PRESENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE COMPARED WITH STANDARDS RECOMMENDED BY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THUS PROVIDING ATHLETIC DIRECTORS WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS. JUNIOR COLLEGES WERE GROUPED BY ENROLLMENT AND 450 QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO THEIR PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS, OF WHOM 324 REPLIED. THE DATA WERE EXAMINED ACCORDING TO THREE AREAS--(1) THE GENERAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION SERVICE PROGRAM, (2) INTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES, AND (3) INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. IT WAS FOUND FOR THE FIRST AREA THAT THE PROVISIONS FOR INSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT VARY GREATLY, FOR THE SECOND AREA THAT MOST COLLEGES OFFER SUCH A PROGRAM UNDER SEVERAL BUDGETING PROCEDURES, AND FOR THE THIRD THAT MOST COLLEGES PARTICIPATE, BUT WITH DIFFERENT MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS, ACCIDENT COVERAGE, AND FUNDING. THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT COLLEGES SHOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO MAKE UP THE DEFICIENCIES IN ALL THREE PROGRAMS. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS FURTHER STUDIES OF (1) THE PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION STAFF, (2) NEW PROGRAM STANDARDS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE JUNIOR COLLEGE, (3) REGIONAL PROGRAMS, (4) THE NATIONWIDE STATUS OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE JUNIOR COLLEGE, AND (5) CRITERIA FOR STUDENTS' EXEMPTION BY AGE FROM PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES. THIS ED.D. DISSERTATION IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, INC., 313 NORTH FIRST STREET, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48107. (HH)