Public iTunes U versus Private iTunes U

Question

University of Pennsylvania is in the process of rolling out our iTunes U pilot. We have decided to start with the public version of iTunes U, without authenticating through our local servers, so that anyone can view/download data from our iTunes U server space. We decided to launch this way mostly because we're a revenue-generating group and we're looking to use the iTunes U platform as a way to recoup costs, by doing production work for groups like Alumni Relations, Development, et al.
The problem, of course, is that our academic departments and their faculty are pushing us to launch the private version of iTunes U, with local University of Pennsylvania authentication tokens, etc. We're a very small unit (3 people) trying to collaborate with over 20 schools and administrative departments across a very decentralized institution, and I've been charged with getting empirical evidence from participating iTunes U institutions about which interface - the private or the public - is more valuable.
Those of you who run both private and public versions of your site:
1) Do you administer a private side with a staff; a private side by yourself; a public side with a staff; a public side by yourself; or some combination thereof?
2) If you have a private side, is it used more than the public side?
3) Do your private side users and administrators authenticate to the entire site, with free viewing to all files within the private side? Or, do your private side users and administrators authenticate to the course-specific level only?
Thanks to anyone willing to offer advice!
-Mayumi
mac mini   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Intel Core Duo

Answer 1

Mayumi,
Please find my answers below each question:
1) Do you administer a private side with a staff; a private side by yourself; a public side with a staff; a public side by yourself; or some combination thereof?
I administer both private and public sides. It is not difficult to do so once you have established the authentication parameters. We are currently authenticating through LDAP and have integrated iTunes U with Blackboard. Once a student logs into Blackboard and uses the iTunes plugin, he/she has access only to the classes he/she has signed up for that have an itunes U component and the public areas. iTunes U can also be accesed through our website. If you are a student, you will have access to your classes and the public areas. If you are a "guest" you will only see the public area.
2) If you have a private side, is it used more than the public side?
Our private side is used as much as there are classes interested in using iTunes. Right now, we have been very successful and students seem to be very happy with the initiatives.
3) Do your private side users and administrators authenticate to the entire site, with free viewing to all files within the private side? Or, do your private side users and administrators authenticate to the course-specific level only?
No. Our authenticated users only have permission to view content that is relevant to them unless a professors decides to share his or her materials with the rest of the community. We do emphasize in respecting everybodys privacy.
I hope this helps!
Rodrigo Fernandez
St. Thomas University