BOSTON -- Obtaining management and faculty support is the greatest challenge in coordinating and conducting distance learning at their schools, say nearly 60% of senior university administrative officials. The survey, conducted by Acadient, a leading developer and distributor of online education, also shows that despite these challenges, annual distance learning budgets continue to grow.Survey results include:80% of universities have offered distance learning for more than five years75% of university officials say their institution considers online learning as an "opportunity"55% use in house content developers to build the coursework53% feel it it's important to attract international students to distance learning programs50% expect more than 1,000 e-learning students for the Spring 2004 termBlackboard, WebCT and eCollege are the most popular course management systems."The Acadient survey results reflect the ongoing e-learning conflict between school administrators and its' faculty," says Ronald C. Pruett, Jr., chief executive officer. "Despite the increase in distance learning budgets and the growing popularity among consumers, administrators who view distance learning as an opportunity often find a lack of support among the faculty and management at their institutions who view it as a threat."Some 80% of universities use content authored by existing faculty, which may add to any existing struggles, the survey found."The colleges and universities likely to thrive online or already doing so have collaboratively focused their administrators and faculty on this enormous online growth opportunity," Pruett says. "The entire issue of cannibalization is instead viewed as a new channel of significant growth both in the United States and abroad."Acadient is a nationwide developer and distributor of online education and training for corporations, associations and consumers in the financial services industry.Visit Acadient: www.acadient.com"