Providing a variety of instructional methods and materials, developing unique and effective communication systems, and evaluating the process are keys to the delivery and effectiveness of the field-based programs in graduate education offered by Nova Southeastern University (Florida). This 4-year nonprofit institution is a leader in distance education, offering off-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education, business and public administration, psychology, and computer science. Almost half of the 12,000 students are in field-based programs delivered in a variety of ways ranging from regional locations with once-a-month classes to working at home with a personal computer and modem. The cluster format of monthly meetings has been the most popular form of distance education, but the telecommunications approach is becoming the most successful alternative delivery approach. In distance education, the use of multimedia is especially important. Online tools and resources used by Nova Southeastern include: (1) audiobridges (toll-free telephone connections for two-way discussion); (2) videotapes; (3) audiotapes; (4) telephones; (5) electronic mail; (6) the electronic classroom (virtual classroom through split-screen technology); and (7) the electronic library (catalog and delivery services). The effectiveness of these approaches is the subject of continual evaluation used in planning for new technologies and more cost-effective use of existing technologies. (Contains 5 references.) (SLD)