coldhearted scientist وداد

This just in:

Dear Z,

I hope you enjoyed The Modern and the Postmodern. If you would like to support ___’s effort to offer future Coursera courses, please consider making a gift to the ___ Fund in support of online education by clicking here. Any amount you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated.

Of course, this is entirely optional and will have no bearing on your future participation in any Coursera course. We plan to keep our classes free, but we do have costs in producing them.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,
___
President, __ University

Please help me work on the answer. Draft:

Dear Professor ___,

Thank you for the course, which was truly enjoyable. Regarding this fundraising appeal, could you explain the financial arrangement you and Wesleyan have with Coursera?

It is my understanding that Coursera is a for-profit corporation and that it is in fact turning a profit. You and your university are apparently donating time, equipment, work and expertise to Coursera, which charges students money for its “signature” diplomas. Student data may also be used by Coursera to profitable ends.

Now, we are also asked to donate money to you so that you can donate effort to Coursera, which will then profit by your donation and also by our donations to you.

Am I understanding correctly so far? Are we being asked to donate to you so that you can donate to a for-profit corporation? Which of the authors we read in The Modern and the Postmodern would call this ethical, do you think?

Yours very truly,

Z