Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Update by UPCEA

SDSU's Massive AI Study Finds Frequent Use but Skepticism - Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times

2026-04-21T06:10:00.000-04:00

A poll of 94,000 students, faculty and staff across 22 CSU campuses found nearly every respondent had used AI at some point, but students were still wary of trusting it and faculty reported negative effects. The survey, conducted by San Diego State University researchers last fall, shows CSU grappling with how AI is affecting assignments, classroom instruction, competition for jobs and academic integrity. It found nearly every respondent had used AI at some point, with personal use more common than for educational purposes.

https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/sdsus-massive-ai-study-finds-frequent-use-but-skepticism

AI Is Routine for College Students, Despite Campus Limits - Stephanie Marken, Gallup News

2026-04-21T06:05:00.000-04:00

New research from the Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2026 State of Higher Education study finds that more than half (57%) of U.S. college students are using artificial intelligence in their coursework at least weekly, including about one in five who say they use it daily. Male students report more frequent AI use than female students, particularly in the case of daily use (27% vs. 17%). By major, students in business, technology and engineering programs are the most frequent AI users compared with those in other fields of study. Rates of AI use are similar among students pursuing associate and bachelor’s degrees.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/704090/routine-college-students-despite-campus-limits.aspx

AI in Higher Education Is Moving From Experimentation to Strategic Integration. Here's What the 2025 Data Shows - Joe Sullistio, Ellucian

2026-04-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

When the question is "Are people using AI?" the answers are mostly anecdotal. When the question becomes "How do we integrate AI responsibly and measurably across the institution?" you need strategy, investment discipline, governance, and enablement. Not just tools. Ellucian's new report, Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: From Widespread Adoption to Strategic Integration, captures this transition in detail, and lays out what institutions need to do next. This is the third consecutive year of the Ellucian AI Survey for Higher Education, and the 2025 State of AI in Higher Education findings mark a clear turning point.

Personal AI use is nearing saturation: 91% of administrators report using AI, up from 84% last year, a relatively modest increase that signals individual adoption is plateauing.

Institution-wide adoption surged: from 49% in 2024 to 66% in 2025, a 17-point jump that signals AI has moved beyond experimentation and into mainstream operational and strategic integration.

Momentum is expected to continue: 88% of respondents expect institutional AI use to keep rising over the next two years.

https://www.ellucian.com/blog/ai-higher-education-2025-survey-findings-move-strategic-integration

New online AI in Education Graduate Certificate equips educators with powerful digital tools for today’s learning spaces - Marcia Sweet, Purdue

2026-04-20T06:10:00.000-04:00

As artificial Intelligence transforms teaching and learning, Purdue University’s College of Education has unveiled its new AI in Education Graduate Certificate. The program continues Purdue’s vision to lead in the AI space. It follows the December 2025 announcement of AI@Purdue, a strategic plan that includes five pillars: Learning with AI, Learning about AI, Research AI, Using AI and Partnering in AI. The AI in Education Graduate Certificate is designed to equip educators, corporate trainers and instructional designers with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and integrate artificial intelligence into any learning environment.

https://www.purdue.edu/online/new-online-ai-in-education-graduate-certificate-equips-educators-with-powerful-digital-tools-for-todays-learning-spaces/

Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Changes to Accreditation - Katherine Knott, Inside Higher Ed

2026-04-20T06:05:00.001-04:00

The Trump administration wants the agencies that oversee colleges and universities to set minimum standards for student achievement, protect viewpoint diversity and consider cost efficiency in their evaluation of institutions, among other changes unveiled Monday. That last provision would help to “provide relief for students and taxpayers who have suffered from increasing tuition by allowing greater institutional flexibility to control costs,” according to a nine-page summary of the Education Department’s 151-page proposal.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/04/07/trump-administration-plans-sweeping-changes-accreditation#

Anthropic’s New Product Aims to Handle the Hard Part of Building AI Agents - Maxwell Zeff, Wired

2026-04-20T06:00:00.005-04:00

Anthropic announced Wednesday the launch of a new product that aims to make it easier for businesses to build and deploy AI agents. The tool, Claude Managed Agents, offers developers out-of-the-box infrastructure to build autonomous AI systems, simplifying a complex process that was previously a barrier to automating work tasks. Amid rapid enterprise growth, Anthropic is trying to lower the barrier to entry for businesses to build AI agents with Claude.

https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-launches-claude-managed-agents/

Schedule of this blog changed to Monday to Friday - No weekend posts

2026-04-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

Look for the next posting on Monday. Thanks!

