As higher education institutions increasingly expand their online course offerings, the role of instructional designers in enhancing instructional quality and effectiveness becomes critical. This study surveyed practicing instructional designers to explore the specific tasks they perform performed in higher education and identifies factors that hinder the execution of certain tasks. Building on previous research by Wedman and Tessmer ("Performance Improvement Quarterly," 6(2), 43-57, 1993), the study focuses on the practices of instructional designers in higher education. By investigating the challenges they experience, the study aims to provide insights into the current state of instructional design in higher education and suggest ways to optimize their contributions to online education programs.