Quality in distance education has been studied mostly from a top-down approach, from administration and faculty to students. This study was an attempt to understand quality through the eyes of the distance learner. This study identified undergraduate and graduate students' perceptions about quality in distance education, examining factors affecting the quality of a distance education course from the student's point of view. Communication was the factor identified most as contributing to quality in distance education courses. Students also indicated effective and ineffective ways communication tools--electronic mail, discussion groups, and chats--are used. Students' responses point to the importance of building learning communities and of faculty providing timely feedback.