Recommends an approach to basic skills instruction which takes poetry as its focus to study grammar, style, and ideas. Reports three benefits: poetry gives students something significant to read, utilizes professionals' grammar and usage to teach these areas, and generates readable topics for writing. Provides two typical assignments. (DMM)

Defines critical academic skills that should be the hallmark of Kansas community college graduates, in anticipation of a legislative mandate for a common accountability measurement system. Presents five key critical competencies: oral and written communication skills, interpersonal and team skills, critical thinking and complex problem-solving…

Examines the impact of new student populations on community colleges. Notes the proliferation of remedial programs, individualized instruction, and diagnostic testing and placement services in response to student learning problems and the expansion of noncredit offerings, experiential learning credit, and cooperative education programs responding…

Focuses on: (1) the findings of studies of the characteristics and prevalence of underprepared college students; (2) the status of the basic skills movement and of state-level basic skills testing programs in each state; and (3) responses community colleges must make to deal with underprepared students. (AYC)