UMD MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)

The University has entered into agreements with two MOOC platforms: Coursera and edX. These platforms offer University-created MOOCs of stand-alone courses and course series via video lectures for free or a fee to earn a certificate awarded by the platform. 

In general, these platforms offer courses via their proprietary learning management system, enroll learners, collect payment for those learners who choose a paid version of the course, provide technical support to learners, and market the courses globally to the general public, private and public employers, and organizations.

Coursera

Coursera has been a for-profit enterprise from its inception. Revenues collected by Coursera for University courses are split 50/50 – about half of the purchase price of a course comes back to the University.

Coursera provides marketing, the customer payment gateway, hosting of courses, and technical support for learners. For the University partner, Coursera provides training on platform usage, technical support, captioning services, reporting, and transfers of revenue. Coursera partnership managers also help to inform the University of topical area opportunities for new MOOCs, review University MOOC proposals, and troubleshoot issues as they arise.

edX

edX began as a not-for-profit organization, but subsequently was acquired by educational technology company 2U, making edX a for-profit enterprise. Revenues collected by edX for University courses are split 60/40 – just over half of the purchase price of a course comes back to the University.

edX provides marketing, the customer payment gateway, hosting of courses, and technical support for learners. For the University partner, edX provides training on platform usage, technical support, reporting, and transfers of revenue. edX partnership managers also help to inform the University of topical area opportunities for new MOOCs, review University MOOC proposals, and troubleshoot issues as they arise.

Comprised of UMD faculty and staff, the MOOC Advisory Board, provides overall guidance and conducts reviews and approvals of proposed courses. The Board consists of about a dozen members, half voting and half non-voting. Only voting members review and approve new MOOC offerings through confidential feedback captured via survey, sanitized, and shared with units. Feedback to the units is sanitized so that it’s not attributable to a specific Board member.    

Members serve terms of at least 3 years. Board meetings are held bi-annually to discuss strategy and key initiatives. A representative of the Provost’s office typically attends to assist with matters of governance that are beyond the Board’s purview. New Board members are chosen based on the Board makeup and strategic considerations for program growth. Board members may be nominated or invited.

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Provost MOOC Program Fund provides development support (up to $15K) for each course proposed and approved by the MOOC Advisory Board. Funds may not be used to reduce standard teaching load or pay summer salary.

The  unit applies for a grant by submitting a proposal, and the MOOC Advisory Board approves proposals by rating them on key critical elements that support the program’s goals. The Board recommends funding typically at the full amount (unless other funding is being provided). The Provost MOOC Program Fund is replenished through distribution, as part of the overall revenue sharing model.

Courses

UMD MOOCs are offered by the platforms in several ways. Most MOOCs may be taken for free. Some learners may purchase a course or series of courses a la carte, some may purchase MOOCs via a subscription, and others may have courses made available to them through their employer purchasing a subscription to a wide array of offerings.

Subscription services vary. While a platform-wide subscription, or a large portion of the platform offerings, may be available with some subscription plans (similar to Netflix), others are more unique offerings specific to the MOOC world. For example, a monthly subscription to a specific course series may be purchased by the learner, who can minimize their cost by completing the series quickly. Once they finish the series, they are no longer required to pay the monthly fee.

Course Pricing

UMD MOOCs are available for free or fee-based. The fee-based version typically grants the learner access to all of the MOOC resources, including videos, assignments, assessments, and a platform-provided course certificate. The free course version generally will include the videos, but often do not include the assignments, assessments, or course certificate.  MOOC course prices vary broadly. The platforms each have their own pricing structure, and they often consult with the MOOC creators on setting the course’s price.

Delivery Method

UMD MOOC offerings are primarily asynchronous, online, self-paced courses. Whereas courses have been offered synchronously and some faculty have delivered hybrid experiences, these modalities are much less commonly offered. MOOC offerings are typically open enrollment, meaning they are available for any learner to enroll. Some MOOCs may have limited enrollments, whether by headcount or other requirements/prerequisites. These are rare, and UMD primarily offers open enrollment MOOCs.

MOOC Learners

UMD MOOCs have achieved some of the highest enrollment rates in courses offered on the Coursera and edX platforms. With over four million learners at all levels of experience, nearly 40% of UMD MOOC learners have obtained an advanced degree. Generally, learners leverage MOOCs for professional development. Learners may choose to take all or only part of a MOOC.

MOOC Platform’s Revenue Sharing

UMD’s two platforms, Coursera and edX, distribute UMD’s share of course revenue to the University on a quarterly basis for those MOOCs that earn revenue. Overall, UMD receives approximately one-half of the total earned revenue.

UMD Net Revenue Distribution

Each quarter after revenues have been received from the MOOC platform, distributable revenue is determined after program expenses are deducted. Program expenses include EXST administrative staff and University overhead (of expenses). EXST distributes the remaining available net revenue as described below:   

• 35% to the Provost MOOC Program Fund for support of new MOOC initiatives
• 40% to the instructor’s unit
  • 10% to the College
  • 30% to the academic unit (for departmentalized colleges)
• 25% directly to the instructor OR to the unit with subsequent payment to the instructor. This is determined jointly by the unit and the instructor. If the unit and the instructor choose revenue sharing directly to the instructor, the instructor can receive these funds in one of two ways:
  • As a taxable royalty payment by the university; or
  • As operating funds to be transferred on a quarterly basis, for use at the discretion of the faculty member, consistent with University policy.

For complete details, see Memo of June 1, 2023: FY24 Revised Guidelines for UMD MOOC Revenue Sharing.

• For program assistance, contact Bill Aarhus, Assistant Director, Strategic Initiatives for Continuing Education, at 5-3134 or aarhus@umd.edu.
• For financial assistance, contact Verenice Ciciliano, Assistant Director, Finance and Administration, at 5-9944 or vcicilia@umd.edu.
• Campus units can send general questions to moocs@umd.edu.