2026 UPCEA Annual Conference

Transforming System-Wide Online Learning: Three Pathways to Excellence
Marlborough A | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty
Join leaders from three major higher education systems as they share their approaches to transforming online education at scale. This session explores how the City University of New York (CUNY), the Colorado Community College System, and Alamo Colleges District are each navigating the complex journey of system-wide digital learning transformation—from launch through growth and evolution. Online leaders share insights from their cross-system effort, offering perspectives on lessons learned, persistent challenges, and strategies for scaling sustainable, student-centered programs. Discover how these three systems address common goals—expanding access, ensuring quality, and supporting student success—through strategic organizational change, enhanced support services, and evolving leadership structures. Whether you're launching, scaling, or transforming your online offerings, you'll gain practical strategies and comparative insights applicable to your institutional context.

• Olena Zhadko, City University of New York
• Renee McGarry, City University of New York
• Tina Parscal, Colorado Community College System
• Luke Dowden, Alamo Community Colleges District

Moderator: Ann Taylor, Penn State University

The University at a Crossroads: Navigating Relevance in a Skills-Based Future
Churchill A | Online Administration | Strategic |
As skills-based hiring reshapes the global workforce, generative AI redefines how we access knowledge, and the federal landscape grows increasingly uncertain, universities face urgent questions about their role, relevance, and resilience. In this timely and candid session, senior academic leaders explore how lifelong learning can serve as a stabilizing force—preserving the degree’s enduring value while accelerating innovation. How can institutions respond to shifting demands with agility and integrity? Join a forward-thinking conversation on reimagining credentials, scaling access, supporting faculty, and leading with purpose in a future shaped by volatility, opportunity, and transformation.

• James DeVaney, University of Michigan
• Carissa Little, Stanford University
• Kelly Otter, Georgetown University
• Quentin McAndrew, Coursera for Campus

Moderator: Quentin McAndrew, Coursera for Campus

Roundtables
Grand Ballroom AB
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.

Moderator: Jill Boatright, Loyola University of New Orleans

“It’s OK, It’s Fair Use” and Other Considerations in Online Accessibility and Copyright
Online Administration | Foundational |
Over five years, a university quality assurance team conducted 1,800 evaluations of online courses for digital accessibility and copyright. Reviews identified consistent issues—such as improperly formatted PDFs, and use of images under Fair Use—that spanned departments and years. These findings led to improved record-keeping, enhancing of training offerings, and a streamlining of internal procedures. This presentation shares key insights and strategies developed from these evaluations, offering practical insight for other institutions aiming to strengthen sustainable and effective quality assurance practices in online course management.

• Audon Archibald, University of North Texas
• Tania Heap, University of North Texas

Beyond Enrollment: Building Online Programs Students Actually Want
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Graduate Education
As leaders of online programs face mounting pressure to adapt to enrollment shifts and evolving learner expectations, grounding decisions in student-driven data is essential. This session leverages insights from the 15th annual Voice of the Online Learner survey to help you align your online strategy with what modern learners truly value.

• Tekoya Boykins, Risepoint
• Tim Wall, Northwest Missouri State University

Closing the Chapter: Managing Online Program Deactivation Without Disrupting Student Success
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Policy
As institutions evolve, academic programs must sometimes be phased out—but without a clear strategy, program deactivation can create uncertainty for students, faculty, and staff. This session provides a high level practical roadmap for sunsetting online programs while prioritizing student success and operational continuity. Drawing from UAGC’s experience in managing program closures, this presentation will explore best practices for strategic communication, student advising, catalog and system updates, and faculty management. Attendees will learn how to leverage Canvas & the Faculty Portal as a central communication hub to provide clear guidance, track student progress, and ensure seamless transitions to alternative degree pathways. Additionally, the session will highlight faculty and staff considerations, ensuring instructional quality remains intact while maintaining institutional integrity.

• Bryan Aylward, University of Arizona Global Campus

Investing in Innovation: Establishing the Online Student Success Initiative Fund
Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
According to the 2024 Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0, the average university budget for innovation is now $4.5 million, up from $522 thousand in 2014. While investing in innovation is a noted priority for most universities, the tricky part is determining processes and programs for meaningfully prioritizing innovative projects and research. The Online Student Success Initiative Fund (OSSIF) offers the opportunity for staff and faculty from The University of Arizona Global Campus and Arizona Online to submit proposals to conduct research and pursue publication of findings relating to online student success and learning. UAGC funds up to $100,000 in projects each year via this initiative. Initial supported projects include research on effective online teaching and learning practices, implementation of open educational resources into the student experience, impacts of synchronous learning opportunities, and funding a project employing in-person student workers on the University of Arizona campus. Findings and additional details about these projects will be shared with attendees if interested. We’ll discuss work completed to setup the program, including establishing a committee to oversee the fund and a submission and review process. Attendees will be encouraged to share strategies for funding innovation at their own institutions, including successes and areas of opportunity.

