The University at Buffalo (UB) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with campus partners, is implementing UBx by exploring Open edX as a traditional and post-traditional education delivery platform.

Many colleges and universities have a cumbersome enrollment process for non-traditional students who want to gain education and knowledge. The increased market for certificates and short-course training drives the continuing education model. By acting quickly and reacting to immediate, cutting-edge topics, UBx will strive to become the main vehicle for continuing education through the College of Arts and Sciences and other divisions.

Using UBx as the primary index for our online professional development opportunities, UBx will use Open edX as the Learning Management System and modify it to also be used for administrative processes such as registrations, login and collection of fees. The goal of UBx is to attract professional studies students to UBx on a global scale.

Open edX is the same open source platform that Harvard University and MIT co-produced to deliver MOOCs and is used for edX, but without requiring membership "buy in" to access the full-service edX consortium (marketing, hosting, etc.). Open edX provides a means to deliver courses, certificates and degrees in a highly flexible Learning Management System with different "plug ins" that enhance available functionality (e.g., e-commerce, research tools, etc.).

UBx will also integrate course completion, evidence and recognition through a university-wide badging platform and standards designed by continuing education directors across the campus.