Not really distance education, but interesting. In March, a few institutions -- such as Emory and Columbia Universities -- announced plans to shrink the enrollment of new Ph.D. students this fall. Now it appears that a number of other universities, generally private institutions that have some of the most well regarded Ph.D. programs around, are also getting smaller. At some, but not all, of the institutions, the shrinkage will be greatest in the humanities. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/13/doctoral
This is also happening in the sciences. There is a multi page article in the May edition of Physics Today. Cause is pinned on the economic crisis.