This article examines the comprehensiveness of the University of South Africa (UNISA) as an Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution and the challenges faced by experimental disciplines within ODL. Those challenges are brought about by the attempt to harmonize study and research programs in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) following the merger and harmonization of programs from the former distance learning UNISA and Technikon South Africa (TSA). The paper discusses the current realities with the aim to promote further debate on the place of ODL in science and technology programs in tertiary education such as UNISA in general and CSET in particular.