The program will focus on arts and sciences rather than the professional education market that some other universities are pursuing online. The content will be modeled on Stanford's continuing studies program and an online course offered by Princeton, called Walks in Rome. Each school will produce these non-credit enrichment courses separately and then offer them on one centralized website. Sixteen additional offerings are in the works, including one similar to the interdisciplinary Stanford undergraduate course on light. Registration fees have not yet been established.
Administrators expect the courses to generate revenue.
The three universities are banding together because their presidents felt they would benefit from the economies of scale. Harvard was initially in on the talks but withdrew before the alliance was finalized. Eventually, Junkerman says, the group may expand to include other universities or offer courses to a market beyond those with a connection to Stanford, Princeton and Yale.