In 1972, the University of Pittsburgh initiated the University External Studies Program (UESP). The program emerged from a recognition of the university's responsibility to provide higher education to those previously unable to attend classes because of family or job responsibilities, geographic isolation, or limited mobility. This paper outlines UESP in terms of its mission, generic classification, organizational structure, selected program data, and supplementary projects. Next, the internal operation of UESP is described in terms of five functional components: curriculum development, marketing, production, student support, and evaluation. The UESP support system consists of the four functional components that complement the central program focus: curriculum development. (Author/KE)