Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • About
    • Description
    • Editorial Board
    • Review Process
    • Aims and Scope
    • Announcements
    • Contact Us
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Archive
  • For Authors
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Submit
  • For Subscribers
    • Subscribe
    • Orders
    • Alerts
  • Resources
    • For Readers and Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • FAQs for Fall 2025

User menu

  • Login
  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
A journal of Harvard Education Publishing Group
  • Login
  • My alerts

A journal of Harvard Education Publishing Group

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • About
    • Description
    • Editorial Board
    • Review Process
    • Aims and Scope
    • Announcements
    • Contact Us
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Archive
  • For Authors
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Submit
  • For Subscribers
    • Subscribe
    • Orders
    • Alerts
  • Resources
    • For Readers and Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • FAQs for Fall 2025

Error message

  • Unable to create CTools CSS cache directory. Check the permissions on your files directory.
  • Unable to create CTools CSS cache directory. Check the permissions on your files directory.
Research Article

The Community College at the Crossroads: The Need for Structural Reform

Kevin Dougherty
Harvard Educational Review September 1991, 61 (3) 311-337; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.61.3.k764030285230560
Kevin Dougherty
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

References

  1. Alaska State Commission on Postsecondary Education. (1985). Alaska postsecondary education, 1986-1990: A statewide plan. Juneau: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 265 898)
  2. American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. (1988). Building community colleges: A vision for a new century. Washington, DC: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 293 578)
  3. American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. (1989). Mission statement. Community and Junior College Journal, 59(4), 19-26.
  4. American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. (1990). 1990 public policy agenda. Community and Junior College Journal, 60(4), 45-47.
  5. Anderson, K. (1984). Institutional differences in college effects. Boca Raton: Florida Atlantic University. (ERIC Documentation Reproduction Service No. ED 256 204)
  6. Astin, A. (1975). Preventing students from dropping out. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Preventing students from dropping out.
  7. Astin, A. (1977). Four critical years. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Four critical years.
  8. Astin, A. (1983). Strengthening transfer education. In G. Vaughan (Ed.), Issues for community college leaders in a new era (pp. 122-138). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Strengthening transfer education. Issues for community college leaders in a new era, 122–138.
  9. Astin, A., Astin, H. S., Green, K. C., Kent, L,. McNamara, P. R., & Williams, M. R. (1982). Minorities in American higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Minorities in American higher education.
  10. Baden-Borel, P. (1984). Compilation of statistical data concerning the community colleges of the State University of New York, 1983-84. Albany: State University of New York. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 253 280)
  11. Baratta, F., & Apodaca, E. (1984). A profile of California community college transfer students at the University of California. Berkeley: University of California. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 260 754)
  12. Bayer, A. E., Royer, J. T., & Webb, R. M. (1973). Four years after college entry (American Council on Education Research Reports 8[1]). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 077 329)
  13. Beckes, I. (1964). The case for community junior colleges. Junior College Journal, 34(7), 24, 26-28.
  14. Belcher, M. (1989). Institutional effectiveness of Miami-Dade Community College. Miami: Miami-Dade Community College. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 311 962)Miami: Miami-Dade Community College. Institutional effectiveness of Miami-Dade Community College.
  15. Bernstein, A. (1986). The devaluation of transfer. In L. S. Zwerling (Ed.), The community college and its critics (New Directions for Community Colleges No. 54) (pp. 31-40). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 271 169)
  16. Bowen, H. (1977). Investment in learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Investment in learning.
  17. Bowles, D. (1988). Transferability in the liberal arts and sciences. In C. Prager (Ed.), Enhancing articulation and transfer (New Directions for Community Colleges No. 61) (pp. 27-38). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  18. Breneman, D. W., & Nelson, S. C. (1981). Financing community colleges. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.Financing community colleges.
  19. Brint, S., & Karabel, J. (1989). The diverted dream. New York: Oxford University Press.The diverted dream.
  20. California Community Colleges. (1984). Transfer education. Sacramento: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 250 025)
  21. California Legislature. Joint Committee for Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education. (1987). California's community college reform: Final report. Sacramento: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 282 587)
  22. California Postsecondary Education Commission. (1989). Update of community college transfer student statistics, 1988-1989. Sacramento: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 313 073)
  23. Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. (1970). The open door colleges. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  24. Carnegie Council on Policy Studies in Higher Education. (1979). Giving youth a better chance. San Franciso: Jossey-Bass.
  25. Carnoy, M., & Shearer, D. (1980). Economic democracy. White Plains, NY: M. E. Sharpe.Economic democracy.
  26. Carnoy, M., Shearer, D., & Levin, H. M. (1985). School and work in the democratic state. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.School and work in the democratic state.
  27. Center for the Study of Community Colleges. (1988). An assessment of the Urban Transfer Opportunity Program. The Ford Foundation's Second Stage Transfer Opportunity Awards. Final report. Los Angeles: University of California at Los Angeles. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 293 573)
  28. Clark, B. (1980). The "cooling out" function revisited. In G. Vaughan (Ed.), Questioning the community college role (New Directions for Community Colleges No. 32) (pp. 15-31). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  29. Clowes, D. A., & Levin, B. H. (1989). Community, technical, and junior colleges: Are they leaving higher education? Journal of Higher Education, 60, 349-355.Community, technical, and junior colleges: Are they leaving higher education. Journal of Higher Education 60:349–355.
  30. Cohen, A. M., & Brawer, F. B. (1982). The American community college (1st ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  31. Cohen, A. M., & Brawer, F. (1987). The collegiate function of the community college. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.The collegiate function of the community college.
  32. Cohen, A. M., & Brawer, F. (1989). The American community college (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.The American community college.
  33. Cohen, A. M., Brawer, F. B., & Bensimon, E. (1985). Transfer education in American community colleges. Los Angeles: University of California at Los Angeles. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 255 250)
  34. Commission on the Future of the North Carolina Community College System. (1989). Gaining the competitive edge: The challenge to North Carolina's community colleges. Chapel Hill, NC: MDC.
  35. Crook, D., & Lavin, D. (1989). The community college effect revisited: The long-term impact of community college entry on baccalaureate attainment. Paper presented to the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.
  36. Cross, K. P. (1981). Community colleges on the plateau. Journal of Higher Education, 52, 113-123.Community colleges on the plateau. Journal of Higher Education 52:113–123.
  37. Cross, K. P. (1985). Determining missions and priorities for the fifth generation. In W. Deegan & D. Tillery (Eds.), Renewing the American community college. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Determining missions and priorities for the fifth generation. Renewing the American community college.
  38. Dougherty, K. (1987). The effects of community colleges: Aid or hindrance to socioeconomic attainment? Sociology of Education, 60, 86-103.The effects of community colleges: Aid or hindrance to socioeconomic attainment. Sociology of Education 60:86–103.
  39. Dougherty, K. (1988). The politics of community college expansion: Beyond the functionalist and class-reproduction theories. American Journal of Education, 96, 351-393.The politics of community college expansion: Beyond the functionalist and class-reproduction theories. American Journal of Education 96:351–393.
  40. Dougherty, K. (1991). The contradictory college: The political origins, current impact, and likely future of the community college. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Sociology, Manhattan College, New York.
  41. Dougherty, K. (in press). Community colleges and baccalaureate preparation. Journal of Higher Education.
  42. Florida State Board for Community Colleges. (1988). The role of Florida's community colleges in articulation. Tallahassee: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 300 042)
  43. Florida State Department of Education. (1983). A longitudinal study comparing university native and community college transfer students in the state university system of Florida. Tallahassee: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 256 405).
  44. Gleazer, E. J. (1980). Community colleges: Values, vision, and vitality. Washington, DC: American Association of Community and Junior Colleges.Community colleges: Values, vision, and vitality.
  45. Grubb, W. N. (1984). The bandwagon once more: Vocational preparation for high technology occupations. Harvard Educational Review, 54, 429-451.The bandwagon once more: Vocational preparation for high technology occupations. Harvard Educational Review 54:429–451.
  46. Grubb, W. N. (1988). Vocationalizing higher education: The causes of enrollment and completion in public two-year colleges, 1970-1980. Economics of Education Review, 7, 301-319.Vocationalizing higher education: The causes of enrollment and completion in public two-year colleges, 1970-1980. Economics of Education Review 7:301–319.
  47. Grubb, W. N. (1989). The effects of differentiation on educational attainment: The case of community colleges. The Review of Higher Education, 12(4), 349-374.The effects of differentiation on educational attainment: The case of community colleges. The Review of Higher Education 12:349–374.
  48. Hauselman, A. J., & Tudor, D. (1987). Compendium of selected characteristics: University of Kentucky Community College System, 1986-1987. Lexington: University of Kentucky. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 289 543)
  49. Holderman, K. (1964). The case for university branch campuses. Junior College Journal, 34 (7), 25, 28-30.
  50. Jaschik, S. (1988, September 7). California legislature passes a "historic" measure to reorganize the state's two year college system. Chronicle of Higher Education, pp. A17, 24.
