Distance Education Leaders' Perspectives: A Study of How Select Higher Education Institutions Implement and Lead Online Distance Education Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the perspectives, characteristics, and experiences of ten distance education leaders at four-year, not-for-profit, degree-granting higher education institutions implementing online distance education programs. Using a dominant qualitative approach, this study explored leaders' distance education perspectives, theoretical influences, professional experiences, the selected institutions' demographic information, and the participants' personal characteristics. This study examined the leaders' theoretical perspectives using the Leadership Practices Inventory-Self as one part of the overall research framework and data collection process. Then, using semi-structured interviews and demographic data, this study triangulated the data, garnered in-depth information, and analyzed emerging themes. Finally, this study explored how these factors affected the ways in which distance education leaders design, staff, implement, support and lead their distance education programs.