Minnesota Backs Down on Banning Free Online College Courses

Officials realize 20-year-old rule didn't take Internet into account

For one day, Minnesota's Office of Higher Education felt the Internet's indignation as word spread that it was cracking down on free online college courses offered through Coursera and other websites. The bizarre bureaucratic decision was first reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education on Thursday morning, and it became Internet-wide news after my blog post about it Thursday evening went viral, thanks in part to the user-generated news board Reddit.

I've just gotten word that the state has reconsidered its stance.