  51. Jencks, C., & Riesman, D. (1968). The academic revolution. New York: Doubleday.The academic revolution.
  52. Karabel, J. (1972). Community colleges and social stratification. Harvard Educational Review, 42, 521-562.Community colleges and social stratification. Harvard Educational Review 42:521–562.
  53. Kerr, C. (1980). Changes and challenges ahead for community colleges. Community and Junior College Journal, 50(8), 4-10.Changes and challenges ahead for community colleges. Community and Junior College Journal 50:4–10.
  54. Knight, W. (1990). GPA and attrition information for students relocating to the Kent Campus of Kent State University from four two-year colleges and from the KSU regional campuses. Unpublished report, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
  55. Lara, J. (1981). Differences in quality of academic effort between successful and unsuccessful community college transfer students. Paper delivered at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Los Angeles. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 201 359)
  56. Lee, V., & Frank, K. (1990). Student characteristics that facilitate the transfer from twoyear to four-year colleges. Sociology of Education, 63, 178-193.Student characteristics that facilitate the transfer from twoyear to four-year colleges. Sociology of Education 63:178–193.
  57. Levin, H. (1984, October). Jobs: A changing workforce, a changing education? Change Magazine, pp. 32-37.
  58. London, H. (1978). The culture of a community college. New York: Praeger.The culture of a community college.
  59. Maryland State Board for Community Colleges. (1983). The role of community colleges in preparing students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Annapolis: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 230 255)
  60. Maryland State Board for Community Colleges. (1990). Databook and annual report. Annapolis: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 315 136)
  61. McCabe, R. (1981). Now is the time to reform the American community college. Community and Junior College Journal, 51, 6-10.Now is the time to reform the American community college. Community and Junior College Journal 51:6–10.
  62. McCartan, A. (1983). The community college mission: Present challenges and future visions. Journal of Higher Education, 54, 676-692.The community college mission: Present challenges and future visions. Journal of Higher Education 54:676–692.
  63. Medsker, L. L. (1960). The junior college. New York: McGraw-Hill.The junior college.
  64. Medsker, L. L., & Trent, J. (1964). The influence of different types of public higher education institutions on college attendance from varying socioeconomic and ability levels. Berkeley: University of California, Center for the Study of Higher Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 002 875)
  65. Mitchell, M., Postlewaite, B., Short, C., Wilson, S. M., & Wolfe, R. O. (1986). Change and the future of vocational education. Olympia: Washington State Vocational Directors Council. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 268 284)
  66. Morris, C., & Losak, J. (1986). Student success at Miami-Dade Community College. Miami: Miami-Dade Community College. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 305 123)
  67. New Mexico State Board of Educational Finance. (1980). Factbook on New Mexico public two-year community colleges and vocational schools, 1979-1980. Santa Fe: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 198 886)
  68. New Mexico Governor's Task Force on Higher Education Reform. (1986). Excellence and accountability. Santa Fe: New Mexico Commission on Postsecondary Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 272 079)
  69. Nunley, C. R., & Breneman, D. W. (1988). Defining and measuring quality in community college education. In J. Eaton (Ed.), Colleges of choice (pp. 62-92). New York: Macmillan.Defining and measuring quality in community college education. Colleges of choice, 62–92.
  70. Olivas, M. (1979). The dilemma of access: Minorities in two-year colleges. Washington, DC: Howard University Press.The dilemma of access: Minorities in two-year colleges.
  71. Orfield, G., Mitzel, H., Austin, T., Bentley, R., Bice, D., Dwyer, M., Gedlow, L., Herschensohn, J., Hibino, B., Kelly, T., Kuhns, A., Lee, M., Rabinowitz, C., Spoerl, J., Vosnos, A., & Wolf, J. (1984). The Chicago study of access and choice in higher education. Chicago: University of Chicago, Committee on Public Policy. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 249 929)
  72. Orfield, G., & Paul, F. (1987-1988). Declines in minority access: A tale of five cities. Educational Record, 68(4), 69(1).
  73. Pascarella, E., & Chapman, D. W. (1983). A multi-institutional, path analytic validation of Tinto's model of college withdrawal. American Educational Research Journal, 20, 87-102.
  74. Pennsylvania State University. (1983). Statement of policies, procedures, and guidelines for the Commonwealth educational system. University Park: Author.
  75. Pincus, F. L. (1980). The false promises of community colleges. Harvard Educational Review, 50, 332-361.
  76. Pincus, F. L., & Archer, E. (1989). Bridges to opportunity? Are community colleges meeting the transfer needs of minority students? New York: The College Board.Bridges to opportunity? Are community colleges meeting the transfer needs of minority students?.
  77. Polk, B. (1984). Hawaii's community colleges: New directions for the 80s. Honolulu: University of Hawaii. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 266 820)
  78. Rendon, L., & Matthews, T. (1989). Success of community college students. Education and Urban Society, 21, 312-327.
  79. Richardson, R., & Bender, L. (1985). Students in urban settings: Achieving the baccalaureate degree (ASHE/ERIC Higher Education Report No. 6). Washington, DC: Association for the Study of Higher Education/ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 265 798)
