Section I

1.1 WHEREAS various commercial organizations, some of them large (such as 2U Inc.) offer online courses which are, or appear to be, associated with or endorsed by universities (such as the University of Oregon), or appear to be given by universities; and

1.2 WHEREAS materials promoting such courses can be misleading about who actually designs the course, who creates the course materials, who provides the instruction, and who is responsible for other significant aspect of the course; and

1.3 WHEREAS materials promoting such courses can be misleading about the contribution the course makes towards a degree, professional certificate, or other credential; and

1.4 WHEREAS such courses sometimes suffer from poor quality materials, poor instruction, and other defects which would normally be considered unacceptable at a university; and

1.5 WHEREAS it damages the reputation of a university to be associated with substandard instruction and course materials.

Section II

2.1 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED every course offered by the University of Oregon, carrying the imprimatur of the University of Oregon, endorsed by the University of Oregon, or otherwise associated with the University of Oregon, whether explicitly or implicitly, must have prior approval by the University of Oregon Committee on Courses and the University of Oregon Senate, in particular, applying the same standards it would for regular University of Oregon courses. This applies regardless of the mode of delivery, location, or personnel;

2.2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED all promotional materials for every course offered by the University of Oregon, carrying the imprimatur of the University of Oregon, endorsed by the University of Oregon, or otherwise associated with the University of Oregon, whether explicitly or implicitly, must conspicuously state which entity (such as the University of Oregon, a commercial organization, a professional society) provides the course materials, the instruction, the grading or other evaluation, and any other significant aspect of the course.

2.3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED for any course offered by the University of Oregon, carrying the imprimatur of the University of Oregon, endorsed by the University of Oregon, or otherwise associated with the University of Oregon, whether explicitly or implicitly, which does not lead to University of Oregon credit, or does not lead to University of Oregon credit towards a degree in the subject matter of the course, all promotional materials must conspicuously state this fact.