[eno_]

When a private institution like MIT does this, it begs the question; Why aren't all courses at state universities at least as available, and why can't you, at state universities, sit for exams for about the cost of proctoring and grading the exam plus a bit to cover the cost of the online course bandwidth?

[Lion's Cub]

Why aren't all courses at state universities at least as available, and why can't you, at state universities, sit for exams for about the cost of proctoring and grading the exam plus a bit to cover the cost of the online course bandwidth?

While I agree that the state universities should have their courses on line, and that people should be able to sit and test out of any course for a fee, I think it's only fair that the fee include money for the professor who teaches the course. After all, he/she put the course together, did the lectures, etc.

The costs should still be vastly lower, since the professor only has to put up the course material once each semester to reach potentially thousands of students.

Also, since there would be no interaction between student and professor, no "homework", no feedback for correction, no term paper assignments, etc., I could understand if universities wanted to make some kind of distinction in degrees between those who attend on campus or take regular online courses as opposed to those who learn the material through self-study. Maybe the distinction could be as simple as Bachelors vs Self-Study Bachelors...

[VOA]

why can't you, at state universities, sit for exams for about the cost of proctoring
and grading the exam plus a bit to cover the cost of the online course bandwidth?

Aside from the concerns about impostors showing up for test, lack of interpersonal classroom
interaction, etc...
there are two other reasons:
1. The teachers/faculty like their current salaries, no matter how much they b-tch
2. The administration, from the campus up and wide (include the physical plant
folks as well) all the way up to near the office of the governor...hey, they don't
want to let go of the power and prestige.

Besides, you need a big local student body to fill up the football stadia and the
basketball arenas!!!
(I'm not anti-sport...just saying that a real educational revolution will
shake the world as we know it. If it is allowed to happen.)