• Cole McFarren, University of Arizona Global Campus

A Dickensian Look at Digital Learning: COLOs Confront the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future Transformation
Grand Ballroom D | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
Join Chief Online Learning Officers for a Dickensian journey through digital learning’s past, present, and future. Panelists reflect on lessons from rapid online expansion, today’s realities of AI, accessibility, and enrollment pressures, and the bold bets shaping higher education’s digital transformation. Through candid dialogue and real-world examples, they’ll explore how authentic leadership, data-informed strategy, and inclusive design are redefining the future of online learning—revealing what to leave behind, what to build now, and what futures to imagine next.

• Kim Siegenthaler, University of Hawaii System
• Nancy Coleman, Harvard University
• Cheryl Murphy, University of Arkansas
• Lisa Templeton, Oregon State University Ecampus
• Thomas Cavanagh, University of Central Florida
• Bettyjo Bouchey, University of Vermont

Moderator: Jocelyn Widmer, Los Alamos National Laboratory

From LMS to Ecosystem: Elevating the Digital Learning Experience
Churchill C2 | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty
This panel explores how institutions are moving beyond traditional LMS use to build connected digital learning ecosystems. Drawing on national faculty survey data and real-world case studies, panelists will share how they’re supporting faculty, improving student engagement, and aligning digital tools with broader academic and workforce goals. Attendees will gain practical insights into rethinking instructional technology strategy to better support teaching, learning, and institutional outcomes.

• Cira Montoya Olson, University of Texas at El Paso
• Barbara Kopp Miller, The University of Toledo
• Niki Whiteside, San Jacinto College

Moderator: Justin Louder, Blackboard

Connect, celebrate, and collaborate at the Network Lunch & Awards. Hosted by UPCEA Networks (Areas of Practice) and open to all attendees, this luncheon brings peers together to recognize excellence through Network Awards and strengthen connections across the UPCEA community. Select the Network that aligns with your professional focus.

eDesign Collaborative and Online Administration
Grand Ballroom D
Join the collaboration of two Networks: eDesign Collaborative and Online Administration to connect with instructional design professionals focused on best practices for online course design, multimedia development, and team-based learning solutions as well as colleagues bridging online program operations, strategic management, and instructional support best practices for online learning.

• Award Presentation: UPCEA Award for Strategic Innovation in Online Education

Moderators:

• April Wolf, Purdue University
• Stevie Rocco, Penn State University
• Connie Hahn, Purdue University
• Megan Slatton, Auburn University
• Ronni Tyger, Tulane University
• Tracy Miller, Northern Illinois University
• David Lawrence-Lupton, University of Michigan
• Amy Gairmaro, Molloy University
• Annie Taylor, Penn State University
  

Infusing AI into Existing Curriculum: Embedding AI for the Next Generation of Learning
Churchill D | Online Administration | Strategic |
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of higher education from the classroom to the workplace. But how do institutions move beyond the hype and meaningfully integrate AI into curriculum? This panel brings together leaders from multiple universities who have taken on the challenge of embedding AI into existing programs to better prepare students for a rapidly evolving world of work. Panelists will share strategies they used to expose students and faculty to AI in ways that are relevant to their disciplines, including approaches to professional development, policy development and refinement, tool selection and integration, and the rethinking of assessments to account for AI-assisted work. Attendees will also hear how institutions partnered with industry to provide authentic examples of AI in action to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace application.The conversation will not only highlight successes but also address the very real challenges institutions faced from faculty readiness to resource constraints to navigating shifting expectations from employers. By the end of this interactive session, attendees will walk away with actionable insights, lessons learned, and practical ideas to guide their own efforts in embedding AI into curriculum.

• Ryan Anderson, University of Wisconsin System
• Shawndra Bowers, Auburn University
• Camille Funk, Utah Valley University
• Jennifer Ferrara, Texas A&M University

Moderator: Ryan Anderson, University of Wisconsin System

The COLO as Strategic Advisor, Innovation Catalyst, and AI Trailblazer
Churchill B2 | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Policy, Faculty
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO) has emerged as far more than an online program administrator. Increasingly, COLOs are de facto Chief Innovation Officers, charged with aligning institutional priorities with digital transformation, championing the ethical and effective use of AI, and acting as trusted advisors to provosts and presidents.
This panel brings together senior online leaders who are redefining what it means to lead digital learning strategy at the enterprise level. Panelists will share how they’ve leveraged the COLO role to earn a seat at the executive table: leading cross-functional alignment, anticipating policy and market disruptions, and operationalizing new models of teaching and learning. Special emphasis will be placed on AI: how COLOs are guiding institutional AI frameworks, balancing experimentation with governance, and ensuring adoption supports equity, inclusion, and academic integrity.

