This paper examines recent efforts by community college educators to enhance the liberal arts in a curriculum which is increasingly dominated by career, compensatory, and community education programs. The paper first notes the decline of the transfer function at today's community colleges and argues that the liberal arts, if they are to survive,…

Traces the trend which shows occupational education replacing transfer education as the community college's major function in terms of credit enrollment, and discusses its implications for the labor market, societal views of education, and the future of community colleges. (AC)

Reviews literature appearing since 1985 on changing patterns of community college transfer, the current status of community college articulation, and areas for improvement in the transfer/articulation process. Includes a 21-item bibliography. (DMM)

Strong enrollments in career programs have led many to conclude that occupational training is, and should be, the premier function of a community college--a belief that is supported by the ways in which community colleges are funded. Though strong technical programs are an important part of what urban community colleges offer to their students,…

Arguing that the decline in the number of community college students transferring to four-year colleges could have a more dramatic effect on baccalaureate-granting institutions than the projected drop in the number of high school graduates, this paper traces the history of the community college's transfer function and discusses the implications of…

Discusses three common misperceptions of community college transfer education. Considers the notions that a revitalized transfer function is destructive to vocationalism and perhaps to curricular comprehensiveness; that transfer education is elitist; and that professing ignorance can be a useful way of dealing with those investigating transfer…

An analysis is presented of the position of American community colleges in the nation's educational system. First, background is presented on the historical development of the community college; forces contributing to the rise of higher education and the emergence of junior colleges; and the expansion of the role of two-year colleges to include…

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…

Despite some initial hesitancy in the first half of the twentieth century to award associate degrees, since the end of World War II, the associate degree has become as widely accepted by two-year colleges as the baccalaureate degree is by four-year colleges. This is evidenced by the steady increase in the number of associate degrees awarded…

Discusses community colleges' multiple roles and the impact of declining elementary-secondary performance on higher education. Offers examples of changing relations with secondary education; community college programs for immigrants, minorities, and educationally disadvantaged; a continuum of occupational programs; diversity in transfer education;…

In April 1994, a Transfer Symposium was held by the California Community Colleges to bring educational analysts and policymakers together to discuss trends and issues affecting the transfer process and other aspects of educational access. This report presents transcripts from the two panel presentations and minutes from the three discussion…

Community colleges serve more than half of all entering freshmen, half of all the women seeking higher education, and more minorities than all of the 4-year colleges and universities combined. Serving this population, the leaders and policy makers of community colleges must recognize the reasons for the underrepresentation of minorities in college…

As enrollment in transfer programs and the relative number of students who transfer to four-year institutions decrease, transfer education is losing its preeminence as the principal function of the community college. From 1907 to 1940, transfer education comprised 60-70% of enrollment and maintained its preeminence through the mid 1960's. By 1973,…