By the end of 2019, the World Health Organization was informed about the first unknown pneumonia cases, later labeled the COVID-19 global pandemic. Based on Mezirow's transformative learning theory, COVID-19 has been the trigger event that challenged adult learners' values, beliefs, and expectations in higher educational institutions. The study sought to identify best practices across American higher education institutions (HEIs) to adapt their teaching approach to the online environment. It answered the question, "What are the best practices for higher education instructors to adapt their teaching approach to online environments?" This study uses a systematic literature review and an online survey for data collection across HEIs in the United States. The web-based questionnaire includes fixed-choice, closed-ended, and open-ended questions in four sections: demographic information, attitudes about online education, online teaching and learning strategies, and challenges. The study follows ethical procedures, thematic analysis, and discussion of the findings in the context of existing literature to outline best practices in online higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.