• Daria LaTorre, Duquesne University
• Julie Thalman, University of Cincinnati
• Jay O’Callaghan, Kean University

Moderator: Asher Haines, UNC Charlotte

From Potential to Protagonist: Propelling Your Leadership Pathway
Churchill A | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
This panel discussion brings together seasoned professionals from three distinct institutional contexts to explore succession planning as a narrative framework—one where leaders help emerging talent become central characters in their own career stories. Panelists will share how they’ve supported team members in cultivating leadership identity, fostering agency, and building pathways for advancement. Whether you're a leader approaching retirement or someone aspiring to step into leadership, we’ll explore how to shift the conversation from “I wonder what will happen next?” to “Here’s the outline for my next chapter.”

• Stevie Rocco, Penn State University
• Gayla Stoner, Creighton University
• Carey Hansard, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Kamille Leptz, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Moderator: Annie Taylor, Penn State University

Unlocking Ambitious and Sustainable Online Growth: An Online Enrollment Growth Plan
Churchill B2 | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Faculty, Graduate Education
Tulane’s School of Social Work is growing online enrollment for mission-aligned programs, sustainably. Learn how they integrated siloed marketing and admissions teams, aligned internal stakeholders through a shared financial model, and adjusted strategies based on university-level strategic goals. This session offers a candid look at what happens when growth is the result, not the goal, of operational alignment and smarter decision-making. Attendees will walk away with practical insights for growing online programs with intention.

• Kady Lamb, Tulane University
• Susan Davies, Tulane University
• Mary Celano, Archer Education

Moderator: Fritz Vandover, University of Minnesota

Strategic Planning in Online Education: An Andragogy in Practice Framework
Marlborough B | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty
This presentation will highlight some of the key initiatives related to the development of an institutional digital strategy to serve post-traditional students at a small liberal arts university in the United States. It will also emphasize that the andragogy in practice model (Knowles et al., 2025) can be applied in innovative ways and provides a solid framework for online program development. In addition to financial resources, launching and sustaining quality online programs serving post-traditional students requires knowledge of adult learning principles to diversify the curriculum, develop comprehensive policies and procedures, enhance the student experience by providing individualized support services, and training faculty and administrators.

• Corina Caraccioli, Louisiana State University
• Paul Cesarini, Loyola University New Orleans

Moderator: Daniel Kalef, OES (Online Education Services)

Roundtable Presentations
Grand Ballroom AB
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.

Moderator: Jessica DuPont, Oregon State University

From Compliance to Connection: A Scalable Framework for Meaningful RSI (Regular and Substantive Interaction)
Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty
Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is more than a compliance requirement—it is a catalyst for student success. Learn how Oregon State University’s College of Engineering transformed federal RSI standards into a scalable, high-impact framework that strengthens faculty–student connections and advances the university’s Prosperity Widely Shared retention goals. This session shares practical strategies, real-world examples, and tools adaptable to any discipline. Attendees will leave with actionable methods to evaluate and enhance RSI in asynchronous courses, fostering deeper engagement, improving learning outcomes, and sustaining student success beyond the minimum standards.

• Cori Benz, Oregon State University Ecampus
• Holly Russell, Oregon State University Ecampus

Leading Sideways: Building Influence and Trust Without Positional Power
Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
Online education professionals are often tasked with leading initiatives like program growth, strategic planning, and technology adoption—without direct authority over the people or systems involved. This interactive session explores how to “lead sideways” by building trust, credibility, and strong cross-campus relationships. Presenters will share real-world strategies for influencing without formal power, including tools like stakeholder mapping, narrative leadership, and the “curiosity over control” mindset. Whether you're launching a new program or navigating institutional silos, this session will offer practical, creative approaches to growing your leadership impact—even when your role doesn't come with a traditional title or positional power.

• Brittany Logue, Colorado State University

Unpacking the Invisible Backpack: Leading with System and Soul
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
At the heart of online education is a paradox: systems are built for scale, yet students and staff carry profoundly individual stories. How can leaders design for both? This session introduces System & Soul, a framework rooted in the invisible backpack—the burdens people carry that others cannot see. Through reflection and dialogue, participants will explore what “showing up” really means, examining the tensions of scale, empathy, consistency, and grace. Take away practical strategies to build programs and cultures where strong systems honor humanity—and where unpacking the invisible, even just a little, becomes possible.

