--- title: "Task Force ‘Amplifies Voice’ for Online Learning" id: "13768" type: "post" slug: "task-force-amplifies-voice-for-online-learning" published_at: "2012-10-10T19:30:55+00:00" modified_at: "2012-10-10T19:30:55+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/10/task-force-amplifies-voice-for-online-learning/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/10/task-force-amplifies-voice-for-online-learning.md" excerpt: "Joining forces, a group of associations representing the online-learning and higher-education industries are working together to inform policymakers of the benefits of online education." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "online learning" - "tax policy" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Task Force ‘Amplifies Voice’ for Online Learning A new task force of associations representing the online-learning and higher-education industries is hoping to boost the reputation of distance education as well as better advocate for its benefits. > We felt that by ourselves none of us would have enough clout with Congress. We thought that it would be helpful to collaborate, that together our voice would be amplified. “What drove us together is that right now there is an unprecedented scrutiny of online education by the Hill and by the U.S. Department of Education,” said Robert Hansen, CEO of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), which convened the task force with a gift from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The scrutiny has grown partly because many in government confuse online education with proprietary, or for-profit, institutions, some of which have given the industry a bad name, Hansen said. The Inter-Organizational Task Force on Online Learning—which, in addition to Hansen’s organization, includes representatives from the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC), the Association of Continuing Higher Education (ACHE), EDUCAUSE, the Sloan Consortium, and the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies—[released a report (opens in a new tab)](http://www.upcea.edu/files/Interorg-Task-Force-9-20-12.pdf) last week detailing action steps to advance opportunities in the field, mostly focusing on better informing and shaping public policy around online education. “We decided we needed to become more proactive as associations with a stake in online learning so that we can help inform and be a partner to Congress and to also, in general, elevate the reputation of online learning,” Hansen said. The collaboration has allowed each of the organizations to leverage the others’ areas of expertise. For example UPCEA, which focuses on adult continuing education, can take advantage of ADEC’s knowledge and resources on online learning, and vice versa. Most of the task force members are small-staff organizations—the largest have between eight and 15 employees. “We felt that by ourselves none of us would have enough clout with Congress,” Hansen said. “We thought that it would be helpful to collaborate, that together our voice would be amplified.” [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#online learning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-learning/) [#tax policy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/tax-policy/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoWelcome to ASAE AcademyMarch 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/19/welcome-to-asae-academy/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [PodcastNavigating Tax Reform: Advocacy for Associations and NonprofitsDecember 19, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/19/navigating-tax-reform-advocacy-for-associations-and-nonprofits/) - [ArticleAssociations Respond to the Government ShutdownOctober 7, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/07/associations-respond-to-the-government-shutdown/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F10%2F10%2Ftask-force-amplifies-voice-for-online-learning%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !