The future of higher education, especially that of the community college, is discussed. The role of the community college in advancing new concepts--such as open admissions, equal opportunity, and community involvement--is recounted. The development of higher education in the United States is traced, and problems created by the recently instituted policy of open admission are examined. The heterogenity of students necessitates a change in instructional practices that are based on a very homogeneous population. The development of effective and inexpensive individualized instruction is proposed as the solution to the problem of student diversity. Modified schedules to accommodate adult learners, greater learner participation, peer tutoring, and cooperative learning projects are all modifications that will better meet the economic and academic needs of the student. Technological advances facilitate individualization, both in communication to students and in instruction, and teachers need to reexamine their roles as educators in the future. (PHR)