How about self certification where those at the forefront of any area write the virtual material for the next class behind them. Everyone does their thing….

1) Launch the universities on a for-profit basis, with students vested as co-owners to the degree that their homework/studies enrich their university’s virtual curriculum.

2) The new universities could also reward student-planned new agro, environmental, and special economic zone projects that lead to land grant endowments benefiting the university. The land grants could help to fund ongoing learning partnerships in poor communities. Development of the land grant sites by private parties can help to fund national and global extension of the university’s distance learning and/or continuing medical education/telemedicine networks.

3) Communities conveying largest sites to such success-sharing development partnerships could receive free access for all residents to the virtual learning and eHealthcare resources provided by the partnering university.

Further background on these opportunities is at http://www.openworld.com and http://www.entrepreneurialschools.com.

Best,

Mark Frazier
@openworld @buildership @peerlearning (twitter)

2)

Your analysis reminds me of the history of the University of Chicago. Strapped with the impact of the depression and a declining sports program; The University of Chicago realized their mission was to educate young men and women and not to compete in the Big 10. Look for other institutions of higher learning to face the same decision in the next few years.