UPCEA Updates

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

UPCEA Announces New Vice President of Finance & Administration

By UPCEA | September 8, 2020

UPCEA is pleased to announce the hiring of Jessie Daniels, MBA, as the association’s new Vice President of Finance & Administration. Daniels, formerly of the University of Maine, joins the UPCEA staff as of September 15.  As Vice President of Finance & Administration, Daniels is responsible for the overall management of financial, business and administrative…

UPCEA Announces Diversity in Leadership Scholars

By UPCEA | August 27, 2020

UPCEA is pleased to announce the inaugural and 2020 cohort of Bethaida “Bea” González Diversity in Leadership Scholars. These 13 individuals are leading this new initiative on behalf of our profession. Representative and diverse leadership is a cornerstone of UPCEA’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence. The goal of the Diversity Scholars program is to…

UPCEA Seeks VP of Finance & Administration

By UPCEA | July 23, 2020

UPCEA is currently seeking a Vice President of Finance & Administration for a fully remote position. I am turning to the UPCEA community for help in filling this spot on our team at headquarters. If you know anyone in the finance and accounting areas of the non-profit or higher education sectors who might be interested…

Application Now Open: The Bethaida “Bea” González Diversity in Leadership Scholars program

By UPCEA | July 22, 2020

In an effort to professionalize and elevate the field of Professional, Continuing, and Online Education (PCO), UPCEA is launching a series of Online Professional Development programs. As we examined the unique challenges of the profession, the importance of representative and diverse leadership—a cornerstone of UPCEA’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence—came to the forefront. To…

Experts Predict More Digital Innovation by 2030 Aimed at Enhancing Democracy (Pew Research Center Internet & Technology)

By UPCEA | June 30, 2020

“Americans and many around the world are not terribly satisfied with the state of democracy and the institutions that undergird it. Experts who were canvassed about the relationship between people’s technology use and democracy also expressed serious concerns about how things will unfold in the next decade. […] Ray Schroeder, associate vice chancellor of online learning at the University…

Racial Justice and the Mission of Professional, Continuing, and Online Education

By UPCEA | June 5, 2020

UPCEA and its members are deeply troubled by the recent senseless killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, and the lives taken before him. Many others have been affected in the wake of these tragedies. This, combined with the health care disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the systemic racism that…

UPCEA Partners with LX Pathways by iDesign

By UPCEA | May 22, 2020

We’ve partnered to help you increase capacity around instructional design Do you need to increase your team’s capacity around instructional design? Would you like to add instructional design to your skillset? Great news! UPCEA has recently partnered with iDesign to offer even more online professional development through iDesign’s self-paced learning opportunities, LX Pathways. Our partnership…

Just Released: UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Credential Innovation

By UPCEA | May 20, 2020

Over the past five years UPCEA has published two Hallmarks of Excellence frameworks, first in Online Leadership and then Professional and Continuing Education. These quality frameworks have been endorsed and used by countless organizations and institutions as they evaluate, enhance, and sometimes even build professional, continuing, and online enterprises. Today, I am so pleased to…

Other Blogs and News:

Anticipating the Fall of 2025

In January 2025, the president issued an executive order freezing federal loans and grants, including Pell Grants and other student loans. While the order has since been rescinded, the damage was done. Moving forward, potential students will be wary about the frailty of college loans. There will be uncertainty as to whether college is affordable…

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UPCEA 2024 Research: Unlocking Insights, Solving Higher Ed’s Biggest Challenges

The state of higher education in the U.S. is tumultuous with no clear and obvious pathway to success.  College and university leaders have never experienced what is currently going on regarding higher education, the economy, and the political landscape.  However, information can guide us, just as it did for UPCEA members coming out of the…

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How to Develop Leaders in the Online, Continuing, and Professional Education Landscape

Introduction  The online, continuing, and professional education landscape has experienced rapid growth and transformation in recent years. With technological advancements and an increasing demand for flexible learning options, institutions are tasked with delivering high-quality programs in a dynamic environment. As this field evolves, the need for strong, effective leadership becomes even more critical. Leaders in…

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UPCEA Congratulates Members Recognized in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Ranking of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

Thirty of the thirty-one Top 25 Ranked Institutions are UPCEA Members WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2025) — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is pleased to congratulate the many UPCEA members recognized in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings. U.S. News rankings include more than 1,790 online programs, covering…

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Federal Funding Pause Blocked by U.S. District Judge, Memo Rescinded | Policy Matters (January 2025)

At 11th hour, judge blocks Trump’s pause on federal funding (Higher Ed Dive) “UPDATE: Jan. 28, 2025: A U.S. District judge halted the government’s temporary freeze on federal funding just minutes before it was set to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to news reports. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., blocked the…

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Should I Get Microcredentials To Complement My Four-Year Degree In Today’s Job Market? (Forbes)

“Think about a professional stepping into the workforce—equipped with the strategic insights cultivated during a four-year business degree and bolstered by technical expertise gained through microcredentials. This balanced blend of broad understanding and specialized skills does more than make them competitive; it prepares them to lead and drive transformative change. Employers are no longer satisfied…

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