As we navigate the landscape of post-pandemic education, one undeniable trend has emerged: the significant increase in distance learning options. This shift has not only transformed the way we approach education, but has also opened doors for nontraditional students and adult learners, offering them unprecedented convenience and flexibility. Today, distance learning provides access that particularly benefits nontraditional students juggling work,

In a recent interview with Harbinger Lane, Upswing CEO Melvin Hines shared his insights on why colleges and universities must shift their focus from merely boosting enrollment to actively supporting student retention. As Melvin explained, retention is not only crucial to student success, but also a key driver of institutional growth and resilience in today’s competitive educational landscape. In the

As the world knows by now, the United States re-elected Donald Trump as President. Even prior to the election, there were questions around what the future of higher education might look like given the looming 2025 demographic cliff, fallout from this year’s FAFSA rollout, shifts in higher education ambitions, and more. The election results however, will likely signal even more

In a recent webinar hosted by Upswing, CEO and Co-Founder, Melvin Hines shared valuable insights on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions can use data to provide proactive, personalized support to their students. The discussion highlighted the changing needs of today’s HBCU students, strategies for understanding and addressing these needs, and success stories from HBCUs

In today’s educational landscape, where the focus is increasingly on flexibility and accessibility, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is emerging as a pivotal opportunity for adult learners to either use their experience or previous education or training towards a college degree. CPL refers to the process of awarding college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional academic settings, such

EMERGING TRENDS WITH GENERATIVE AI ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES On college campuses all across the U.S., students are taking advantage of generative AI tools–such as ChatGPT–to make academic life easier. In fact, a 2024 survey conducted by the Digital Education Council found that 86% of students “regularly” use ChatGPT for academic purposes. While some use AI to make sense of difficult

In a significant boost for higher education, Social Finance has announced a $2.6 million investment in Upswing, an education technology company dedicated to empowering historically marginalized and non-traditional students. The funding, provided by Social Finance’s UP Fund, aims to increase retention and graduation rates at Upswing’s partner institutions, fostering greater economic mobility for students who need it most. A Lifeline

3 Tips to Increase Student Engagement & Usage Increasing student engagement is a critical priority for educational institutions, directly correlating with higher retention rates and academic success. When students are actively engaged, they are more likely to seek help when needed, participate in learning opportunities, and ultimately, achieve their educational goals. However, fostering this level of engagement can be challenging,

What is Ana? Ana, is Upswing’s SMS engagement tool designed to bridge the gap between students and the resources they need to succeed. Each year, Ana sends millions of proactive messages to students, providing essential information, timely reminders, connections to valuable resources, and even emotional support through empathy and encouragement. But Ana doesn’t just send messages—it listens too. With hundreds

In higher ed, providing authentic and proactive support services is vital for student success and wellbeing. With Ana, Upswing’s SMS engagement tool, students receive holistic support for all aspects of their student journey. In this blog post, we’ll be covering six Ana features our prospective and established Ana partners may not know about. You’ll learn everything you need to start