The Power Behind the Throne: Regulation in Online Higher Ed

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Stephanie Hall, Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and Phil Hill, Publisher of the On EdTech Newsletter and Founder of Phil Hill & Associates. The conversation was moderated by Goldie Blumenstyk, Contributing Writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The panel examined the power dynamics and regulatory landscape shaping the future of online higher education. From the influence of federal policy to the expanding role of private industry, speakers unpacked the tension between innovation and oversight. With rapid technological change and increasing scrutiny on student outcomes, the session explored who is truly driving the future of digital learning and what today’s decisions mean for institutions, learners, and the evolving higher ed ecosystem.