In distance learning, student's learning motivation is one of the factors that determine its success. However, in Indonesia, the level of student motivation to learn is still relatively low. According to Self Determination Theory, lecturers as instructors plays a role in encouraging student learning motivation. This study seeks to analyze the correlation between online teaching abilities of lecturers with student learning motivation in distance learning. Sixty-two respondents who were active students of the PJJ Study Program at Pelita Harapan University were asked to fill out a questionnaire measuring the level of online teaching ability of their lecturers and their level of learning motivation. The questionnaire results data were then analyzed using the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient technique which showed a value of 0.747. The researcher concluded that the variable of online teaching ability of the lecturer with the variable of student learning motivation at the Pelita Harapan University PJJ Study Program has a positive correlation thus indicates strong relationship between the two variables. Therefore, the results of the study confirm the findings in Self Determination Theory. Researchers suggest that research results could be used as references in designing structures and activities of online courses and using communication techniques in teaching and learning processes that motivate students by promoting competence, autonomy, and related aspects.Morover, this research cold be used academically as a reference for further studies regarding the effectiveness of an online teaching method towards student’s motivation in online learning environment. Dalam pembelajaran jarak jauh, motivasi belajar mahasiswa menjadi salah satu faktor yang menentukan kesuksesan. Namun, di Indonesia, tingkat motivasi belajar mahasiswa masih terbilang rendah. Menurut Self Determination Theory, dosen sebagai instruktur dalam program pembelajaran memiliki andil dalam mendorong motivasi belajar mahasiswa. Penelitian ini berusaha menganalisa korelasi kemampuan mengajar daring dosen terhadap motivasi belajar mahasiswa dalam pembelajaran jarak jauh. Enam puluh dua responden yang merupakan mahasiswa aktif Prodi PJJ Universitas Pelita Harapan diminta mengisi kuesioner yang mengukur tingkat kemampuan mengajar daring dosen dan tingkat motivasi belajar mereka. Data hasil kuesioner kemudian dianalisa menggunakan teknik Koefisien Korelasi Pearson’s Product Moment yang menunjukkan nilai r hitung 0,747. Peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa variabel kemampuan mengajar daring dosen dengan variabel motivasi belajar mahasiswa pada Prodi PJJ Universitas Pelita Harapan berkorelasi positif dan memiliki hubungan yang kuat. Oleh karena itu, hasil penelitian mengkonfirmasi penemuan dalam Self Determination Theory. Peneliti menyarankan agar hasil penelitian dijadikan referensi dalam mendesain struktur dan aktivitas mata kuliah daring serta menggunakan teknik komunikasi dalam proses belajar mengajar yang lebih memotivasi mahasiswa dengan mempromosikan aspek-aspek kompetensi, otonomi dan rasa keterikatan. Selain itu, peneliti berharap, secara akademis, penelitian ini bisa digunakan sebagai referensi penelitian berikutnya mengenai efektivitas metode mengajar tertentu terhadap motivasi belajar siswa dalam metode pembelajaran jarak jauh. / In distance learning, student's learning motivation is one of the factors that determine its success. However, in Indonesia, the level of student motivation to learn is still relatively low. According to Self Determination Theory, lecturers as instructors plays a role in encouraging student learning motivation. This study seeks to analyze the correlation between online teaching abilities of lecturers with student learning motivation in distance learning. Sixty-two respondents who were active students of the PJJ Study Program at Pelita Harapan University were asked to fill out a questionnaire measuring the level of online teaching ability of their lecturers and their level of learning motivation. The questionnaire results data were then analyzed using the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient technique which showed a value of 0.747. The researcher concluded that the variable of online teaching ability of the lecturer with the variable of student learning motivation at the Pelita Harapan University PJJ Study Program has a positive correlation thus indicates strong relationship between the two variables. Therefore, the results of the study confirm the findings in Self Determination Theory. Researchers suggest that research results could be used as references in designing structures and activities of online courses and using communication techniques in teaching and learning processes that motivate students by promoting competence, autonomy, and related aspects.Morover, this research cold be used academically as a reference for further studies regarding the effectiveness of an online teaching method towards student’s motivation in online learning environment.