As the postsecondary institutions most open to change, community colleges have in many regards led the way to distance education. Recent NCES data show that public two-year colleges account for almost half of the institutions in this country that offer distance education. In creating distance education opportunities community college are responding to the mounting demands of nontraditional learners, working professionals, and lifelong learners, while trying to compete effectively with various educational providers and answer the public and legislative call for cost effectiveness and reform. The volume proposed will examine the past and present landscape of issues and challenges associated with distance education from regional, state, and institutional perspectives. It will look at the current challenges and successes of faculty, student service professionals, presidents, and other administrative leaders as they endeavor to create a quality learning environment through distance education. In addition this issue will address the unresolved issues (e.g. intellectual property rights) and those on the horizon for the rapidly changing arena of distance education.

This is the 128th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Community College.