Are applied and workforce baccalaureate degrees offered by community colleges a natural extension of their mission to provide relevant educational programs to their constituents? Or is this emerging emphasis on offering baccalaureate degrees a radical deviation from the tried-and-true mission of comprehensive community colleges? In short, is this movement more evolutionary or revolutionary?

This issue does not take sides, but provides a deeper understanding of this movement from the perspectives of practitioners and scholars alike. The opportunities and challenges associated with offering these new baccalaureate degrees is illustrated with institutional examples.

This is the 158th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Essential to the professional libraries of presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders in today's open-door institutions, New Directions for Community Colleges provides expert guidance in meeting the challenges of their distinctive and expanding educational mission.