Assuring Quality in Distance Learning: A Preliminary Review

Distance learning is growing rapidly—as a supplement to traditional institutions and programs and as a replacement to them. Policymakers are developing public policies affecting distance and campus-based higher education. Distance learning is considered a transformative vehicle for increasing the pace of change and reform in higher education. For these and other reasons, analysis of quality assurance is essential for national, state, and institutional policy development. This report provides a preliminary analysis of these issues.