America's community colleges have a unique mission to provide open access and affordable education to all who desire to learn. Unfortunately, this core mission is being threatened by myriad economic, social, and political challenges that community college leaders must confront and overcome.

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…

This chapter explores the evolution of open admissions and developmental education at the City University of New York, and discusses how CUNY and, in particular, Bronx Community College have addressed the challenges presented by underprepared college freshmen.

Argues that community colleges can maintain their commitment to students by raising academic standards, demanding more of students and educators on campus, and remaining open to the particular needs of all constituencies. Explains the experiences of Passaic County Community College, when in 1976 the college instituted higher academic standards.…

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…

Argues that older, nontraditional students, rather than ill-prepared recent high school graduates, are currently the primary beneficiaries of community college open admissions. Feels this shift refutes many of the criticisms currently launched against open admissions. Finds open enrollment policies necessary to the concept of lifelong learning.…

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…

The essays in this collection provide contrasting points of view on a number of community college issues that have become more pressing during periods of economic constraint. The volume contains: (1) "Part-Time Faculty: The Value of the Resource," by William R. C. Munsey; (2) "Part-Time Faculty, Full-Time Problems," by David Hartleb and William…

The movement from exclusive and elitist educational systems to systems catering to the masses is a recent and global phenomenon. The United States leads the world in its commitment to formal education for the masses; however, this movement from class to mass education has exposed and cut deeply into some of the most basic unresolved problems of…

Reviews ERIC literature focusing on: (1) community college part-time faculty; (2) open door admissions policies; (3) retrenchment and its effect on program quality; and (4) differential salaries for faculty. Includes an extensive bibliography. (AYC)