This paper addresses the problems surrounding adult basic education, adult education, continuing education, and community services. It begins by attempting to sort out the often confusing and overlapping use of these designations by community college educators; and then presents a picture of popular community college activities. The functions, activities, and services covered by the term "community education" may be offered as degree-college-credit, non-degree-college-credit, non-college-credit, and noncredit; and as individual nonclass events varying in length. The activities may be college- or community-sponsored or may be jointly sponsored by a college and a public agency or private group. In addition, they can be held on- or off-campus, in classrooms and through media. Students and participants generally fall under the nontraditional student heading. Headcount enrollments in community education courses are usually far larger than enrollments in the degree-oriented occupational and transfer courses. The priority for state and local funding for community college courses, programs, and activities has been and will likely continue to be for credit, degree-oriented courses. Hence, there is a current trend toward making adult and continuing education, and community service activities self-supporting. (TR)