Examines three community colleges from the United States and four from Canada, using a qualitative multiple-case-study design to define changes in the colleges' institutional missions during the 1990s. Suggests that a new globally oriented vocationalism dominated the community college mission at the end of the twentieth century. (Contains 51…

Uses the example of British polytechnic institutions' conversion into universities as a warning to the United States to avoid transforming community colleges into baccalaureate-granting institutions. Asserts that conversion places undue burdens on community colleges while altering their historic mission. (NB)

Makes a case for United States community college baccalaureate degrees by focusing on the Canadian college and university system, which allows its community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees. Argues that more students will earn bachelors degrees at lower costs to both students and taxpayers without disrupting the community college mission.…