Community College Mission - Determines Future
By Amy Chapman

Throughout the history of community colleges, there has been an overriding issue of change. From their inception, community colleges have been in influx. The numerous functions of a community college, such as vocational-technical education, continuing education, developmental education, and academic transfer preparation have created confusion, as to what is the mission of a community college. Confusion has led to problems within the system.

This constant turbulence is even evident when looking at how community colleges have developed over time. In the early twentieth century, community colleges were created to promote business and industry in the United States. Society would benefit from the masses gaining knowledge. By providing education, the workforce would be better trained to keep up with new technologies.

Another popular belief was to allow everyone an opportunity to meet their potential. Community colleges were given the task of making sure all individuals were offered choices to further themselves through education. This has required community colleges to provide remedial or basic skills studies, in order to meet the needs of these students. From this end of the spectrum all the way to the other, with the function of community colleges being community service, colleges today serve a wide range of needs. Schools were open to the public. Soon, short courses, workshops, and non credit classes were also offered.

An additional function of community colleges became collegiate transfer. Community colleges served as a lower-cost alternative to individuals, who eventually planned on attending a university. Universities, on the other hand, viewed community colleges as a place for adolescents to gain the skills necessary to progress forward in the educational process. Allowing universities to raise the bar for admission requirements and making research the focus of university campuses.