This report presents the results of a study conducted to explore the nature and meaning of the work of community college faculty through a process of in-depth phenomenological interviewing of 76 faculty and staff and 24 students from community colleges in Massachusetts, New York, and California. Section 1 provides an overview of the study, including a discussion of the social, political, and economic context in which community colleges operate. In addition, this section presents the study methodology, including a rationale for the approach and information on the selection of participants, the interview process, and the method of composing individual profiles. Sections 2 through 4 focus on particular faculty or student groups, providing introductory remarks; profiles of the individuals representing these groups; and commentary on the profiles and what they reflect about the community college experience. Section 2 focuses on liberal arts faculty in the areas of English, humanities, math, science, and social science; section 3 examines the work of career education faculty, emphasizing the fields of secretarial and business education, nursing and dental hygiene, and industrial technology; and section 4 presents varied perspectives on the community college experience, looking at counselors, minority faculty, second career faculty, and returning women students. Section 5 provides conclusions about the interviewing process and its results. Appendices provide data on study participants. (HB)