Schedule of this blog changed to Monday to Friday - No weekend posts

2026-04-18T06:00:00.003-04:00

Look for the next posting on Monday. Thanks!

March Sees More Job, Program Cuts - Josh Moody, Inside Higher Ed

2026-04-17T06:10:00.010-04:00

Colleges made or announced moves to cut hundreds of jobs and programs in March. Cuts were driven by financial constraints, federal policy fallout and low program enrollment. The need to tighten purse strings and enrollment issues drove plans in March to cut hundreds of jobs and programs. Amid a confluence of challenges that include state and federal funding concerns, universities are also reviewing or cutting programs that have low enrollment. Several states have passed laws in recent years requiring colleges to slash programs that don’t meet certain enrollment thresholds. Here’s a look at campus job and program cuts announced or enacted last month.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2026/04/07/more-job-program-cuts-march

Project Glasswing: Securing critical software for the AI era - Anthropic

2026-04-17T06:05:00.020-04:00

Today we’re announcing Project Glasswing1, a new initiative that brings together Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorganChase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Palo Alto Networks in an effort to secure the world’s most critical software.

We formed Project Glasswing because of capabilities we’ve observed in a new frontier model trained by Anthropic that we believe could reshape cybersecurity. Claude Mythos2 Preview is a general-purpose, unreleased frontier model that reveals a stark fact: AI models have reached a level of coding capability where they can surpass all but the most skilled humans at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities.

https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing

A people-first vision for the future of work in the age of AI - Sorelle Friedler, Serena Booth, Andrew Schrank, and Susan Helper, Brookings

2026-04-17T06:00:00.019-04:00

While many Americans associate AI with mass layoffs and less satisfying work, an AI future that puts people first and supports workers is possible. Work has gradually become “enshittified” as employees are routinely underpaid and overworked. Confronting an AI future allows an opportunity to grapple with these realities and meet the moment with a transformative vision. Policies to support this future can include developing institutions to support training, protecting and increasing the role of people in the care workplace, and creating tripartite institution that encourage the co-design of AI.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-people-first-vision-for-the-future-of-work-in-the-age-of-ai/

OpenAI calls for robot taxes, a public wealth fund, and a 4-day workweek to tackle AI disruption - Tom Carter, Business Insider

2026-04-16T06:10:00.013-04:00

In a series of policy recommendations released on Monday, OpenAI said the rapid advance of AI would require far-reaching economic and political reforms, including a public wealth fund, taxes on automated labor, and a potential four-day workweek. "We're beginning a transition toward superintelligence: AI systems capable of outperforming the smartest humans even when they are assisted by AI. No one knows exactly how this transition will unfold. At OpenAI, we believe we should navigate it through a democratic process that gives people real power to shape the AI future they want," the company wrote on Monday.

https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-superintelligence-ai-upheaval-tax-shorter-workweek-public-wealth-fund-2026-4

Colleges ramp up offerings to teach students to be AI ethicists - Kate Rix, HigherEdDive

2026-04-16T06:05:00.017-04:00

This is driving the popularity of courses, certificates and master’s programs focused on AI ethics. Some are designed for students with little or no computer science background. Others focus on how to use AI in a specific field. But at the core of each program is an emphasis on avoiding harm. “AI concerns everybody,” said Sonja Schmer-Galunder, an AI and ethics professor at the University of Florida. “We need to provide a more holistic education that is focusing on how we can do this safely and ethically.”

https://www.highereddive.com/news/colleges-programs-ai-ethicists/816703/

Is college becoming less affordable? An update - Phillip Levine, Brookings

2026-04-16T06:00:00.009-04:00

Affordability has recently emerged as one of the central economic and political issues in the United States. Polling data suggests that many Americans feel that core components of a middle-class lifestyle have become increasingly out of reach. A college education is one of those components. Indeed, between 1990 and 2024 the prices of many items have increased faster than median earnings, including housing costs, health care, and gasoline. But the item whose price has risen the most is college tuition. Presumably, that contributes to Americans’ views that education is the least affordable.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-college-becoming-less-affordable-an-update/

What Deans and Department Chairs Must Do Before Fall - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher Ed

2026-04-15T06:10:00.056-04:00

Something is unfolding in the labor market that will greet your new graduates, in an incrementally tighter job market. The urgency is real. Entry-level hiring at the 15 biggest tech firms fell 25 percent from 2023 to 2024, according to a SignalFire report. With AI tools performing more of the work previously reserved for recent graduates, new hires are expected to slot in at a higher level almost from day one. That is not a distant forecast. That is the market your Class of 2027 will enter. I prompted Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 Extended Thinking to suggest what we should be doing this summer to best respond to the changing employment market for our grads in the coming academic year. Here are the seven tasks the Anthropic model suggested are most pressing this summer.

