Coursera Becomes Part of UF Curriculum, SG Input Noted

On Sept. 19, Coursera, an online course website, signed an agreement with the University of Florida to bring free courses to the student body.

Student input from SG was one of the main reasons UF decided to move forward with the initiative. 

Over the coming months, courses will become available to students through Coursera. The courses stretch across a wide range of disciplines and topics.

The program includes in-person meetings in more than 600 cities, forums through its website and a way for students to network with their professors.  

Coursera hosts 200 courses from 32 domestic and international universities.

Student Government officials at UF have been active in pursuing open-access since late spring.

Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Christina Bonarrigo said, "Students at UF are some of the best and brightest in the world. Putting our classes online for free would only strengthen our reputation as a University and give our students a competitive advantage upon graduation."