The introduction of the Internet has dramatically changed the process of information transmission as well as practically every other aspect of American society, including the higher education system. Many colleges and universities have taken advantage of the utility of the Internet and instituted online courses and online degree and certificate programs. Although this form of instruction has gained increasing acceptance as an effective tool for the delivery of instruction, the issue of student success in this environment has emerged as an area of concern. Previous studies have shown that student success--in particular, retention rates--in many online courses is significantly lower than in similar traditional face-to-face courses. This is especially an issue of importance for community college faculty and administrators because institutions traditionally enroll greater numbers of nontraditional students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than do four-year institutions. In general, these types of students tend to display lower retention and success rates than traditional students enrolled at four-year institutions. Previous research has identified five broad categories that can have a positive impact on online student success: (1) student readiness; (2) student orientation; (3) student support; (4) instructor preparation and support; and (5) course structure. This article addresses the first three of these factors..