ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book traces the need for an informed populace in a democratic society and attempts to bring more education to more people. It outlines the founding of the Community College Baccalaureate Association and its role in helping colleges in the United States and internationally improve access, transfer rates, and completion. The book discusses democratic access to higher education across the 62,000-square-mile, rural Nevada service area of Great Basin College. It presents Great Basin College as a novel kind of college — one that offers baccalaureate programs while preserving the essence of its community college roots. The book offers the personal experiences of college students as evidence of the positive impact a college degree has on their lives and their communities. It addresses the issues of quality and uniqueness of degrees for community colleges through the lens of regional accreditation.
