MIT Industrial Liaison Program Office: 1 Main Street, 12th Floor, Cambridge, MA
Event Description:
Online Learning by the Numbers is a data summit designed exclusively for Chief Online Learning Officers seeking to lead with clarity in a metrics-driven environment. Featuring expert insights from UPCEA, IDEBP, Quality Matters, and U.S. News & World Report, the program explores benchmarking data, quality and student experience trends, institutional performance metrics, and the mechanics behind online rankings. Each speaker will deliver focused, actionable presentations tailored to the strategic needs of senior online leaders. Through peer discussion and guided reflection, attendees will translate complex data into leadership insights and leave with a personalized action plan to inform institutional strategy and executive communication. We will start our afternoon with presentations on the landscape of online learning, followed by a break, which will allow COLOs to stretch their legs and explore MIT’s campus. We’ll return for our final presentations and then make our way to a reception featuring a brief fireside chat with a guest speaker. Throughout the day, COLOs will have the opportunity to share ideas with our presenters and one another. As this will be a travel day for most, and there’s some walking on campus, attendees are encouraged to dress in their most comfortable business casual attire (blazers can remain in your suitcases, walking shoes are recommended).
12:00 - 1:00 PM Arrival, Check-in and Lunch (Boxed Lunch Provided) 1:00 PM Program Begins 2:30 PM Break & Time to Explore MIT 3:45 PM Program Resumes 5:45 PM Adjourn to Reception 6:30 PM Fireside Chat with MIT Speaker 7:30 PM Reception Ends
Making Sense of Online Rankings
Eric Brooks (U.S. News & World Report) presents a detailed analysis of the methodology underpinning USNWR's online program rankings. The session will explore the factors and weights used to generate the annual results. Furthermore, Mr. Brooks will provide COLOs with practical guidance for data submission and offer insights into new developments impacting the ranking landscape. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to interpret institutional positioning and prepare for future cycles.
Benchmarking the Online Enterprise
Bruce Etter (UPCEA) presents findings from the Benchmarking Online Enterprises Study (BOnES), offering insights into how top-performing online units are structured, staffed, and resourced. Attendees will learn which operational models and metrics distinguish scalable and sustainable digital enterprises.
The State of Online Quality & Student Experience
Bethany Simunich (Quality Matters) highlights trends from the Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) reports, focusing on institutional investments in online quality assurance and student support. The session explores how COLOs can use these insights to enhance learner experience and demonstrate impact.
Strategic Use of Online Program Data
Kevin Shriner [International Distance Education Benchmark Project (IDEBP)] shares strategies for aligning internal data systems and dashboards with external demands and institutional goals. This session will help COLOs better leverage performance and enrollment data to inform portfolio planning and decision-making.
UPCEA is the online and professional education association. Our members positively impact millions of lives by continuously reinventing higher education. We advance the professional field through cutting edge research, professional development, networking and mentorship, conferences and seminars, and stakeholder advocacy. Our collaborative, entrepreneurial community brings together decision makers and influencers in education, industry, research, and policy interested in improving educational access and outcomes.
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