Abstract—In the past 15 years, higher education institutions have worked diligently to increase students’ access to their educational offerings via distance education and, specifically, online learning. Despite the various administrative and academic structures needed to deliver the enterprise effectively, online programs continue to thrive. Yet, the benefits of a centralized versus a decentralized organization to manage distance education continue to be debated. This paper focuses on the merits of taking a systemic approach to online learning, which uses standardized procedures and practices while leveraging research data related to student learning preferences, student completion rates, workforce needs, and trends, along with statistical evidence from local, state and regional sources. From partial terms to accelerated terms to traditional semester-long courses, online programs benefit from using a systemic approach to design and delivery. This paper delves into these advantages and concludes with recommendations.