UPCEA Updates

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

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

By UPCEA | January 30, 2025

“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…

Reflections from Convergence 2024: Credential Innovation in Higher Education, hosted by UPCEA and AACRAO

By UPCEA | December 18, 2024

The running joke was that this fall’s Convergence, UPCEA’s second collaboration with thoughtful partner AACRAO, was referred to as Convergence Two: Electric Boogaloo, for the verve and excitement around bringing together another sold-out/SRO gathering of credential innovators–in the buzzy city of New Orleans, no less. And though I am fairly certain that pop-y, choreographed dancing…

Collegis Education logo and UPCEA logo

According To the New UPCEA and Collegis Report, 71% of Prospective Graduate Students Prefer Fully Online Programs

By UPCEA | December 16, 2024

Findings highlight the need for strategic outreach to address master’s degree enrollment challenges in a competitive market [Washington and Illinois] – December 16, 2024 –  A new report released today by UPCEA, the online and professional education association, and Collegis Education, a higher education solutions tech-enabler, highlights the growing interest in online master’s degree programs…

Building the Future of Credentials: Explore the LER Accelerator Inventory

By UPCEA | December 12, 2024

By the LER Accelerator coalition We are excited to share the official launch of the LER Accelerator Inventory, a comprehensive collection of resources designed to support institutions in adopting and implementing Learning and Employment Records (LERs). As members of the LER Accelerator coalition, we are proud to contribute to this valuable initiative to create a more transparent, interoperable, and…

Welcome, new board and committee members!

UPCEA Welcomes New Board and Committee Members for Terms Beginning in March 2025

By UPCEA | December 12, 2024

WASHINGTON, December 12, 2024 – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is pleased to announce the election of new officers and new directors to serve on the UPCEA Board of Directors. Elected in November, these individuals will assume their roles at the conclusion of the 2025 UPCEA Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado on March…

As online learning programs grow, so does the need for data-informed decisions (eCampus News)

By UPCEA | December 4, 2024

“While online learning has matured in many respects, there is still significant potential for growth, innovation, and improvement, according to a new report that underscores the need for data-informed decision-making in shaping the future of online education. The new research report, “Benchmarking Online Enterprises: Insights into Structures, Strategies, and Financial Models in Higher Education,” was released…

UPCEA Releases 2025 Predictions for Online & Professional Education

By UPCEA | December 3, 2024

Report highlights trends shaping the future of higher education, from AI integration to workforce-ready credentials. WASHINGTON and PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 3, 2024) – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the release of its “2025 Predictions for Online & Professional Education.” The report provides critical insights into the trends and innovations that are poised…

UPCEA Partners with UALL to Support Global Lifelong Learning Study

By UPCEA | December 2, 2024

Comprehensive study to strengthen college and university lifelong learning initiatives WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2024 — UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is proud to support the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL)’s comprehensive global study to help higher education institutions enhance their lifelong learning offerings, The future of lifelong learning: a new study…

Other Blogs and News:

UPCEA Announces Release of New Secret Shopper Benchmarking Study at UPCEA MEMS 2025

Findings unveiled during the conference’s closing keynote reveal major gaps and opportunities in enrollment responsiveness. WASHINGTON and BOSTON (Dec. 4, 2025) – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, today announced the release of its newest research report, Enrollment Process Review: Secret Shopper Analysis, during the closing session at the 2025 UPCEA Marketing, Enrollment Management,…

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Reflecting on the 2025 UPCEA CCI Convening: Designing Intentional, Learner-Centric Pathways

At the inaugural UPCEA Council for Credential Innovation (CCI) Convening, leaders from across UPCEA member institutions came together to explore what it means to build truly learner-centric, intentional credential ecosystems—ones that align with institutional mission, ensure financial sustainability, and elevate the student experience. Hosted as the first in-person gathering of CCI representatives, the event served…

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Federal Grant Opportunities: Funding for Workforce Pell Programs and AI | Policy Matters (November 2025)

Major Updates Federal Grant Opportunities: Funding for Workforce Pell Programs and AI (Applications Due December 3) The Department of Education has launched a rapid grant competition under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE–Special Projects), with applications due December 3, 2025. The program is designed in part to help institutions build or scale…

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Constructing the Future: Why Credential Innovation Needs Bold Leadership

The tagline for Convergence, Credential Innovation in Higher Education, raises two important questions: First, what kind of credentials are we talking about?  Is the scope of credentials unlimited, blue sky, or confined to incremental changes on the margins of the status quo?  And second, who is leading that innovation, and what do they need to…

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Learning Mobility in Action: Removing Barriers and Recognizing the Whole Learner

Learning Mobility: A Movement Taking Shape At this year’s AACRAO Technology & Transfer: A Learning Mobility Summit, higher education leaders from UPCEA member institutions gathered to explore a question at the heart of the learner mobility movement: How can postsecondary institutions recognize, record, and reward all learning—wherever and however it occurs? Moderating this conversation alongside…

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Convergence in Action: Building Strategic Credential Frameworks Through Collaboration

At Convergence 2025, a conversation unfolded that perfectly captured the spirit of the event—collaboration across boundaries, disciplines, and traditions to create something more unified and learner-centered. In Convergence in Action: Strategic Credential Framework Collaborations Across Campus, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel featuring Elizabeth Kerr and Molly McDermott-Fallon of the University of Cincinnati…

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