diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
index 27adf485f0..486aba12f6 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
@@ -75,8 +75,11 @@ def index(request, extra_context={}, user=None):
         entry.summary = soup.getText()
 
     # The course selection work is done in courseware.courses.
+    domain = settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('FORCE_UNIVERSITY_DOMAIN')	# normally False
+    if not domain:
+        domain = request.META.get('HTTP_HOST')
     universities = get_courses_by_university(None,
-                                             domain=request.META.get('HTTP_HOST'))
+                                             domain=domain)
     context = {'universities': universities, 'entries': entries}
     context.update(extra_context)
     return render_to_response('index.html', context)
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index cf9a767d9f..7e868f0a34 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ MITX_FEATURES = {
     # university to use for branding purposes
     'SUBDOMAIN_BRANDING': False,
 
+    'FORCE_UNIVERSITY_DOMAIN': False,	# set this to the university domain to use, as an override to HTTP_HOST
+                                        # set to None to do no university selection
+
     'ENABLE_TEXTBOOK' : True,
     'ENABLE_DISCUSSION' : False,
     'ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE': True,
diff --git a/lms/envs/dev.py b/lms/envs/dev.py
index 974b8c9fd6..0427938b70 100644
--- a/lms/envs/dev.py
+++ b/lms/envs/dev.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ MITX_FEATURES['DISABLE_START_DATES'] = True
 MITX_FEATURES['ENABLE_SQL_TRACKING_LOGS'] = True
 MITX_FEATURES['SUBDOMAIN_COURSE_LISTINGS'] = False  # Enable to test subdomains--otherwise, want all courses to show up
 MITX_FEATURES['SUBDOMAIN_BRANDING'] = True
+MITX_FEATURES['FORCE_UNIVERSITY_DOMAIN'] = None		# show all university courses if in dev (ie don't use HTTP_HOST)
 
 WIKI_ENABLED = True
 
diff --git a/lms/envs/dev_ike.py b/lms/envs/dev_ike.py
index 297b179fae..0be9146fd4 100644
--- a/lms/envs/dev_ike.py
+++ b/lms/envs/dev_ike.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ MITX_FEATURES['ENABLE_DISCUSSION'] = False
 MITX_FEATURES['ACCESS_REQUIRE_STAFF_FOR_COURSE'] = True	  # require that user be in the staff_* group to be able to enroll
 MITX_FEATURES['SUBDOMAIN_COURSE_LISTINGS'] = False
 MITX_FEATURES['SUBDOMAIN_BRANDING'] = False
+MITX_FEATURES['FORCE_UNIVERSITY_DOMAIN'] = None		# show all university courses if in dev (ie don't use HTTP_HOST)
 
 MITX_FEATURES['DISABLE_START_DATES'] = True
 # MITX_FEATURES['USE_DJANGO_PIPELINE']=False      # don't recompile scss
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ if ('edxvm' in myhost) or ('ocw' in myhost):
     MITX_FEATURES['USE_XQA_SERVER'] = 'https://qisx.mit.edu/xqa'	# needs to be ssl or browser blocks it
     MITX_FEATURES['USE_DJANGO_PIPELINE']=False      # don't recompile scss
 
+if ('ocw' in myhost):
+    MITX_FEATURES['ACCESS_REQUIRE_STAFF_FOR_COURSE'] = False
+
 if ('domU' in myhost):
     EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
     MITX_FEATURES['REROUTE_ACTIVATION_EMAIL'] = 'ichuang@mitx.mit.edu'	# nonempty string = address for all activation emails