In the context of concerns over the high attrition rates in distance education, we experimented a particular form of student support activities relying on one to many communication based on Web conferences led by tutors. Three postsecondary institutions collaborated in this research. Quantitative (questionnaires and traces) and qualitative data (interviews) were collected and show that participation has grown and reached its peak at TÉLUQ’s iteration. In all three cases perceived value of these activities as well as tutors transactional presence perception were positive. Interest in Web conferencing was stronger than perceived usefulness. Cognitive aspects of tutors transactional presence were stronger at Université de Montréal while relational aspects were stronger at TÉLUQ. These perceptions seem linked to the fashion in which Web conferences were led by different tutors, but they may also depend on particular cognitive and/or relational needs of students in the self-paced model of TÉLUQ.