A key element in the completion of study by off-campus students is support during their learning. The nature of off-campus study renders nearly impossible the face-to-face contact which provides expansion of lecture material, direct answers to problems, guidance on procedures, and immediate responses to learning difficulties. Electronic mail offers an alternative means of providing support and enriching the learning process for off-campus students. Two hundred off-campus students were surveyed to determine access to equipment, response to possible student support services, knowledge of e-mail, and willingness to meet associated financial costs. Of the 98 respondents, 54 had a computer at home, but only five owned a modem. A high proportion of respondents acknowledged the usefulness of suggested e-mail services, but apart from the possibility of interacting with a tutor, most were not prepared to pay for the services. Forty-eight respondents knew what electronic mail was, and one respondent subscribed to a commercial network. Of all respondents, 46 would be prepared to purchase or rent a modem and/or software, but did not want to invest a large sum of money. It would be inappropriate to develop an electronic student support system if some students were disadvantaged by lack of means to access the system, particularly if the support system superseded existing systems. (Contains 15 references.) (SWC)