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Saylor Academy
Founded1999
FounderMichael J. Saylor
TypeOperating private foundation
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)
FocusFree education
Location
Websitewww.saylor.org

Saylor Academy, formerly known as Saylor Foundation, is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.[1] The organization was established in 1999[2] by Michael J. Saylor, with the goal of providing a free education to anyone on the internet through open courses.[3]

History

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Saylor Academy began as the Saylor Foundation in 1999[2] when entrepreneur Michael J. Saylor contributed personal stock to the foundation. As its sole trustee, Saylor established the charity as an online educational platform.[3] The website offers free, open courses at the college level.[2]

Saylor Foundation began hiring faculty to create materials in 2009 and launched online courses in 2012.[1] In the same year, Saylor Academy established partnerships with Excelsior College, allowing students that have taken free Saylor Academy courses to earn college credit, upon passing a proctored exam.[4] The Saylor Foundation changed its name to Saylor Academy in March 2016.[5] Saylor Academy held the Saylor Higher Education Summit in Washington, D.C., in June 2017. The summit is targeted towards those who work in higher education.[6]

Courses

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As of 2016, Saylor Academy offered more than 300 free online classes, available to anyone with internet access.[7] Course materials and online texts are written and created by contracted professors and consultants using Open Educational Resources (OER).[8] Faculty members also create video lectures and tests.[1] All educational materials are reviewed in a three-member peer review process.[1]

Upon the completion of free courses at Saylor Academy, students can take a proctored exam or submit a portfolio of coursework that allows them to enter some colleges with prior credit at a low cost.[9] Through a partnership with Thomas Edison State University, students can transfer college credits at no cost, aside from a proctoring fee, which was $25, as of 2014.[10] Following an invitation from the American Council on Education (ACE) Saylor Academy, among others, submitted online courses to be offered through the ACE's Alternative Credit Project Ecosystem, which helps students potentially earn alternative credits at colleges and universities across the United States.[11] Saylor Academy collaborated with University of Memphis to allow students to finish their degrees through the FinishLine program.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fain, Paul (15 August 2012). "Majoring in Free Content". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Overly, Steven (24 February 2014). "MicroStrategy timeline, 1989 to present". The Washington Post. p. A12.
  3. ^ a b Loose, Cindy (15 March 2000). "Online Education to Be Free". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  4. ^ Carey, Kevin. "Into the Future With MOOC's". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "USPTO Issues Trademark: Saylor Academy". US Fed News. 8 April 2016.
  6. ^ Kazar, Julia (3 June 2017). "D.C. summit to address higher education". The Winchester Star. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. ^ Leonard J. Waks (2016). The Evolution and Evaluation of Massive Open Online Courses: MOOCs in Motion. Springer. p. 56. ISBN 9781349852048. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Universities of the future - now". The Washington Post. 22 February 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Lewin, Tamar (24 February 2013). "Adults Are Flocking to College That Paved Way for Flexibility". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  10. ^ McEvoy, James (3 November 2014). "College Announces New Partnership". The Times of Trenton. p. A3.
  11. ^ Seymour, Deborah (23 November 2015). "Boosting Nontraditional Learners". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Adeniji, Ade (13 October 2016). "A Degree Without Debt: Meet a Tech Winner Stepping up for Free Education". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
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Category:Educational organizations based in the United States Category:Foundations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Educational publishing companies of the United States Category:Creative Commons-licensed books Category:Educational websites Category:Online content distribution Category:Online nonprofit organizations Category:Online education Category:Online K-12 Schools Category:Open educational resources Category:Organizations established in 1999 Category:1999 establishments in the United States