UPCEA Releases Guide to Navigate Higher Education Transformation Through Online and Professional Education

The online and professional education association UPCEA has released "The Future Is Now: Essential Conversations for Building Tomorrow's University Today," an advocacy piece designed to guide institutional leaders through challenging times in higher education. This resource focuses on raising awareness of critical questions campus leaders must address regarding the rapidly evolving role of online and professional education in serving today's learners. For HR vendors serving the higher education sector, this guidance comes at a pivotal moment as institutions grapple with changing student expectations and market pressures.

The guide identifies three pressing realities that are reshaping higher education. First, it emphasizes that "It's a Buyers' Market," where students increasingly choose institutions based on return on investment, flexibility, and relevance rather than traditional institutional reputation. This shift represents a fundamental change in how educational value is perceived and measured, requiring institutions to rethink their value propositions and student engagement strategies. Second, the resource highlights that "Business Models Are Evolving," with traditional structures under pressure and requiring new thinking about enrollment, partnerships, and institutional differentiation. This evolution presents both challenges and opportunities for institutions willing to innovate their operational approaches.

Third, the guide stresses that "Entrepreneurial Leadership Is Key," with institutions needing to become more adaptive and consider leadership models that embrace flexibility and innovation. For each of these realities, the guide offers key questions to facilitate thoughtful discussion and creative problem-solving among institutional leaders. Additionally, the resource demonstrates opportunities for collaboration between traditional academic departments and online and professional continuing education units, suggesting that these partnerships could drive institutional transformation.

Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA, stated that the association has "a unique responsibility to help guide campus leaders on the potential of online and professional education to help shape the future of higher learning." He explained that "The Future Is Now" is intended to advance a shared vision and inspire transformative dialogues across campuses. Dave Cillay, Ph.D., chancellor of the Global Campus at Washington State University, commented on the resource's value, noting that it "encourages strategic dialogue that our leadership team must engage in to stay relevant and responsive."

Paul LeBlanc, president emeritus of Southern New Hampshire University, emphasized the importance of professional, continuing, and online divisions within institutions, calling them "their best source of innovation, entrepreneurship, and new business and delivery models" during times of enormous change. He described the guide as offering "a template for leveraging the rich resources already in their PCO divisions." The resource experienced a limited release last week during Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education, an event held in partnership between UPCEA and AACRAO. For more information or to access the full guide, visit https://upcea.edu/conversations.

For HR vendors and service providers, this development signals important shifts in the higher education landscape that will impact talent management strategies, leadership development needs, and institutional partnership opportunities. As colleges and universities adapt to these new realities, they will require different types of HR solutions, leadership training, and organizational development support. The emphasis on entrepreneurial leadership and evolving business models suggests growing demand for innovative HR technologies and consulting services that can help institutions navigate this transformation while maintaining academic quality and institutional integrity.