Various Distance Education (DE) Structures

How a college structures its DE program, department, or efforts varies greatly from college to college. At some colleges there is an entire department devoted to DE and at other colleges the DE activities are handled by one or more persons who are housed in various areas of the college.  At some colleges the Distance Education Coordinator (DEC) is a full-time staff position, perhaps with other duties in addition to DEC responsibilities or, in some cases, one-hundred percent of their duties are as the DEC. At other colleges the DEC is a full-time faculty member or a dean who also manages the duties of the DEC.

Here are some example organizational structures that a DEC might fit into:

  • President
    • Vice President
      • Dean
        • DEC
  • President
    • Vice President
      • Dean
        • Director Distance Education ProgramA hand types on a small laptop.
          • DEC
  • President
    • Instructional Technology Manager
      • DEC