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WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) Award 2025 Award Winners
The WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of member organizations and individuals in applying innovative solutions to challenging educational needs.
WCET is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) award.
See below to learn more about each awardee.
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Colorado Online – Colorado Community College System
Colorado Online, a groundbreaking initiative, has successfully united all 13 colleges in the Colorado Community College System into a single, statewide online learning platform. This platform offers students access to over 800 courses and complete degree programs, irrespective of their location. By implementing innovative tools, such as the award-winning Sectionizer for equitable course distribution, and by maintaining a continuous improvement model, Colorado Online has effectively eliminated geographic barriers, expanded access, and enhanced student success and equity across urban and rural regions.
UMGC Reengagement Program – University of Maryland Global Campus
UMGC’s Reengagement Program, a beacon of success, helps adults with prior college credits return and complete their degrees through personalized, data-driven outreach. Combining automation, AI-enhanced messaging, and one-on-one coaching, the initiative has successfully reconnected tens of thousands of students. The program’s latest phase, Reengage 2.0, strengthens operational excellence with new scholarships, peer advising, and enhanced coaching strategies—creating a scalable, student-centered model for persistence and degree completion.
California Virtual Campus – California Community Colleges
The California Virtual Campus (CVC) enables seamless cross-enrollment across more than 100 participating community colleges, allowing students to easily register for fully online courses from any institution in the system. Through innovative technologies, faculty training, and rigorous quality standards like the Peer Online Course Review (POCR), CVC has expanded access, improved online course quality, and advanced equity statewide—especially for rural, working, and underserved students. Its model is now recognized nationally for transforming digital learning at scale.
College of Health Professions Interactive Video Initiative – University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix’s College of Health Professions replaced traditional textbooks with custom-built interactive videos that align directly with course outcomes and include embedded assessments. This innovative approach dramatically reduced Withdrawal/failure rates by up to 85% in some courses while improving student performance and engagement. By meeting working adult learners where they are with accessible, flexible content, the initiative promotes equity, deeper learning, and more personalized faculty support.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination this year. The WCET membership community is made up of amazingly dedicated individuals, teams, and organizations innovating to create equitable and successful educational opportunities for learners everywhere. Your dedication is deeply appreciated and recognized.