ABSTRACT
This chapter presents some perspectives on the future of the community colleges in the United States of America. Community colleges are a uniquely American invention. They are college-level institutions offering two year programmes of instruction in a wide range of subjects. The American educational system differs from the systems in many other countries in that it is decentralised – there is no central ministry of education. American higher education is further structured into two-year institutions which award associate degrees, and four-year and graduate institutions which offer baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Because of their philosophical bases, community colleges are prime providers of the opportunity for higher education for American citizens, and they play a special role in the master plans of state systems of higher education. The American economy, in spite of fluctuations, will be strong enough to provide resources for the improvement and expansion of education.
