Unexpected developments in an environment often drive the evolutionary process. This is as true for the evolution of societies as it is for species. The effective evolution of education will involve knowing what the key adaptation factors are and making them central to how educators respond to shifts in socio-pedagogical environments on local, regional, and global levels. Five factors seem central to addressing evolutionary change in higher education--particularly in relation to online environments. Understanding these 5C factors will be essential to educational success in today's COVID-19 context and in adapting to future educational challenges that emerge.