UPCEA Updates

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

New Study Delves Into Unexplored Professional Development Benchmarking for Instructional Design and Technology Teams

By UPCEA | April 7, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 7, 2017 – A study released today by the UPCEA eDesign Collaborative maps the expertise and roles in instructional design teams throughout North America. The study, Instructional Design and Technology Teams: Work Experiences and Professional Development, establishes benchmarks for experience and salaries among members of instructional design team members, and also…

UCLA’s Dean Of Continuing Education And Extension Wayne Smutz To Serve As UPCEA President

By UPCEA | March 24, 2017

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2017 – UPCEA, the Washington, D.C.-based association for university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, welcomed Dr. Wayne Smutz as the association’s 2017-18 President during the 2017 UPCEA Annual Conference. Smutz is Dean of Continuing Education and Extension at the University of California, Los Angeles. As UPCEA President, Smutz will encourage…

UPCEA Announces 2017 Association Award Recipients

By UPCEA | February 22, 2017

15 Individuals and 7 Programs Receive Association’s Highest Honors WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 – UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education, has announced the recipients of the 2017 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’…

New national adult learner coalition created to advance student success (eCampusNews)

By UPCEA | February 9, 2017

Four major associations recently joined together as a cohesive voice to advocate for adult students and the institutions that serve them. With support from Lumina Foundation, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), President’s Forum, and University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) are pleased to announce the National…

New Coalition Created to Advocate for Adult Learners (Campus Technology)

By UPCEA | February 8, 2017

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Presidents’ Forum and University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) have joined forces to create the National Adult Learner Coalition, an organization devoted to advancing the adult learner agenda and expanding post-secondary education and credentialing opportunities. Supported by the Lumina Foundation, the coalition…

Higher ed advocacy orgs join forces to promote access for adult learners (EducationDIVE)

By UPCEA | February 7, 2017

Several higher education advocacy organizations have united to form a new organization supporting the development of adult learners in higher education. The National Adult Learner Coalition, a joint venture created by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), President’s Forum, and University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), seeks…

National Adult Learner Coalition Created To Advance Student Success

By UPCEA | February 6, 2017

Washington, D.C., February 6th, 2017 – Today, four major organizations join together as a cohesive voice advocating for adult students and the institutions that serve them. With support from Lumina Foundation, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Presidents’ Forum, and University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) are…

5 Online Education Trends to Watch in 2017 (U.S. News & World Report)

By UPCEA | January 5, 2017

5 Online Education Trends to Watch in 2017 (U.S. News & World Report) January 5, 2017   As online learning continues to attract career changers, some experts say more degrees offered online in 2017 will focus on specialized areas – such as a bachelor’s in real estate or marketing rather than business administration. “They have to…

Other Blogs and News:

Microcredentials, Modularity, and Mission: Insights from UPCEA’s Coffee Chat on Innovation in Healthcare Education

In partnership with the HELIX Summit on Continuing Medical Education  How are institutions navigating the dynamic intersection of workforce demands, digital learning, and credentialing innovation—especially in healthcare? That’s exactly what we explored in a recent Coffee Chat, where UPCEA leaders from across the higher education landscape gathered for an unrecorded but powerfully candid conversation on…

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Leading with Values-Based Influence in Higher Education

Why Values-Based Influence Matters Now  Higher education is undergoing seismic shifts—demographic changes, budget constraints, AI disruption, and questions of relevance. In this environment, how we lead and why we lead matters as much as what we do as leaders. Leaders who operate from a strong internal compass—those grounded in values—offer clarity, stability, and hope.  Values-based…

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Accreditation + Skill-Based Learning Addressed in New Executive Orders | Policy Matters (April 2025)

Major Updates Accreditation, Foreign Support, Skill-Based Learning Addressed in New Trump Executive Orders The Trump administration has continued issuing an unprecedented number of executive orders with recent directives directly impacting colleges and universities, addressing topics like accreditation reform, foreign influence, skills-based learning (including alternative credentials), and support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Two…

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Online education booms in an era of lifelong learning (WorkingNation)

‘Strictly online institutions tend to serve working-age or older adults requiring flexible schedules constructed around family obligations and work. “Folks arrive at higher ed for a multitude of reasons,” says Julie Uranis, senior vice president of online and strategic initiatives for UPCEA (the Online and Professional Education Association), a resource for online university programs. “Online learning gives them…

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Your Lifelong Learning Journey’s “Breadcrumbs” – How to Tell Your Story

As avid backcountry hikers, years ago my family decided it would be prudent to buy a GPS, even though we had a rescue dog with an incredible sense of direction. While many out-and-back or even loop hikes didn’t require high-powered digital GPS coordinates to find our way back to our vehicle, we did appreciate launching…

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Key Findings from 2024 UPCEA Marketing Survey

As more and more institutions face internal and external pressures to identify and cultivate new revenue streams, many are turning to online and professional continuing education to attract new learners and address fiscal shortfalls. While this continued increase in supply undoubtedly benefits the student, it makes an already saturated market even more competitive. UPCEA’s 2024…

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