• Melissa Allen, University of Florida

Scaling Online Student and Program Success: Empowering Staff and Building Institutional Infrastructure
Churchill C2 | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
Scaling online learning requires both empowered staff and effective institutional infrastructure. This session highlights two complementary approaches. Leaders from National University and University of Maryland Global Campus will share how evidence-based coaching and microcredential training upskill the student support staff to serve diverse adult learners, military students, and other nontraditional populations effectively. The University of Minnesota will present its recently-launched Online Program Support Services (OPSS) model, its University-wide initiative that offers centralized program development, marketing, enrollment, and student success support across all five campuses. Together, these perspectives provide a roadmap for institutions seeking to scale online learning through both people-centered strategies and organizational infrastructure. Attendees will leave with practical insights to build stronger staff capacity, align institutional resources, and create lasting impact for learners and programs.

• Fritz Vandover, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Leigh Saunders, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Matt Bruce, National University
• Susan Hawkins-Wilding, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Cheryl Marshall-Petricoff, InsideTrack

Moderator: Cheryl Marshall-Petricoff, InsideTrack

Stop & Share Presentations
Grand Ballroom AB
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.

Moderator: Kelley Brandt, Boise State University

Responsibly Harnessing the Power of AI
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag(s): Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
This presentation will discuss the rapidly changing landscape of AI and discuss we can integrate AI strategically and ethically into curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

• Julin Sharp, Marist University

Small Budget, Big Impact: Turning Employee Feedback into a Great Place to Work
Online Administration | Foundational | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
When your workplace is fully online, fostering engagement requires creativity, intentionality, and alignment with what employees value most. Purdue University Online met that challenge by creating the Great Place to Work (GPTW) committee, a cross-functional, employee-led group that integrates the university’s Mission, Vision, and Values into every initiative. Guided by staff survey feedback, the committee delivers budget-friendly, high-impact projects that strengthen belonging, boost engagement, and build a sustainable culture with leadership support. Attendees will leave with practical ideas, tools, and strategies to translate employee feedback into meaningful, lasting cultural improvements without the need for a large budget.

• Sarah Stearns, Purdue University

From Perception to Proof: Addressing Online Course Quality Concerns
Churchill C1 | Online Administration | Applied |
Online courses are often held to stricter quality standards than their in-person counterparts—despite limited evaluation structures for either. This session shares how our team identified metrics that resonate with leadership, gathered the data to counter persistent misconceptions, and reframed the conversation toward student success. Attendees will leave with adaptable strategies, proven data points, and a framework for demonstrating online course quality in ways that influence decision-makers and build institutional support.

• Jennifer Larson, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Erin Willis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Moderator: Patrick Kelley, Oregon State University

Unicorns Do Exist: Our Ongoing Quest for the Perfect Non-Credit Registration System
Churchill C2 | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
As Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) reclaimed full control of their online portfolio and sought to bring our professional education offerings in house, the need for agile, well- integrated systems became urgent. Our institution faced this quest head-on—transitioning from a third-party OPM to an in-house model with a bold goal to rebuild a $10M multimillion dollar portfolio. After countless demos and rounds of solutioning, no solitary product offered the comprehensive functionality needed to truly kickstart and scale our operation. This reinforced the need for a custom, intentional approach, using systems and tools we currently had at our fingertips. Enter the end to end professional education registration system unicorn that we would build in house.

• Tara Gallo, Villanova University
• Sharon Roth-DeFulvio, Villanova University
• Todd McClincey, Villanova University

Moderator: Carlea White, Oregon State University

The Day 1,200 Students Came Back: Strategies to Re-Engage Online Adult Learners
Grand Ballroom D | Online Administration | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
This session explores new national research on the lived experiences of online adult learners who have stopped out. Findings reveal cost as the top barrier to returning, yet 78% would re-enroll if offered free credits. We will examine the Finish Your Degree Day pilot—a one-day, partnership-based initiative that drew over 1,200 registrations—and its implications for online program design, student support, and re-engagement strategies. Co-presented by StraighterLine and the California Institute of Applied Technology, this session emphasizes research findings, institutional insights, and adaptable operational approaches that institutions of any type can use to remove barriers and re-engage online learners.

• Melanie Glennon, StraighterLine
• Kelly Nordstrom, StraighterLine
• Kirsten Barrera, California Institute of Applied Technology

Moderator: Ronni Tyger, Louisiana State University