UPCEA Updates

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

With New AI Requirements and Courses, Colleges Eye AI Fluency (Inside Higher Ed)

August 21, 2026

“As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workforce, several colleges and universities are introducing AI requirements to general education curricula, majors and certificate programs this fall.  Some institutions—for example, Miami University, Ohio State University and the State University of New York system—are embedding AI competencies into pre-existing majors and coursework. Others, including Northwestern University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology,…

Report: Benchmarking Online Ed (Inside Higher Ed)

August 19, 2026

“Last year, the online and professional education association UPCEA urged institutions to close the gap between student expectations on institutional preparedness for online learning as part of its annual report on the Benchmarking Online Enterprises Survey. This year’s report, released Monday, warns that the story beneath the 2026 data isn’t one of a “rising tide lifting…

UPCEA’s 2026 Online Education Benchmarking Report Shows Digital Learning at Consequential Point

August 17, 2026

Third annual study indicates institutions are centralizing governance, strengthening enterprise-level capacity, and addressing financial issues as online learning becomes part of core academic infrastructure  WASHINGTON, D.C., ISSUED AUGUST 17, 2026…UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the release of its 2026 “Benchmarking Online Enterprises: Insights into Structures, Strategies, and Financial Models in Higher…

The Future of Professional Learning Starts with Us

August 4, 2026

In 1915, UPCEA’s founders built this association on a simple idea: carrying knowledge to the people. That founding purpose never had an expiration date, and it does not have one now. It is why, more than a century later, the question in front of us was never whether professional learning needs to change. It is…

UPCEA Launches Digital Learning Academy to Advance Professional Learning for Higher Education Leaders

August 4, 2026

New professional learning ecosystem offers flexible pathways for career growth, practical skill development, and leadership advancement WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 4, 2026 — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the launch of the UPCEA Digital Learning Academy, a comprehensive professional learning ecosystem designed to help higher education professionals build knowledge, develop practical…

UPCEA Announces Hallmarks of Excellence in Digital Learning Enterprises

July 29, 2026

Framework defines the future of institutional digital strategy WASHINGTON, D.C., ISSUED JULY 29, 2026…UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the release of The Hallmarks of Excellence in Digital Learning Enterprises, a landmark framework positioning higher education at a pivotal moment of transformation. As digital learning has become central to institutional strategy and…

UPCEA and MIT Professional Education Convene Senior Online Learning Leaders to Advance Data-Driven Strategy in Higher Education

July 28, 2026

Exclusive pre-conference institute highlights the growing role of data fluency in online education leadership Washington, D.C., and Cambridge, Mass., July 28, 2026 — As higher education institutions face mounting pressure to demonstrate outcomes, improve student experience, and compete in an increasingly data-driven environment, a new kind of leadership is emerging: one grounded in analytics, benchmarking,…

Benchmarking in Higher Education: What to Measure and Why It Changes Decisions

July 8, 2026

Colleges and universities have never had more data at their fingertips. Still, many higher education leadership teams still make major decisions on incomplete internal reporting or even gut instinct alone. Benchmarking offers a structured alternative. When done well, it gives higher ed leaders a reliable framework for understanding where their institution stands versus peer organizations…

Other Blogs and News:

UPCEA CEO Robert J. Hansen to Retire in 2027; Board to Launch National Search for Successor

Hansen will leave an organization that has nearly quadrupled its annual revenue and become the leading association for online and professional education WASHINGTON, October 21, 2026 – The UPCEA Board of Directors today announced that Dr. Robert J. Hansen, who has led UPCEA, the online and professional education association, for more than 16 years, will…

Leadership Conversations in the Age of AI | An UPCEA Executive Briefing | Leading Human–AI Teams: How Should People and AI Work Together?

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of the everyday work of higher education. From enrollment management and student services to academic administration and continuing and professional education, AI is creating opportunities to rethink how work is accomplished. Much of the discussion has focused on what AI can do. For institutional leaders, however, a more important question…

AI Across Generations: What Leaders Should Know and What They Shouldn’t Assume

There are many assumptions about AI use across generations. Gen Z readily embraces artificial intelligence. Millennials are integrating it into their work. Gen X is more cautious and pragmatic. Baby Boomers are reluctant adopters.  Is it really that simple?  Perhaps not.  Generational differences in AI use appear to be real. What those differences mean is…

UPCEA’s Corporate Member Blog Series #5 | Partnership Blueprint: 8 Takeaways for Corporate Members from the 2026 UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Digital Learning Enterprises

When UPCEA released the original Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership in 2016, online education was widely viewed as an emerging modality. A decade later, the landscape has shifted. The newly released 2026 Hallmarks of Excellence in Digital Learning Enterprises (2026 Hallmarks) reflects a higher education ecosystem where digital capability is no longer an add-on,…

Workforce Pell Moves from Rules to Reality: State Pipelines, New Federal Training, and $65 Million from Labor | Policy Matters (September 2026)

Major Updates Workforce Pell Moves from Rules to Reality: State Approval Pipelines Mature, ED Launches Training, and Labor Awards $65 Million Nearly three months after Workforce Pell Grants (Pell awards for programs of 150–599 clock hours, or 8 to fewer than 15 weeks) became available on July 1, the rollout is moving at very different…

Leading Digital Learning Enterprises | Part 4: Beyond the Technology: Building a Digital Ecosystem with Purpose

Technology may be the most visible element of a digital learning enterprise. It is also one of the easiest to misunderstand. Institutions invest considerable resources in learning management systems, student information systems, customer relationship management platforms, analytics, communication tools, instructional technologies, cybersecurity, and an expanding array of emerging technologies. Each promises opportunities to improve some…