What Factors Keep Institutions from Starting or Expanding Distance Education Courses?

Among the factors frequently reported as keeping institutions from starting or expanding their distance education course offerings to a "major extent" were program development costs (43 percent), limited technological infrastructure (31 percent), and equipment failures and costs of maintaining equipment (23 percent). Factors seen as "not at all" a deterrent included inability to obtain state authorization (79 percent); restrictive federal, state, or local policies (58 percent); legal concerns (57 percent); lack of support from administrators (60 percent); and lack of fit with the institution's mission (58 percent).