Leading Association for Colleges and Universities Engaged in Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Joins Forces with Leading Provider of Student Coaching to Increase College Graduation Rates for Working Adults

WASHINGTON and SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and InsideTrack® today announced their partnership to engage in groundbreaking research on factors affecting nontraditional student success, and to promote best practices for improving higher education outcomes among adult learners.

The announcement was made by Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA; and Kai Drekmeier, founder and president of InsideTrack.

"UPCEA takes very seriously our responsibility to serve as an important resource to colleges and universities serving nontraditional learners," said Dr. Hansen. "That is why we launched our Center for Research and Consulting and partnered with InsideTrack. UPCEA's leadership has long recognized InsideTrack as a mission-driven company with a 10-year track record of substantially improving outcomes in adult-focused programs."

Through CRC projects, UPCEA and InsideTrack will:

• Conduct a unique benchmark survey of UPCEA member institutions on their initiatives to measure and enhance student success;
• Publish a joint report and co-host an educational webinar ;
• Partner on consulting engagements to assist CRC members with the assessment and improvement of student outcomes.

"InsideTrack is honored to begin working in close partnership with UPCEA after many years of active support for the organization's mission and service to its membership," said Mr. Drekmeier.  "Our collaboration with the CRC will provide many exciting opportunities to identify how we can increase graduation rates for working adults."

According to Hansen, "InsideTrack's commitment to measurement, transparency, and accountability is perfectly aligned with the goals of UPCEA.  In addition, they bring a deep understanding of the factors affecting adult student success, based on their direct work with hundreds of thousands of students." According to Dr. Hansen and Mr. Drekmeier, an InsideTrack representative will also serve on the UPCEA Corporate Industry Advisory Council, which will support the Association's long-standing commitment to fostering meaningful interaction among all members of the higher education community.

About UPCEA
Located in Washington, D.C., UPCEA serves more than 380 institutions of higher education with a focus on professional, continuing, and online learning. The Association provides its members with educational publications, programs, conferences, and services for the advancement of lifelong learning.  UPCEA promotes awareness of the needs of adult learners and recognizes best practices in the field. For more information, visit http://www.upcea.edu.

About InsideTrack
InsideTrack is the nation's premier provider of student coaching services. Our mission is to improve student engagement, persistence, and success. InsideTrack has coached more than 350,000 students at leading campuses across the country. Our clients include Penn State University, University of Dayton, Florida State University, and Columbia University School of Continuing Education. A recent study funded by Stanford University found that InsideTrack Coaching improves retention and graduation rates by 10-15 percent, and is more cost-effective than previously studied interventions. To learn more about InsideTrack, please visit: www.insidetrack.com.

CONTACT: Kandace Gilligan, +1-202-659-3130

SOURCE University Professional & Continuing Education Association

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.upcea.edu
http://www.insidetrack.com