Shane Mann Ruff completed an online non-credit course through Coursera called "Journalism, the future, and you!" which was authorized by Michigan State University. The course covered topics related to journalism and was taught by Joanne C. Gerstner, Jeremy Steele, David Poulson, and Joe Grimm from the Michigan State University School of Journalism and Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. Coursera verified Shane Mann Ruff's identity and participation in the course.