A comprehensive study of community college education, including two-year programs offered by the eight public universities, was undertaken to determine whether Kentucky has developed a comprehensive community college program, to assess its status and future directions, to identify educational and political issues, and to consider alternative governance structures for both the University of Kentucky Community College System (UKCCS) and the two-year programs of universities. Study methods included collection of institutional data, interviews with individuals representing all constituencies at each institution, and a questionnaire survey of all community college faculty and administrators. Findings indicated that problems or weaknesses existed in statewide planning, articulation and interinstitutional coordination, program quality and duplication, responsiveness to community needs, expenditures per student, developmental skills programs, faculty salaries, staff development, student services, and other areas. Along with 20 recommendations, principally addressing areas of governance and finance, the study report includes a list of pertinent issues regarding quality in community college education, a brief history of the Kentucky community colleges, profiles of the 19 institutions offering two-year programs, and statistical data on college appropriations, enrollments, career offerings, faculty salaries, and student ACT scores. The survey instrument is appended. (BB)