Intended to serve as the basis for program and service planning in the Kern Community College District (KCCD) through the turn of the century, this report provides an analysis of internal and external conditions likely to affect the planning process. First, introductory material discusses strategic planning, the mission of the KCCD, assumptions, and major conclusions and recommendations. The next seven chapters focus on the internal characteristics of the KCCD and its colleges, examining: (1) college service areas in the district and the impact of geography; (2) baccalaureate, occupational, and basic skills curricula; counseling and community services; enrollment data; and special groups served; (3) characteristics of student populations (e.g., age, full-/part-time enrollment, ethnicity, sex, degrees and certificates); (4) certificated and classified personnel; (5) financial considerations, such as revenue and expenditures per average daily attendance, reserves, categorical funding, student fees, and central office expenditures; (6) existing and needed facilities and equipment; and (7) qualifications and standards for continued enrollment and limits on units. The last three chapters examine the external conditions that affect the institution, including demographic trends, the challenge of other educational institutions and delivery systems, and the economic factors likely to affect programs and services in the district. Each chapter includes a section devoted to the questions raised by highlighted trends and recommended actions. (HB)