Fifty percent of campus chief technology officers are reporting increasing demand for online and hybrid courses and thus are adding more of them, according to an Inside Higher Ed survey. A student survey in conjunction with Generation Lab discovered that online-only students, who are often older and first-generation, rate academic quality highly but feel less socially connected, prompting WGU Labs Learning Innovation Director Omid Fotuhi to recommend that colleges develop customized support, virtual participation options and proactive engagement strategies specifically for digital learners.

DreamCollege.ai has introduced a virtual college counseling platform that uses Agentic AI to guide students through the application process, including essay writing and school selection. The platform will provide an affordable alternative to private counselors, assisting with timelines, essay writing and major selection.

The University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies will become the first public university in the state to offer degree programs in prisons, starting with Fluvanna Correctional Center in 2026. A $350,000 grant from Ascendium Education Group supports this initiative, which aims to reduce recidivism and enhance societal contributions from formerly incarcerated individuals.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow's "evolve or die" mantra is the impetus for transforming the institution into a "Fifth Wave" university that emphasizes digital immersion, cost efficiency and scalability. Crow's initiatives include interdisciplinary research centers, ASU Online and the College of Global Futures.