The American Association of Junior Colleges made this study to provide information for those wishing to develop new community junior colleges. A questionnaire was sent to the 250, two-year colleges which have begun operation since 1959. Ninety-one responded. Data was assembled by the method used by new institutions to begin their programs. Major…

The document examines the post-secondary educational needs in Coconino County, Arizona and alternative methods for meeting them. Section One discusses community colleges in general and those in Arizona in particular. Section Two presents information on Coconino County, the largest and wealthiest county in the state and one with a population…

Recommends a common sense approach to educational planning, as opposed to missionary or prophetic approaches, calling for facing retrenchment with clear statements of mission and priorities. Reviews issues of educational quality, financial support, and information needed for decision making related to program change. (AYC)

Suggests that community colleges might consider replacing their current discipline-based divisions, which are homogenized and hierarchically undifferentiated, with a more program- or degree-oriented structure. Compares the traditional and program-specific models. (DMM)

Most community colleges find that charging tuition is a fact of life, says this president. (Editor)

Relative newcomers to higher education, community colleges need to assess the past and establish clear future goals. Existing assets need further development. Specific functions should be defined. Integration with the community and program articulation with high schools, vocational and technical schools should be pursued. But conflicts between…

Our challenge is to find ways of sharing authority and responsibility for the functions our colleges perform. We must avoid confusing structure with process and rid ourselves of overly complex governance arrangements where the costs of maintenance exceed the benefits to be derived. (Author/LH)

Summarizes several significant research studies conducted since 1978 that have focused on community colleges. Offers an agenda for future research, covering student objectives and outcomes, administrative decision making, and faculty administrator relationships. Identifies several research issues as fundamental to repositioning community colleges…

A research project was conducted to develop and implement a model for community college missions. The new model would depart from existing models, which utilize a hierarchy of decreasing levels of generality beginning with institutional missions and culminating in objectives. In contrast, this research defined institutional mission in terms of…

Outlines the roles of the Board of Trustees, representing community needs, and the community college president, selected for his leadership abilities in employing human and financial resources. Concludes that their interaction depends largely on characteristics of the president, including the ability to foresee consequences of an action; and to…

Reviews concepts of effectiveness appearing in the literature as a context for discussion of changes necessary as community colleges move from concern with enrollments to outcomes. Defines alternatives open to colleges in terms of organizational culture. Identifies five strategies used by colleges in pursuit of increased effectiveness. (DMM)

Reviews forces that influence leadership in community colleges (e.g., demographics, resource constraints, mission definition and quality assurance, and technological change and aging staff). Suggests directions that will help community college administrators respond to new challenges. (DMM)

Focuses on the changes caused in community colleges by open access policies and the resultant influx of underprepared students. Recommends that community colleges accept a decline in student enrollment in exchange for improvement in student achievement. (DMM)