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/columns/online-trending-now/2026/04/15/what-deans-and-department-chairs-must-do-fall

OpenAI’s warning: Washington isn’t ready for what’s coming - Axios, YouTube

2026-04-15T06:05:00.022-04:00

In this Axios interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasizes the urgent need for Washington and society to prepare for the arrival of "super intelligence." He explains that the next generation of AI models will represent a significant leap forward, moving beyond small tasks to potentially enabling career-defining scientific discoveries and allowing individuals to perform the work of entire teams. Altman highlights critical near-term risks, specifically in cybersecurity and bio-threats, and advocates for a "societal resilience" approach where the government and private s OpenAI’s warning: Washington isn’t ready for what’s coming - Axios, YouTube ector work closely together to mitigate these dangers before they become reality [05:24]. Altman also discusses the broader economic and human implications of AI, suggesting that while the technology will transform the nature of work and capital, the core of human fulfillment and connection will remain unchanged. He envisions AI becoming a "utility" similar to electricity—an omnipresent, affordable background force that powers a personal super-assistant for every user [19:19]. Despite the immense power held by AI developers, Altman argues against nationalization, suggesting that private-public partnerships are the best way to ensure the technology aligns with democratic values while maintaining the pace necessary to lead globally [08:41]. [summary assisted by Gemini 3 Fast]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B21KxGs8zDI

American billionaire: Only two types of people will succeed in the age of artificial intelligence - Reporters

2026-04-15T06:00:00.011-04:00

As workers of all generations, from Generation Z to Baby Boomers, look for ways to secure their careers in the age of artificial intelligence, Alex Karp, CEO of the tech giant Palantir, has a pretty simple answer to the question of who will have the upper hand in the future. According to him, two groups of people have the best prospects: those with professional skills and neurodiverse individuals.“Basically, there are two ways to know if you have a future,” Karp said in a recent interview with TBPN. “One, you have some professional training. Or two, you are neurodiverse.” His second category also has a personal dimension. Karp has spoken before about dyslexia, and in a broader sense, neurodiversity also includes conditions like ADHD and autism. In his opinion, the advantage of these people is not only in the diagnosis, but in the fact that they often think differently, see patterns that others do not see and come up with unusual solutions more easily. In the same interview, he said that those who are “more artistic,” who see things from a different perspective and can build something unique, will have an advantage.

https://reporteri.net/en/extra/techauto/American-billionaire%3A-only-two-types-of-people-will-succeed-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/

Harvard offers six free online courses in AI and coding - MSN

2026-04-14T06:09:00.020-04:00

Harvard University has expanded its free online learning portfolio with six courses focused on artificial intelligence, data science, programming, and web development. These globally accessible programmes are available in self-paced and scheduled formats, accommodating both beginners and professionals aiming to enhance their technology skills. The initiative reflects rising demand for digital literacy and supports the development of future-ready capabilities in an AI-driven world. The programmes include 'AI Strategy for Business Leaders', 'Data Science: Building Machine Learning Models', 'CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals', 'Understanding Technology', 'Introduction to Data Science with Python', and 'Web Programming with Python and JavaScript'. Course content blends conceptual learning with hands-on exercises, such as working with real-world datasets or developing web applications using Django and APIs.

