The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges has repeatedly identified the strengthening of communications as a key component to developing the California Community Colleges (CCC) as a system. The genesis of communications planning, activities and priorities took place in 1989 with the Burson-Marsteller Communications Action Plan, developed by this national firm in conjunction with the Communications and Public Affairs Division of the CCC. The Action Plan, generated through a statewide survey and evaluation of the public image of the CCC, lays out the priorities for strengthening the communications activities of the CCC with regard to public understanding of the system. Each year, the CCC Foundation has funded at least one priority activity from the Plan. Key activities from the Plan which have been completed include: a "how to" manual for public affairs that has been distributed statewide to chief executive officers and trustees; the State Chancellor's Hour monthly public affairs show; the quarterly Impact newslwetter; a system presentation brochure; a system video; and a recognition program for teaching excellence. Three major new initiatives are being considered for the future: the development of a statewide community college newspaper; increased national media exposure in conjunction with the CCC's Commission on Innovation; and crisis communications training workshops for teams of college chief executive officers, trustees, and public information officers. The Burson-Marsteller communications review, the Action Plan, and a division workplan aligned to the available funding for projects are attached. (JMC)