This study aims to examine the concept of "time to degree" in relation to community college students. Because many community college students take longer than 2 to 3 years to complete the equivalent of a 2-year Associate Degree, and because many community college students have no intention of graduating with a degree or certificate, graduation rates measured at 150% time are not necessarily appropriate benchmarks for measuring success rates. Many students, because of their work and family obligations, stop in and out of college for some time before completing their educational goals. The Connecticut Community College System's Entering Student Survey indicates that during the fall 2002 semester, 75% of students were working, and 71% were earning less than $25,000 a year. Seventy-seven percent were interested in learning skills to enhance their career, 50% were interested in earning an Associate Degree, and 35% were interested in transferring. Of the 16,174 people identified as entering students, 3,535 (22%) responded to the survey. The findings of the study are based on the 98% of respondents who were matched to their demographic data. The author finds that the implications of the study cluster around three categories: (1) graduation rates; (2) technology and scheduling; and (3) advisement and enrollment management. Research instrument appended. (Contains 13 tables.) (NB)