Minnesota has banned MRUniversity and other online education services from providing content to Minnesota residents. This seems like a joke but it is not from The Onion. Coursera, one of the larger players in this field, has rewritten its terms of service to prohibit Minnesota residents from taking its courses:


Coursera has been informed by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education that under Minnesota Statutes (136A.61 to 136A.71), a university cannot offer online courses to Minnesota residents unless the university has received authorization from the State of Minnesota to do so. If you are a resident of Minnesota, you agree that either (1) you will not take courses on Coursera, or (2) for each class that you take, the majority of work you do for the class will be done from outside the State of Minnesota.

Tyler and I wish to be perfectly clear: unlike Coursera, we will not shut down MRU to the residents of Minnesota. We are prepared to defend our rights under the First Amendment to teach the good people of Minnesota all about the Solow Model, water policy in Africa, and the economics of garlic–even if we have to do so from a Minnesota jail!

I think we all already knew that they grow 'em pretty fucking dumb in Minnesota

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

On the contrary, people from Minnesota are pretty bright, at least in my experience. Sure, maybe old Ole in Bemidji is a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but no state that gives us Prince, Paul Westerberg, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 "grows 'em pretty fucking dumb."

Yeah, well normally I'd say 'kiss my ass', but out of respect to your awesome avatar I'll just say 'slurp my butt'.

(anyone who doesn't like 'Hudson Hawk' is also dumb)

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

Minnesota Decides Not to Suck After All, Legalizes Free Online College Courses

Katherine Mangu-Ward|Oct. 19, 2012 8:56 pm


That was fast.

Slate is reporting this evening that one day after the Internet (myself included) lost its collective mind with rage, Minnesota has backed off its announced ban on free online courses like the ones offered by Coursera and Marginal Revolution University.


Here's the new statement from Larry Pogemiller, director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education:

"Obviously, our office encourages lifelong learning and wants Minnesotans to take advantage of educational materials available on the Internet, particularly if they’re free. No Minnesotan should hesitate to take advantage of free, online offerings from Coursera."

He added that the 20-year-old statute in question clearly didn't envision free online classes from accredited universities:

"When the legislature convenes in January, my intent is to work with the Governor and Legislature to appropriately update the statute to meet modern-day circumstances. Until that time, I see no reason for our office to require registration of free, not-for-credit offerings."

Slate's calling it a victory for common sense and a pleasing example of government responsiveness. I agree. Looks like Minnesota is nice after all.

On the contrary, people from Minnesota are pretty bright, at least in my experience. Sure, maybe old Ole in Bemidji is a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but no state that gives us Prince, Paul Westerberg, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 "grows 'em pretty fucking dumb."