COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO HAS NOTED THAT ADULTS RETURNING TO THE CAMPUS ARE DOING SO WITH FAR MORE SERIOUS PURPOSE THAN THEY WERE A FEW YEARS AGO. THE TREND IS AWAY FROM AVOCATIONAL COURSES TO ONES OF OCCUPATIONAL OR CULTURAL CONTENT AND TO CREDIT COURSES RATHER THAN NON-CREDIT. THIS CHANGE TO MORE ADULT OFFERINGS HAS ALSO STIMULATED ENROLLMENT--FROM 4000 IN 1955-56 TO NEARLY 11,500 IN 1964-65. A PROPOSED NEW COURSE MUST MEET CERTAIN SPECIFICATIONS--(1) CLEAR OBJECTIVES, (2) EVIDENCE OF NEED, (3) APPROPRIATENESS, (4) AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES, (5) EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS IF GIVEN ELSEWHERE, AND (6) COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER COURSES. IF IT MEETS THESE REQUIREMENTS, IT GOES TO THE COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION, THE PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THE EVENING INSTRUCTORS HAVE ADAPTED WELL TO COORDINATING THEIR CREDIT COURSES WITH THE DAY CLASSES AND REGIONAL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND HAVE, IN NEARLY ALL CASES, BEEN HIGHLY GRATIFIED BY THE MATURE AND SERIOUS ATTENTION OF THEIR STUDENTS. THE COLLEGE ALSO OFFERS A COMMUNITY PROGRAM OF LECTURES, FORUMS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, FILMS, SHORT COURSES, AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN THE "CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JOURNAL," VOLUME 60, NUMBER 4, OCTOBER 1964. (HH)