Dear Readers,

We are pleased to present the Fall 2024 edition of the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. While conducting the final review of this edition, I was particularly drawn to the research by Brezinski, Ploub, and Tabakman looking at the relationships between anxiety and online student performance. While their findings differ from some other recent research, their contributions are important in bringing more attention to this critical area.

For the past decade, it seems that there is an overwhelming sense of anxiety in the United States due to the political polarization, unchecked social media, and violence. As distance learning administrators, we cannot simply compartmentalize our work from these complex realities.

While many of us do well in setting up systems to support online students academically, our online support systems for mental health sometimes seem to be an afterthought, at best. We can do far more to train faculty to emphasize civility (inside the classroom and out) within courses. We can also escalate our own support systems by training our teams on better ways to talk to students openly and to ensure that mental health resources are front and center.

Too often, we rely on simply pointing online students in need to other resources. Help must authentically begin with that first contact. This is our challenge in the coming months and years. Progress in this area can have exponential potential in bettering our world.

Peace to all,

Melanie N. Clay, Ph.D.

OJDLA Editor-in-Chief

September 16, 2024