The community college concept was heatedly debated in Wisconsin from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s. A number of study groups and governmental bodies endorsed the creation of community colleges. Although most states embraced the concept of the community college, however, Wisconsin's debate over whether to establish a statewide community college program became buried amidst partisan political battles, strong lobbying efforts on the part of the university community, and opposition on the part of a few state vocational education officials. Unlike the many states that have increased articulation between vocational and academic education, Wisconsin has always maintained a clear separation between vocational and liberal arts education and opted for two-year university and state college branch centers instead of a statewide community college system. Throughout the sixties, many of Wisconsin's educational policymakers voiced concerns about the added financial burden that a statewide community college system would impose and about the fact that community colleges should not infringe on the universities' turf by substituting for existing liberal arts programs in public institutions. The State Board of Vocational and Adult Education opposed the creation of a statewide community college network because it wanted to maintain a strong program of vocational and adult education as its primary function. The Kellett Commission on Education, which was appointed by the governor in 1969, dealt the final blow to the creation of a statewide community college system despite the fact that there was a great push by many in the state to create community colleges to increase postsecondary educational opportunities for the state's disadvantaged residents and increasing college-bound population. (MN)