By the people, for the people

Getting a free college education without ever leaving your home is becoming a real possibility.

The University of the People started its second semester this spring with 380 students from 81 countries, according to NPR.  The school is free, besides a small fee for final exams and applying to the school.  Right now, its creator, Israeli entrepreneur Shai Reshef is paying for all other costs associated with the school.  Since the school focuses largely on peer-to-peer learning (instructors are available, but are there more as resources than as directors of learning), its expenses are relatively low, although in NPR's story, Reshef said the school will eventually need 15,000 students to become self-sufficient.

This school, if it succeeds, could change the our very idea of what it means to go to college.  But for now, the school still can't provide what most people ultimately want--a degree.  I think it's a great way to gain more knowledge, especially for working people who don't have the time, money, or ability to physically attend class.  I do have to say, though, that I hope this doesn't become the working model for all colleges one day.  College, to me at least, is about much more than the classes, and I think students would miss out on gaining independence from their parents and really meeting new people if they just attended classes online.  We'll have to wait to see what happens to the face of college education in coming years, but no matter what, the University of the People will certainly have an interesting impact on the institution of college.

(Image from flickr.com by rofi)