In 1992, the Illinois Community College Board forged new ground in accountability for higher education by adopting a plan for the implementation of educational guarantees. Guarantees demonstrate the community colleges' dedication to providing exemplary programs and service. Guarantees ensure that graduates of community college technical programs have the skills needed in today's labor market. If a graduate does not obtain needed skills, he/she may re-enroll in appropriate courses at no charge. Guarantees ensure that the community college baccalaureate transfer students can transfer all their courses to their chosen four-year institution. If a course cannot be transferred, the community college will refund the corresponding tuition. In implementing guarantees, a college should: (1) convene an appropriate group to develop guarantees; (2) identify programs to be guaranteed; (3) define what the college is guaranteeing to transfer and occupational students, and make necessary changes to articulation agreements or curricula; (4) define who is covered by the guarantee; (5) define what the compensation to the student is; (6) delineate how internal procedures will be established or refined to implement the guarantee; and (7) define how the guarantee may be called and how it will be honored. Additionally, the following principles apply to all aspects of educational guarantees: guarantees need to link appropriate services and process into a comprehensive quality assurance process; guarantees should open doors for students; guarantees should be readily understandable by businesses and students; and quarantees should reflect a partnership among students, employers, universities, and the community colleges. Policy guidelines are provided for each step. (KP)