In response to advocates of an expanded mission for community colleges, this three-part monograph examines the conflict between aspirations for continuing mission development and financial constraints. Part I reviews the development of six aspects of the current community college mission: transfer, vocational, developmental, continuing education, community service, and training and placement programs. It goes on to describe the traditional community college clientele, and the challenge for mission development imposed by an emerging body of non-traditional students made up of unemployed youth, older adults, females, and minorities. Part II examines the inadequacy of existing funding patterns to meet the needs of these students. It includes discussions of: (1) the history of community college financing, revealing the lag between changes in mission and in funding patterns; (2) current sources of financial support and the failure of state funding models to target resources for non-traditional students; (3) the increased use of tuition and fees; and (4) the failure of financial aid programs to meet the needs of non-traditional students. Part III outlines eight recommendations related to: clear articulation of mission, legislative approval of mission statements, program cost determination, program evaluation, alterations in funding and programming, alternative delivery systems, and residence halls. (JP)