Among the diverse and varied missions of community colleges is the provision of instruction for students who have either been underserved by their previous educational institutions or not had the opportunity to complete high school. Included under this umbrella are low-performing high school students, individuals with low basic skills, and those…

Community college systems were established across North America from the early 1960s through the early 1970s. The new systems had two principal models: in one model, the college combined lower-division, university-level general education with technical education programs; in the other, most or all of the colleges were intended to concentrate on…

Discusses the origins of California's community colleges and some major developments in their mission and functions, such as transfer programs and open enrollment; organization and structure, including governance and administrative structures; faculty and professional qualifications; and funding, fee policies, and student financial-aid…