On the handsomely designed site, a surfer can search among about 600 online courses offered by a variety of schools, including the University of Washington and Michigan State University. A hike along the Genetic Explorations trail finds a previously published medical-review article on genetically modified mice, a proprietary interview with London School of Economics sociologist Christopher Badcock on genetic conflict, and an encyclopedia listing on reproductive technology. The site also has links to a developmental-psychology class offered online by the University of Washington and to recommended books that can be purchased from the site. Fathom has about 75,000 registered users, says Michael Crow, Columbia's executive vice provost who oversees the school's digital activities, including Fathom. But the number of students actually paying for online courses is only in the hundreds.
Revenue is minimal.
Despite Columbia's backing, only a handful of courses, mainly continuing-education classes, are available from the university through the site. So Columbia officials in January decided to retool their efforts. But some of the planned e-seminars will be developed only for Columbia students on the university's own internal Web site, and won't be available on Fathom. Mr. Crow says the changes don't represent a withdrawal of commitment from Fathom. The school has set a goal of reaching at least 200,000 registered Fathom users within 18 months and about 20,000 students registered in Fathom courses.