Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-192) and index.

"Drawing on her extensive experience in leading community colleges, Judith S. Eaton shows how these colleges can best serve the needs of today's diverse student population by providing rigorous, high-quality, college-level education." "Eaton details the key factors that have caused community colleges to shift from crucial sites of higher education opportunity to ambiguous centers of quasi-educational programs and services. Examining curriculum, access, the associate degree, and general education, the author suggests what actions can be taken to strengthen the collegiate purpose across all institutional levels - providing specific suggestions on reshaping the institutional agenda for faculty, administration, presidents, and trustees. And as an alternative to changes in policies and practices, Eaton also considers structural changes for the community college - such as changing their relationship with four-year schools, changing their educational role, or becoming four-year institutions - as ways of emphasizing and strengthening their collegiate function."--Jacket.

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