This book, which is intended for individuals involved in recruiting and teaching students in open and distance learning (ODL) situations, examines academic and nonacademic student support issues in ODL. The following are among the topics discussed in the book's 14 chapters: (1) models and definitions of ODL systems; (2) rationale for student support; (3) advising (advising activities, advising qualities and skills, assessment, advocacy, and administration); (4) teaching activities and styles; (5) delivering student support at a distance (in writing, by phone, via audiovisual media); (6) delivering student support by computer; (7) delivering student support face to face (one-to-one and group academic and nonacademic support); (8) student support outside the institution (interest in and sources of outside support); (9) learning skills development and student support (proactive student support for face-to-face learning skills development); (10) student support for different students (educationally disadvantaged students, students with physical disabilities or mental health difficulties, students in institutions, older students, students abroad); (11) student support and retention; (12) theories of student support (counseling theories and ODL theories underlying student support); (13) structures, quality, and staff development in student support; and (14) the future of student support in ODL. Thirty-three figures/tables are included. (Contains 57 references.) (MN)