Current social, economic, and policy trends threaten to erase the gains in educational access and attainment minorities have made since 1960. The educational reform movements of the past two decades reinforced the concepts of equity and opportunity, but in the face of financial exigency and retrenchment, driven by state legislatures and public pressures, there is a heightened concern about education's role in the national economy, and the feeling has emerged that excellence has been eroded in the pursuit of equity. This paper explores the issues and trends of minority participation in the community college system in particular, and in higher education in general. In addition, strategies that community colleges can use to address the issues are suggested. The paper focuses on: (1) the impact of minority population increase on the community college; (2) minority enrollment patterns; (3) equity and excellence; (4) selective admissions and competency testing; (5) financial aid; (6) the role of secondary schools in fostering minority access; and (7) the role of minority professionals. Concluding comments offer several objectives related to minority enrollment, retention and graduation rates, and significant minority presence at all levels of the institution. A bibliography is included. (EJV)