Argues that community colleges must maintain their integrity by being true to the philosophy and mission of open access and articulating that mission to constituents in an effective and consistent manner. Discusses the evolving democratization of higher education, misunderstandings and criticisms of open access, and ways to maintain open…

Considers preparation for new community college missions in areas of (1) candidly assessing institutional innovations in terms of community needs, not simply whether they incorporate current educational trends; (2) utilizing the resources of the college's target community; and (3) commitment to move from selective to adaptive modes of education.…

Argues that open enrollment policies have debased the community college and led to an abandonment of merit, standards, and competency. Suggests their new mission be to serve only those adults who qualify and can benefit from college-level work, abandoning those vocational, remedial, and recreational responsibilities which community colleges have…

Examines the vital role of the community college in increasing access to higher education, especially among minorities and disadvantaged groups. Discusses fiscal constraints which jeopardize the continuation of this role and suggests increased cooperation with public schools and area businesses as a means of improving educational productivity. (JP)

Describes the downsizing and restructuring occurring in many community colleges due to funding decreases and enrollment increases. Discusses the feasibility of keeping an open-door policy, and explores other options to downsizing. Lists steps to help colleges review their missions, arguing that they must move to find their market niches. (AJL)

Uses the imagery of pioneer life to underscore the uncertainty of today's community college mission. Discusses the community college characteristics that represent a significant departure from traditional higher education: equal opportunity, open admissions, community involvement, comprehensive curriculum, and teaching orientation. Proposes…

In support of a legislative evaluation of the degree to which Colorado's institutions of higher education should be accessible to the state's citizens, this paper reviews the barriers to student access and outlines the position of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education regarding the role of the community…

Discusses the persistent questioning of the community college's open-door tradition in the 1980's. Considers the community college missions as originally defined, the effects of declining funding and credibility, and evidence of and strategies to prevent the closing of the open door. Explains Miami-Dade Community College's educational reforms in…

THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY JUNIOR COLLEGE--(1) AN EXPANDED FREE EDUCATION FOR AN EXPANDING CITIZENRY, (2) GREATER DIVERSITY AND FLEXIBILITY IN EDUCATION, AND (3) EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION AND SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IN STRIVING TOWARD ITS PRIME OBJECTIVE OF QUALITY PROGRAMS…

Public two-year colleges, which enroll more than half of all Illinois undergraduates enrolled in the public sector are bearing the brunt of the shift from "mass" to "universal" higher education. But recent evidence raises serious questions about whether a dual track system in higher education is being established which…

The public junior college was conceived with an "open door" to give the disadvantaged high school graduate another chance to break the poverty cycle and the minority student an opportunity to extend his/her skills and career options. Since its inception in the early 1900's, the mission of the junior college has changed. The initial focus on…

Explores problems faced by the community junior college, including inflation, rising enrollments, expanding services, and open admissions; transfer policies from secondary and to university levels; faculty qualifications; management and accountability. Major trends are increased nontraditional students, alternate educational forms, decreased…

Community colleges concentrate on the neglected first two years of college; raise educational levels of underprepared students; educates and trains students to be qualified, skilled workers; and re-educates those whose skills are outdated; and those who have college degrees but no work skills. Drawing from interviews with community college…

Revised general education (GE) curricula at two community colleges are described in an effort to illustrate the outcomes of a "telic" curriculum revision based on: (1) the collective identification of the purposes of GE by an institution's faculty, and (2) the design of a GE curriculum which reconciles those identified purposes with the…

This document sets forth six goals toward which the North Carolina Community College System should strive during the next 20 years, descriptions of the means to achieve those goals, and the conditions necessary to support those means. Specific goals include: (1) acceleration of the state's economic growth and development through a dynamic,…