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/insight/harvard-offers-six-free-online-courses-in-ai-and-coding/gm-GM3736E2AF

Ending the era of unpaid internships - Florida Atlantic University, Inside Higher Ed

2026-04-14T06:05:00.001-04:00

Florida Atlantic University wants to turn this system on its head by ending the era of the unpaid internships. Forty percent of Florida Atlantic’s student body is Pell-eligible and many balance low-paid work to support themselves financially during their studies. “Looking at the data, we realized that we need to go out and fund internships that would not otherwise exist,” explains Florida Atlantic president Adam Hasner. The university is located in southeast Florida, a region where job creation is growing and internships are available year-round, so he wanted to leverage its unique geographical advantage.

https://narratives.insidehighered.com/florida-atlantic-university-ending-era-unpaid-internships/index.html

4 ways higher ed can lead in uncertain times - Elon University

2026-04-14T06:00:00.012-04:00

At Elon University, the 2025 President’s Report explores how colleges and universities can respond with clarity and purpose by focusing on what today’s students need to think critically, adapt and lead responsibly. How universities are boosting enrollment and retention

Central to this work is a simple but powerful idea: preparing students not just with knowledge, but with the ability to question, analyze and apply it. In a world defined by uncertainty, students must learn how to think, not what to think, and be willing to take calculated risks as they test ideas, navigate ambiguity and engage with real-world challenges.The report highlights several practical approaches institutions can adopt.

https://www.highereddive.com/spons/4-ways-higher-ed-can-lead-in-uncertain-times/816294/

'Double-edged sword': Montana campuses prepare for AI-driven future - Darren Frey Glendive Ranger-Review

2026-04-13T06:10:00.001-04:00

The growing role of artificial intelligence in higher education is forcing colleges to adapt, and Montana campuses are preparing to take a major step with a new AI tool launching as early as May. When Dawson Community College President Chad Knudson attended the March Board of Regents Meeting in Dillon over spring break, a separate meeting held in conjunction with the Regents was part of Montana University System’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force one of the key topics was ChatMT.AI. Knudson stated that ChatMT will be an AI tool rolled out to the Montana University System statewide as a suite of resources focused on streamlining administrative processes. For example, the tool can handle the simple yet time-consuming task of reading a 300-page document and writing a summary, something Interim Director of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer BreAnn Miller said could take multiple hours to complete but only five minutes with the AI tool.

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/double-edged-sword-montana-campuses-prepare-for-ai-driven-future/article_84b1f767-3899-5c0b-96fc-b122ac2bfb2e.html

The Connected Campus: A Secure, AI-Ready Digital Ecosystem for Higher Education - Alexander Slagg, EdTech

2026-04-13T06:05:00.000-04:00

A connected campus supports improved learning experiences, campus operations and overall decision-making by university leadership. While previous iterations of campus technology systems were focused on simply connecting users with resources and each other, the connected campus goes much further, forming a holistic technology ecosystem that drives secure interoperability across systems and resources. “A connected campus depends on several foundational layers working together: resilient wired and wireless networking; cloud and hybrid infrastructure; identity and security systems; and platforms that support learning, collaboration and research,” explains Nicole Muscanell, a researcher for EDUCAUSE. “Increasingly, institutions are also integrating IoT systems, such as smart buildings, energy management and physical safety technologies, into this ecosystem.”

https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/04/connected-campus-secure-ai-ready-digital-ecosystem-higher-education-perfcon

How AI may reshape career pathways to better jobs - Justin Heck, Mark Muro, Shriya Methkupally, and Joseph Siegmund, Brookings

2026-04-13T06:00:00.014-04:00

Amid much concern about the future of college graduates in the era of AI, workers without four-year degrees face major challenges as well: There are over 15 million of these workers in jobs that are highly exposed to AI. Of those, nearly 11 million are employed in “Gateway” occupations—jobs that have historically enabled workers to build skills and supported transitions into higher-wage roles. AI is poised to erode the pathways workers use to transition from low- to higher-wage work. Almost half of the pathways between Gateway jobs and higher-paying “Destination” jobs are highly exposed to AI. Geographically, the highest rates of AI-related pathway exposure are in administrative, clerical, and customer service Gateway occupations in the Northeast and Sun Belt. In order to craft strategies that effectively meet the moment, the field must grapple with a set of urgent questions about AI’s impact on worker mobility.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-ai-may-reshape-career-pathways-to-better-jobs/

Schedule of this blog has changed to Monday to Friday - No new postings will be made Saturdaqy or Sunday.

2026-04-12T06:00:00.009-04:00

Look for the next posting on Monday at 5 AM Central time. Thanks!

Schedule of this blog has changed to Monday through Friday - No new postings will be made Saturday or Sunday.

2026-04-11T06:00:00.004-04:00

Schedule of this blog changed to Monday through Friday. New postings resume Monday morning at 5 AM Central Time.