  80. Richardson, R., & Bender, L. (1987). Fostering minority access and achievement in higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Fostering minority access and achievement in higher education.
  81. Sheldon, S. (1982). Statewide longitudinal study. Report on academic years, 1978-1981. Part 5: Final report. Sacramento: California Community Colleges. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 217 917)
  82. South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. (1979). Policies of South Carolina senior colleges and universities concerning transfer from two-year colleges. Columbia: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 177 994)
  83. State University of New York. (1984-1989). Application and enrollment patterns of transfer students. Albany: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service Nos. ED 254 122, 260 775, 273 341, 289 529, 302 108, 310 702)
  84. State University System of Florida. (1986). Fact book, 1984-85. Tallahassee: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 312 937)
  85. State University System of Florida. (1989). Fact book, 1987-88. Tallahassee: Author. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 312 939)
  86. Tinto, V. (1974). Public junior colleges and the substitution effect in higher education. Unpublished paper, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 089 808)
  87. Tinto, V. (1987). Leaving college. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Leaving college.
  88. Trent, J., & Medsker, L. L. (1968). Beyond high school. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Beyond high school.
  89. U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1988). School enrollment — Social and economic characteristics of students: October 1986 (Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 429). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  90. U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. (1977a). Transfer students in institutions of higher education (ASI 1977 4586-1.19). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  91. U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. (1977b). Withdrawal from institutions of higher education (ASI 1978 4586-1.26). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  92. U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. (1990a). Patterns and trends of stopping out from postsecondary education: 1972, 1980, 1982 high school graduates (ASI 1990 4842-41). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  93. U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. (1990b). Digest of education statistics, 1990. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  94. University of Alaska. (1987). Statistical abstract, 1987. Fairbanks: University of Alaska. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 292 437)
  95. University of Connecticut. (1987). Bulletin, 1986-87. Storrs, CT: Author.
  96. University of Hawaii. (1986). Factbook, 1985. University of Hawaii Community Colleges. Honolulu: University of Hawaii. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 266 819)
  97. Vaughan, G. (Ed). (1980). Introduction. In Questioning the community college role (New Directions in Community Colleges No. 32). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  98. Vaughan, J. (1971). A longitudinal study of the retention, attrition, and transfer of students at the regional campuses of the Ohio State University. Unpublished master's thesis, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
  99. Velez, W. (1985). Finishing college: The effects of college type. Sociology of Education, 58, 191-200.Finishing college: The effects of college type. Sociology of Education 58:191–200.
  100. Velez, W., & Javalgi, R. G. (1987). Two-year college to four-year college: The likelihood of transfer. American Journal of Education, 96, 81-94.
  101. Weis, L. (1985). Between two worlds: Black students in an urban community college. Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Between two worlds: Black students in an urban community college.
  102. Willingham, W., & Findikyan, N. (1969). Patterns of admission for transfer students. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.Patterns of admission for transfer students.
  103. Zwerling, L. S. (1976). Second best: The crisis of the junior college. New York: McGraw-Hill.Second best: The crisis of the junior college.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Harvard Educational Review
Vol. 61, Issue 3
1 Sep 1991
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on A journal of Harvard Education Publishing Group.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Community College at the Crossroads: The Need for Structural Reform
(Your Name) has sent you a message from A journal of Harvard Education Publishing Group
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the A journal of Harvard Education Publishing Group web site.
Citation Tools
The Community College at the Crossroads: The Need for Structural Reform
Kevin Dougherty
Harvard Educational Review Sep 1991, 61 (3) 311-337; DOI: 10.17763/haer.61.3.k764030285230560

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
The Community College at the Crossroads: The Need for Structural Reform
Kevin Dougherty
Harvard Educational Review Sep 1991, 61 (3) 311-337; DOI: 10.17763/haer.61.3.k764030285230560
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo Bluesky logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Similar Articles

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Follow herp on BlueSky

Harvard Education Press

  • About Harvard Education Press

Harvard Educational Review

  • Home
  • New Article

Connect

  • Contact Us

Site help

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright

©2025 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved
Powered by HighWire