--- title: "American Council on Education Gives Startup Some Extra Credit" id: "14421" type: "post" slug: "american-council-on-education-gives-startup-some-extra-credit" published_at: "2012-11-14T18:33:39+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:21:34+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/14/american-council-on-education-gives-startup-some-extra-credit/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/14/american-council-on-education-gives-startup-some-extra-credit.md" excerpt: "The American Council on Education will analyze courses offered by online startup Coursera and decide if they can be taken for college credit." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "credit recognition" - "MOOCs" - "online education" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » American Council on Education Gives Startup Some Extra Credit A key higher education association could help give a disruptive startup some validation. On Tuesday, [Coursera announced (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/american-council-on-education-evaluate-credit-equivalency-courseras-online-courses-1725400.htm) that the American Council on Education (ACE) would begin evaluating five of its 200 freely available online courses — from prestigious universities such as the University of Michigan, Duke, Stanford, and Princeton — for possible credit recommendations. > As with any approach, there are many questions about long-term potential. In other words, courses students take via Coursera could count toward college education. The move comes as part of a larger move by the association to support massive open online courses (MOOCs), which are considered a cost-efficient way to provide education. “MOOCs are an intriguing, innovative new approach that holds much promise for engaging students across the country and around the world, as well as for helping colleges and universities broaden their reach,” ACE President Molly Corbett Broad [said in a statement (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-13/education-group-to-evaluate-online-courses-for-college-credit.html) to *Bloomberg*. “As with any approach, there are many questions about long-term potential.” As part of the evaluations, Coursera would offer remote proctoring tools for exams, utilizing a webcam, for a small fee. The evaluations would begin by 2013, but universities would not be obligated to award credit in these cases, though many do follow ACE’s recommendations. Coursera, which has been growing in popularity of late, could use the good press. Last month, the company drew unwelcome attention after the state of Minnesota’s Office of Higher Education said [it would bar the usage of the service (opens in a new tab)](http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/minnesota-gives-coursera-the-boot-citing-a-decades-old-law/40542) in the state — a stance that [it immediately backed away from (opens in a new tab)](http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/19/minnesota_coursera_ban_state_won_t_crack_down_on_free_online_courses_after.html) after public criticism. Often we hear many stories of trade groups and associations reacting negatively to market disruption. Is ACE’s approach the way to go? Let us know in the comments. (TMG archive photo) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#credit recognition](https://associationsnow.com/tag/credit-recognition/) [#MOOCs](https://associationsnow.com/tag/moocs/) [#online education](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-education/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyDeveloping Engaging WebinarsApril 22, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/22/developing-engaging-webinars/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [VideoAssociations Lessons from Dr. SeussMarch 29, 2012](https://associationsnow.com/2012/03/29/associations-lessons-from-dr-seuss/) - [VideoOnline EducationSeptember 20, 2011](https://associationsnow.com/2011/09/20/online-education/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F11%2F14%2Famerican-council-on-education-gives-startup-some-extra-credit%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !