This paper examines the perceptions and attitudes of the faculty of a rural community college about their institution's mission. The college serves a 19-county area in central Alabama, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty. Surveys were completed by 74 of the 100 faculty members. Faculty generally supported their college's efforts but believed that additional efforts should be made to meet the various needs of external constituencies. They perceived a consistent lack of understanding of the college's purpose among those they were attempting to serve. Faculty reported that the college's priorities are, and should be, career and technical education, adult and continuing education, and GED education programs. Similarly, faculty agreed that transfer education, health education, and recreational education programs should be, and are, the lower priorities for the college. In the economically depressed and rural area of this study, priorities did not differ significantly from national ideals for the community college: preparing individuals for work and providing them with basic skills. (SV)