Side that aims to make Chicago a global hub for quantum technology, and the University of Illinois System is now seeking partners to build two cornerstone facilities. ComEd has begun delivering critical upgrades to power the campus, which […]
- Higher education enters a new age of mergers and partnerships - Christopher R. Riano, University BusinessFor much of American history, colleges and universities existed in a world largely insulated from the market forces that shaped other sectors of the economy. Stability, independence and mission were their cornerstones. The idea of one college acquiring another—or joining forces with a competitor—was almost unthinkable. But the landscape has changed. Across the country, institutions […]
- Online learning platforms Coursera, Udemy to merge - Emma W. Thorne, Editor at LinkedIn NewsA major merger in the world of online education: Coursera will buy Udemy for about $930 million in stock, the companies announced Wednesday. The combined firm, which will focus on upskilling workers in artificial intelligence, will be worth approximately $2.5 billion. The online learning sector has been in a period of consolidation as it responds […]
- Teachers are using software to see if students used AI. What happens when it's wrong? - Lee V. Gaines, NPR IllinoisThe school district, Prince George's County Public Schools, made clear in a statement that Ostovitz's teacher used an AI detection tool on their own and that the district doesn't pay for this software. "During staff training, we advise educators not to rely on such tools, as multiple sources have documented their potential inaccuracies and inconsistencies," […]
- Reasoning Models Ace the CFA Exams - Jaisal Patel, et al, arXivA new study just found that six leading AI models now pass all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification exams, with Gemini 3.0 Pro scoring a record high of 97.6% on Level 1. Researchers tested GPT-5, Gemini 3.0 Pro, Claude Opus 4.1, Grok 4, and DeepSeek-V3.1 across 980 questions spanning all exam […]
- Inside Texas A&M University’s partnership with Google for AI training - Danielle McLean, Higher Ed DiveThe initiative gives students free access to AI tools like a research assistant, but colleges should ensure they don’t become shortcuts, an expert said. A long line of students wrapped around Texas A&M University’s academic plaza in early October to receive free training from Google employees on how to use the company’s artificial intelligence tools, […]
Other Curated News:
News from UPCEA:
All Top 10-ranked institutions are members of UPCEA WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 16, 2020) — UPCEA, the association for college and university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, is pleased to congratulate the many UPCEA members recognized in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report…
Escaping Gilligan’s Island: Lessons for Higher Education
As an older representative of Generation X, just six months shy of being able to say I am a Boomer, I enjoy watching classic television shows such as I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch or Gilligan’s Island. Many Millennials and certainly most Gen Z’ers…
Where Competency-Based Education is Headed in 2020 and Beyond
By SmartBrief Editors This post is produced in partnership with UPCEA. Barbara Kopp Miller is at the forefront of competency-based approaches to education. As the Dean of University College in Toledo, Ohio, she leads one of the most progressive CBE programs in the nation. She…
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.

