Are online public universities the new land-grant institution? - Brian Mathews, Chronicle Ubiquitous Librarian

One of the core objectives of the original land-grant program was to provide broader access to education. The federal government gave land to the states for schools based upon this mission. Fast-forward 150 years and now the government is endorsing virtual campuses. Online learning can potentially magnify the initial effort, enabling many more citizens the opportunity to advance their learning. Land-grant universities were designed to help transition into an industrial society– are we experiencing a similar transition into a digital society? http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/theubiquitouslibrarian/2013/04/27/are-online-public-universities-the-new-land-grant-institution/