Assessing the quality of distance education programs: The faculty's perspective

IN THE SPRING OF 2000, the National Education Association and Blackboard Inc. commissioned The Institute of Higher Education Policy, to identify the benchmarks considered essential to ensuring excellence in Internet-based distance learning. The Institute's study revealed that there were 24 benchmarks considered essential to ensuring excellence in Internet-based distance learning. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the extent to which the benchmarks in the Course Development, Teaching/Learning Process, Course Structure and Faculty Support categories of the Institute's study are being incorporated in the policies, procedures, and practices of a random sample of institutions of higher education offering Internet-based distance education courses. © 2002 Springer.