Tracking the changes in the community college from the 1960's to the 1980's, this report focuses on attendance patterns of community college students and relates them to students' educational objectives, fields of study, and demographic characteristics. The report relies on findings from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72), a 14-year study which included detailed surveys, high school records and test scores, and college transcripts from students who attended any kind of postsecondary institution between 1972 and 1984. The report analyzes the developing role of the community college and the changing characteristics of two-year college students. The analysis focuses on demographics and attendance patterns; time of attendance; year of associate degree attainment; the role of aspirations and plans; the academic background and general ability of community college attendees; course-taking patterns at the community college; the concept of "principal provider"; and labor market outcomes as indicators of the emphases of work. The report also assesses changes in perceptions of the community college mission that the data would seem to warrant, focusing on the "occasional roles" played by two-year colleges and the importance of proximity to college choice. The final sections of the research concerns, calling attention to the "hocus pocus" research conducted on many campuses, criteria for measuring social mobility, including occupational plans v. occupational realities, earnings, home ownership, and general economic mobility. A 53-item bibliography and data tables are included. (JMC)