Beginning on July 22, 2025, the Summit for Online Leadership and Administration (SOLAR) 2025 opened amid a stirring backdrop of innovation at the Hilton Portland Downtown. Over 500 senior leaders in digital education—including presidents, provosts, deans, instructional designers, and chief online learning officers (COLOs)—gathered for three days of in-depth exploration into the evolving landscape of online higher education.
SOLAR 2025 was anchored around several pivotal themes that speak to the future of online learning. Digital transformation and leadership strategy took center stage as sessions examined how institutions can reorganize online units for increased agility and resilience. Leaders engaged with case studies, including panels exploring shared governance models and restructuring strategies to respond more effectively to market demands.
On the credential innovation front, institutions from Oregon State University to Purdue University highlighted new frameworks for credentials—microcredentials, stackable degrees, competency-based pathways, and workforce-aligned non‑credit programs. Discussions emphasized aligning offerings with employer needs and expanding adult learner access.
Policy, access, and equity were also high on the agenda. Interactive panels addressed regulatory environments and policy frameworks designed to foster greater inclusion for rural, non-traditional, and historically underserved learners. These collaborative policy discussions underlined strategic leadership’s role in widening educational equity.
As artificial intelligence continues to shape the educational landscape, many SOLAR 2025 workshops and sessions explored the integration of business intelligence and AI. Topics ranged from enrollment analytics and predictive modeling to adaptive learning technologies, all while emphasizing the importance of student privacy and ethical safeguards.
Networking and fellowship were essential components of the experience. In addition to structured matchmaking, SOLAR 2025 incorporated peer group gatherings, exhibit hall interactions, and an opening reception designed to forge lasting professional connections.
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Keynote co-chair Sunay Palsole, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Engineering Remote Education at Texas A&M, set a thoughtful and inspirational tone. She emphasized “empathetic leadership that recognizes faculty and learner anxieties,” urging attendees to cultivate fellowship and resilience in a post‑pandemic educational context. This theme was echoed across sessions designed for Chief Online Learning Officers, including the C‑COLO convening. These smaller, peer-led discussions addressed succession planning and team-building to ensure continuity amid uncertainty.
SOLAR 2025 also featured several distinguished award presentations. Marie Cini of the University of the People received the Ray Schroeder Leadership Award for her lifelong dedication to expanding digital learning. Bethany Simunich, Andrea Gregg, and Penny Ralston-Berg earned the Phillip E. Frandson Award for their book High‑Impact Design for Online Courses, recognized for its practical guidance. Naomi Pariseault of Brown University was honored for her leadership in instructional design with the UPCEA Outstanding Service Award. Indiana University Online Programs of Scale won the UPCEA Strategic Innovation in Online Education Award for their institutional strategy and scalable online offerings.
Among the deeper explorations was a spotlight on the 2025 Benchmarking Online Enterprises Survey (BOnES), which provided essential data on enrollment trends, program growth, and performance indicators. One standout session, “AI‑ALOE: Cutting Edge AI for Adult Learning and Online Education,” tackled the intersections of AI, adult learning theory, and scalable pedagogy using real-world use cases. In another highlight, a joint panel titled “From Competition to Collaboration: Inside the UT/ASU Partnership” showcased innovative institutional alliances aimed at expanding credit and non-credit online delivery.
Leaders also shared how institutions can maintain regulatory compliance and academic quality while adapting rapidly to changing market needs in sessions like “Balancing Governance and Agility.” Other sessions such as “Designing and Developing the Academy” and “Program Onboarding” offered actionable strategies for empowering faculty and instructional designers with curriculum design tools and development frameworks.
As SOLAR 2025 wraps up on July 24, attendees express optimism about the impact of their participation. Many anticipate institutional shifts such as stronger governance models, wider adoption of microcredentials, and AI-enhanced enrollment strategies. The reliance on data for strategic planning is expected to increase, alongside a growing network of empathetic, interconnected leaders committed to progress in online education.
SOLAR 2025 emerges not merely as a forum but as a catalyst for institutional change. With an emphasis on fostering meaningful networking, fellowship, and idea sharing, the event positions itself uniquely as both a professional incubator and a strategic think tank.
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, SOLAR reaffirms a dual commitment: to embrace innovation and to uphold academic quality and equity. Leaders depart not only with fresh ideas and data, but with a network of collaborators poised to advance online education across North America.