The purpose of this self-study manual is to provide a vehicle to enable state coordinating boards for community-junior colleges and their staffs to conduct an assessment or self-study of their activities, in order to better assess their role in the state's community-junior college system and to identify areas in which changes or improvements are needed. In each of seven areas, suggested steps are outlined. The seven areas are: (1) goals, scope, and legal responsibilities; (2) organization and administration; (3) planning and research; (4) finance; (5) external influences and relations--state and national; (6) relations with constituent institutions within the system; and (7) management information systems. A selected recent bibliography of 116 references to books, book chapters, and journal articles on state governing and coordinating boards for community-junior colleges is included for indepth review of particular phases of board operations. (CN)