AI is the hottest topic of the year for class programs. You are exploring ways to use AI in your operations. And you are offering AI classes for the public and for business. AI for the field of lifelong learning programming and continuing education is being led by LERN.  LERN leaders and staff are working

   You need to sell the value of your program to your institution. The state of the field is such that lifelong learning programs can “future-proof your program”  when you both demonstrate your value to your institution and to the community.    The key to demonstrating your value is to provide numbers on your financial

   While the value of your print brochure has repeatedly been measured with numbers and dollars, the area of digital marketing key performance indicators (KPIs) is just being explored.    Business, in general, has the KPIs overall. But KPIs specific to class programs have not been determined. Until now.     This past year saw cutting

   The first summer camp survey for the field was conducted this spring. The results are significant.   Summer camps are in high demand and produce a lot of money for programs. Thus, LERN is recommending every program create or expand their summer youth program. That includes summer youth programs sponsored by universities, community colleges,

  Check-ins, immediate feedback, and allowing people to structure 80% of their day. These are a few of the new management strategies being developed by LERN members as part of a new management style for the 21st century.   Invented by Gen Z (born 1998-2015) managers, it has been named by LERN  “The Nurturing Management

Contrary to managers’ opinions, Gen Y is not significantly more likely to leave their current employer in the next 3 years than Gen X, their older generation. This data from a year-long survey of your students taking UGotClass courses in leadership and developing leadership skills. Around half of both Gen X and Gen Yers polled

 Confusion reigns when it comes to emerging online formats for classes.  The general public is confused by the lack of common terms and definitions.  Even programmers and class providers are confused.   For example, the term “asynchronous” is not understood at all by the general public.  The term asynchronous did not exist for the last

More new best practices and benchmarks for the field have been documented this year than ever before. Data not available anywhere else has been generated by you and your colleagues. It complements the original research conducted by your LERN staff. Top 7 Original ResearchHere’s the 7 top stories of the year. Each has a story

LERN leaders celebrated your LERN fiscal year 2026 ending June 30 with a review of the top achievements and accomplishments for the field and our 2,000+ members. Photo: New Board members, from left to right: Tawana Flood, Nicola Morgal, Katy Fagan, and Mary Staackmann. Here are some of the achievements. They are in addition to